STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Next on the rundown of state offices to be decided this election is state attorney general. On the ballot are two candidates, Josh Kaul (Democrat) and Eric Toney (Republican). A Wisconsin attorney general is the state’s chief legal officer and head of the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Responsibilities include representing the state in court, providing legal opinions, enforcing open government laws, overseeing criminal investigations and protecting crime victims, as well as supporting local prosecutors, protecting consumers, and serving on the board of commissioners of public lands. Following are the attorney general candidates.

Republican Party

Eric Toney
Starting with Toney, he is 42 years old, born and raised in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, with a B.A. in history and political science from St. Norbert College, also holding a J.D. in Criminal Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Toney shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Eric Toney
Age: 42
Seat/Office sought: Attorney General
Background/Education: Born and raised in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; I have a 12-year-old dog, Patton; B.A., History and Political Science, St. Norbert College; and J.D., Criminal Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
What is your basic philosophy for the attorney general post? When I survived open heart surgery at 39 years old, I reflected on my life and didn’t have any regrets. I love helping keep people safe, and I’ve done that for nearly 14 years as the district attorney in Fond du Lac County. I was named Wisconsin’s 2024 District Attorney of the Year. As past president of the Wisconsin District Attorneys’ Association, I worked with the Republican Legislature and a Democratic Governor to secure crime lab positions, internet crimes against children DOJ positions, over 50 new prosecutors where they were needed most, and increased resources for prosecutors and public defenders. I’d be honored to take my bipartisan record to our DOJ and put public safety over politics.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? The Department of Justice needs leadership that will put public safety over politics. That means an immediate priority is to fix the crime labs. I’ll support the great lab analysts, end misguided policies that limit law enforcement’s ability to have evidence tested, end work-from-home policies that take analysts away from the lab, and ensure we’re filling the vacant positions we learned about in the nonpartisan audit. Second, confront the drug crisis by empowering public safety leaders to aggressively prosecute drug crimes, especially fentanyl and methamphetamine, and restore the drug investigations in northern Wisconsin that Kaul eliminated, which a tribal leader said is unnecessarily costing lives. Third, back victims, survivors, and law enforcement in all 72 counties by putting public safety over politics.
Campaign Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/EricToneyWI; https://x.com/EricJToney

Democratic Party

Josh Kaul

Also on the ballot for attorney general but as a Democrat is Josh Kaul, the current incumbent. Kaul is 45 years old with an education from Stanford Law School and Yale University before that. Citing public safety as his most important priority, Kaul shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Josh Kaul
Age: 45
Seat/Office sought: Attorney General of Wisconsin
Background/Education: Stanford Law School, Yale University Undergraduate
What is your basic philosophy for the attorney general post? Wisconsin DOJ’s investigative and prosecutorial resources should be used to protect the public as effectively as possible, with decisions about specific cases made based on the facts and law.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? My top priority as AG has been and will continue to be public safety. Wisconsin DOJ should continue working to reduce violent crime, fight the opioid epidemic, and make our schools safer. In another term as AG, I will continue advocating for common-sense gun-safety measures and additional resources that can help make communities safer.
Campaign Social Media: https://x.com/JoshKaulWI; https://www.facebook.com/JoshKaulWI/; https://bsky.app/profile/joshkaulwi.bsky.social; https://www.instagram.com/joshkaulwi/

STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES
Moving from the executive branch to state legislative races, there are several candidates, both for state assembly and state senate. The Wisconsin State Assembly is divided into 99 seats, with each state senate district encompassing three assembly seats. State assembly members are elected to two year terms while state senate members are elected to four year terms, with state senate elections staggered every two years.
Following are present ballot candidates.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 23
Starting with State Senate District 23, the candidates are Romain Robert Quinn (Republican) and Jeff Foster (Democrat).

Romaine Robert Quinn

Starting with Quinn, the 35-year-old incumbent was born and raised in northern rural Wisconsin, attending St. Joseph Catholic School before graduating from Rice Lake High School. A proud alumnus of UW-Eau Claire-Barron County, Quinn holds a degree in Political Science and Public Leadership from UW-Green Bay. He served in the state assembly from 2014 to 2020, and was elected to the state senate in 2022. He shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Senator Romaine Robert Quinn
Age: 35
Seat/Office sought: State Senate - District 23
Background/Education: Born and raised in northern rural Wisconsin, I attended St. Joseph Catholic School and graduated from Rice Lake High School. During my senior year, I was elected to the Rice Lake City Council and a year later I became the mayor of Rice Lake at age 19.
I’m a proud alum of UW-Eau Claire - Barron County, where I took classes while serving as mayor. Later I earned my bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Leadership from UW-Green Bay. I served in the state assembly from 2014 to 2020, and in 2022 I was elected to the State Senate. My wife and I raise our family of three young boys on our hobby farm raising Scottish Highland Cattle. I am also a Realtor, a Knight of Columbus, and an active member of my parish community.
What is your basic philosophy for governing/representation? Growing up I learned the values of hard work and self-reliance. I bring the same common sense and work ethic to the State Senate by upholding our traditional values: defending the Second Amendment and our sporting heritage, protecting women’s private spaces, and balancing the state budget. I am committed to making critical investments in our rural communities and advocating for the needs of the 23rd Senate District.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? As a husband and father, I understand the challenges families face to keep up with rising costs. That’s why I voted to cut taxes for our families and seniors and support driving down energy costs and lowering property taxes. Our most precious resource and economic driver is our land. I voted to prohibit foreign adversaries from buying farmland and opposed government overreach to raise fees on farmers. I authored legislation regulating data centers and solar projects – giving locals the final say and protecting our farmland, groundwater, and utility bills.
Campaign Social Media: www.quinn4wi.com; www.facebook.com/quinnforWI

Jeff Foster

Also running for State Senate District 23 is Jeff Foster, a 72-year old with a B.A. in interpersonal communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Professing a sense of deep responsibility to maintain and advance the function of civil society through opportunity, fairness, and compassion, Foster shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Jeff Foster
Age: 72
Seat/Office sought: State Senate District 23
Background/Education: I have a B.A. in interpersonal communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I took graduate courses at the UWM Graduate School in social work. I earned an M.B.A. from UW-Oshkosh.
What is your basic philosophy for governing/representation? My philosophy for governing and representing my constituents is that I have a deep responsibility to maintain and advance the functions of civil society by advancing opportunity, fairness, and compassion, especially for my constituents.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? The most important issue to me at this point in time is the chronic underfunding of our public schools. For 17 years, our Republican-led legislature has failed to meet the funding requirement it set for itself. The result has been an increasing burden on property taxpayers who make no money from living in their homes. This affects renters as well, whose landlords pass the property tax onto them. To make matters worse, needed school district improvements have had to rely on referenda, adding even more to property taxes. I will support fully-funded public schools, because our children are our most precious natural resource and deserve the best learning opportunities regardless of zip code to become healthy, happy and productive citizens.
Campaign Social Media: jefffosterprogress.wixsite.com/senate; facebook.com/foster.progress2day; Instagram.com/jefffosterprogress

STATE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 68
Running for State Assembly District 68 this year are Rob Summerfield (Republican) and Elisha King (Democrat). King did not return a questionnaire for more information, while Summerfield shared more in a questionnaire.

Rob Summerfield

Starting with Summerfield, the 46-year-old Bloomer resident is a 2002 graduate of UW-Stout with a Business Administration degree, previously graduating Bloomer High School in 1998. Currently the incumbent, his basic philosophy is to be an advocate for the people of the 68th Assembly district in Madison.
Listing affordability as the most important issue, Summerfield shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Rob Summerfield
Age: 46
Seat/Office sought: Assembly District 68
Background and Education: Bloomer High School 1998, UW-Stout 2002 Business Administration, former small business owner
What is your basic philosophy for the role of state representative? My basic philosophy is to be an advocate for the people of the 68th Assembly District in Madison. For me, that means listening to their concerns and ideas on how they feel state government should operate. Our community has many unique needs and I believe it is important that our representatives make sure they are heard in Madison.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? The most important issue for me is affordability. As I have been talking to people throughout the district, the cost of living has been the biggest concern that they have brought up to me.
In just this past session, I was proud to pass $1.5 Billion in tax relief this session, including income tax cuts and a sales tax exemption for utility bills. I also voted to eliminate taxes on tips and overtime, reduce property taxes, and send rebate checks to the people of Wisconsin. I will continue to work to return money to the citizens of the 68th Assembly District.
Picture of Elisha King
Elisha King
Also seeking office in the 68th State Assembly District but as a Democrat is Elisha King. With a website at https://elishakingforassembly.org, King’s policy proposals include a broad base of topics, spread across education, childcare, healthcare, and the environment, sharing more in the biography section of his website.
“My story is rooted in the real challenges facing our communities,” King writes. “Growing up in a household where every dollar counted, I watched my mom build a small restaurant from the ground up - and with it, I witnessed first-hand the hard work, stress, and resilience it takes to forge a life as a single parent. That experience taught me the value of perseverance and the critical importance of supporting our local economy.
“When I had my first child at 21, my future became more than an idea - it became a responsibility. I understood the pressure so many families face, and it ignited my drive to fight for childcare that doesn’t financially cripple parents, schools that are not just adequate, but excellent and offer every child the opportunity to thrive, and an economy that works for all of us - not just a select few.
“Some may want to focus on my age, but my life has been a lesson in leadership. I’ve managed my family’s budget, navigated tough choices and have been the person my friends, colleagues, and supervisors relied on to solve problems. My experience doesn’t come from a political playbook-it comes from the real world.
“I offer fresh energy, a deep understanding of the struggles our community faces, and unwavering commitment to building a better future for all of us.”

STATE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 69
Next for state Assembly races is Assembly District 69, between Joshua Kelley (Independent), Karen Hurd (Republican), and Roger Halls (Democrat).

Roger Halls

Starting with Halls, the 47-year-old is a U.S, Army veteran and Stanley resident, as well as a former Stanley City Council member. With two decades working with technology and continuing his education with cybersecurity, Halls professes a governing philosophy of service over politics, sharing more in a questionnaire.
Name: Roger Halls
Age: 47
Seat/Office Sought: Wisconsin’s 69th Assembly District
Background/Education: I am a U.S. Army veteran, longtime information technology professional, and former member of the Stanley City Council, where I served for six years. I have spent more than two decades working with technology and continue my education in cybersecurity. I have also been involved with community organizations including Children’s Miracle Network and Big Brothers Big Sisters. My experience in the military, local government, technology, and community service has taught me the importance of listening, solving problems, and serving others.
What is your basic philosophy for the role of state representative? My philosophy is simple: service over politics. An elected official works for the people they represent, not a political party or special interest. That means listening to constituents, being accessible, explaining decisions honestly, and being willing to work with people you disagree with when it benefits the district. I believe government works best when decisions are made as close to the people as possible and when elected officials remember that public office is a responsibility, not an entitlement. My campaign describes that approach as “Service over politics. Rural Wisconsin first.”
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? Affordability is the issue that connects nearly everything else. Families are dealing with the costs of housing, child care, health care, utilities, property taxes, and everyday necessities. I would focus on the areas state government can realistically influence: making child care more affordable and available, strengthening rural health care and EMS, adequately funding public schools so communities are not continually going to referendum and/or costs are forced back to property taxpayers, expanding attainable housing, and protecting residential utility customers from unfair cost shifts. My goal is to make rural Wisconsin a place where people who work hard can afford to live, raise a family, and retire. My current campaign priorities include public schools and property-tax relief, EMS, rural health care, child care, broadband, and infrastructure.
Campaign Social Media: Website: hallsforwi.com; Facebook: Halls for Wisconsin; X: @hallsforwi

Karen Hurd

Next on the list of candidates for State Assembly District 69 is Karen Hurd. A nutritionist by profession with several degrees, Hurd is the current incumbent for Assembly District 69. Citing smaller government and representing “we the people” rather than her personal beliefs as her basic philosophy of government and representation, Hurd shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Karen Hurd
Age: 68
Seat/Office sought: Representative to the Wisconsin 69th District Assembly
Background/Education: First elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2022 and re-elected in 2024. Member of the Legislature’s powerful Joint Finance Committee and Assembly lead on agricultural issues on the committee. Chair of the Veteran’s Legislative Study Committee.
Graduated from Kirkwood High School in Kirkwood, Missouri, in 1976. Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Truman State University in 1980. Diploma in Comprehensive Nutrition from Huntington College of Health Sciences in 1994. Master of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Saint Joseph in 2017. Master of Public Health from George Washington University in 2024.
Nutritionist by profession, owner and operator of Karen R. Hurd Nutritional Practice since 1994. Additionally, restaurant owner, film producer, and military service. Service in United States Army from 1980 to 1984 in Military Intelligence, attaining the rank of Captain. Military awards include the Army Service Medal, Air Assault Badge, and Marksmanship Badge.
Member of American Legion Post 118 in Thorp. Previously served as a Trustee for the Village of Fall Creek from 2021 to 2024 and held leadership positions with American Legion Post 376, the Fall Creek Public Library Board of Trustees, the Fall Creek Lions Club, the Fall Creek Historical Society, and Faith Evangelical Free Church.
Graduate of the Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD) and the State Legislative Leaders Foundation Emerging Legislative Leaders Program.
Married and has five children and seven grandchildren. Resides in the Town of Withee on a small farm.
What is your basic philosophy for the role of state representative? Smaller government and representing “we the people” not my own personal beliefs.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? The economy. When we have a strong economy, all boats rise. Manage the budget and policies of the state to facilitate economic growth.
Joshua Steven Kelley
The third candidate for State Assembly District 69, Joshua Steven Kelley did not return a questionnaire response but ran for the same seat in 2024. A carpenter for 17 years with additional experience as a stainless steel pipe fitter, Kelley is the son of Bev and Steven Kelley, with grandparents Donald and Charlotte Rusch and Doc and Shirly Arneson of Owen-Withee. Kelley previously responded that he leans towards a delegate view rather than a trustee viewpoint, with it being the representative’s duty to represent the people and their views rather than the other way around.