Elections are only a month away and there are many seats available like Governor/Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State that students and faculty can contribute their vote towards. The Wisconsin

Gov. Tony Evers Photo from Tony Evers Campaign

Governor/ Lt. Governor race might be the most media covered race in Wisconsin this year. The candidates running for governor this year include incumbent Tony Evers, and Republican backed Tim Michels.

Tony Evers is the incumbent running for reelection in the Wisconsin Governor’s race as a Democrat. According to the official Wisconsin Governor’s website Gov. Evers’ has a long history in public education, serving as Wisconsin’s Superintendent of Public Instruction from 2009 to 2019. Evers is from Plymouth, Wis., and has a Ph.D. in educational leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Tim Michels. Photo from Tim Michels Campaign

 

One of the candidates running against Evers is Republican backed Tim Michels. Michels’ Campaign website shares that he is a businessman from Lomira, Wis. Michels served in the United States Army for twelve years rising to the rank of major. Michels has never held a position in politics but has run for the U.S Senate, and Wisconsin Senate in the past. Michels has a MBA, MPA, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from St. Norbert College.

Another race getting a lot of media attention is the United States Senator race with incumbent Ron Johnson and Democratic backed Mandela Barnes.

Ron Johnson. Photo from Ron Johnson Campaign

Ron Johnson’s Campaign website states that he has been serving in the U.S Senate since 2011 after winning the seat in the 2010 election. Johnson also held the position of Chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee from 2015 to 2021. Johnson is a candidate from Mankato, Minn. Johnson graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in business and accounting.

Mandela Barnes. Photo from Madela Barnes Campaign

Running against Johnson is the current Lt. Governor of Wisconsin and Democratic backed Mandela Barnes. Despite his age, Mandela Barnes has close to a decade in public office. Barnes’ Campaign website states that his career in public office started in 2013 when he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly 11th District. Barnes held that position till 2017. In 2016 Barnes ran for a State Senate position but lost the primary. In 2018, Barnes ran alongside Tony Evers for the Lt. Governor seat and won. Barnes is the first African American Lt. Governor in Wisconsin history.

Another big race taking place this election is the District 7 Representative in Congress. The candidates running for District & office include incumbent Republican backed Tom Tiffany and Democratic backed Richard Ausman. Some other seats up for election this November include State Treasurer, Lt. Gov., Representative to the Assembly District 73, and a couple local government seats including Sheriff, and Clerk of Circuit Court.

On October 17, campus group Jackets Vote will be hosting a Nonpartisan Candidate Town Hall from 5-7 p.m. in the Yellowjacket Union Great Rooms on the UWS campus. For any questions about the event please contact the Link Center at
link@uwsuper.edu.