Stroud, Green win respective races

A political newcomer took a convincing win during the August primaries in Ashland County.

Former Northland College professor Angela Stroud garnered 80% of the vote in the Democratic race for the newly formed Assembly District 73. The district includes Ashland, Bayfield and Douglas counties. Stroud beat John Adams, who had prevously sought office, 6,572 votes to 1,626 votes in the unofficial results.

Stroud will face Republican Frank Kostka in the November general election. Kostka ran unopposed in the primary.

Incumbent Chanz Green beat challenger Scott Harbridge in a tight Republican race for district assembly 74 with a margin of 4,000 votes to 3,032. He faces Jeanne Bruce, who ran unopposed.

Kyle Kilbourn beat challenger Elsa Duranceau in the Democratic race for Wisconsin’s seventh district in the US House of Representatives. Kilbourn won 32,920 votes to 23,785 and faces incumbent Tom Tiffany in November.

U.S. Senate

Eric Hovde cruised to a win in the Republican primary, leading the Associated Press to call the race with only 17% of votes counted. The win sets up a November fight with incumbent U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, who has held the seat since 2013.

Prior to the race being called, Hovde declared victory, saying his focus had been on defeating Baldwin and restoring the American dream.

“Tammy Baldwin has been in Washington for twenty-five years and things have only gotten worse,” Hovde said. “It’s time for change.”

According to Wisconsin Public Radio, Baldwin accused Hovde of running to put the “wealthy and well connected like himself first.”

“While I am running to put Wisconsin families first, my opponent Eric Hovde is a multi millionaire California bank owner who has insulted our seniors, our farmers, our moms, and just about everyone else in our great state,” Baldwin said.

Amendments

Voters rejected two amendments to the state constitution that would have limited the power of the governor to spend federal funds without legislative approval and ban future Legislatures from delegating spending decisions to others.

According to AP unofficial results both referendums failed by a margin of about 58-42%.

Both sides vigorously campaigned leading up to the primary. Historically, it is unusual for Wisconsin voters to reject constitutional amendments.

The general election is slated for Nov. 5.

— Wisconsin Public Radio and The Associated Press contributed to this report.