In an election that beat turnout projections in Rock County, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan handed a crippling but expected defeat to his until recently little known opponent, water filtration company executive Paul Nehlen.
With 87 percent of precincts reporting, the Speaker took 84 percent of the vote in his district compared with Nehlen’s 16 percent. Rock County mirrored those numbers — Speaker Ryan took 79.61 percent of votes, with Nehlen receiving 20.39 percent with 100 percent of precincts reporting.
First Congressional Democrats chose Mt. Pleasant information security analyst Ryan Solen over challenger Tom Breu to face Speaker Ryan in November’s general election. Mr. Solen gained 59 percent of the vote in the First Congressional District, while Mr. Breu recieved 41 percent. The results were much closer in Rock County, where Mr. Solen managed to draw 49.94 percent of the votes compared with Mr. Breu’s 49.49 percent.
In 31st Assembly District Democratic race, 23-year-old Clinton Anderson of Beloit beat out challenger Don Prestia with 62 percent of the vote. Anderson, who will attend UW-Whitewater in the fall, faces incumbent Republican Representative Amy Loudenbeck in November.
In the 43rd Assembly District Democratic race, Milton School Board member Don Vruwink defeated Milton Mayor Anissa Welch with 58 percent of the vote. He’ll go on to challenge Republican Allison Hetz in the general election.
Incumbent Rock County Clerk Lisa Tollefson beat out Janesville City Council President Sam Liebert to maintain her position. Tollefson received 75.15 percent of the vote compared with the 24.75 percent that Liebert received. Tollefson faces no Republican challengers in the fall.
Deputy Register of Deeds Sandy Disrud defeated former State Representative Andy Jorgensen with 59.17 percent of the vote. Disrud faces no Republican challenger in November.
Democrat Michelle Roettger came out victorious after competing with three other men in the Rock County Treasurer’s Race. She received 39.58 percent of the vote and will face Republican Wendy Stewart in the November general election.
