James, Tomczyk secure senate seats

Two lines on the Nov. 8 ballot were up for grabs for the state senate in districts 29 and 23 with republicans Cory Tomczyk and Jesse James winning those spots respectively.

District 23

Jesse James took home 50 percent of the votes for the 23rd district. James currently serves as a member of the state assembly in the 68th district. The Eau Claire native beat out Brian Westrate (37.4 percent of the votes) and Sandra Scholz (12.7 percent of the votes).

James will be running for the seat vacated by Kathy Bernier who notified the legislature that she would be retiring at the end of her term in January 2023.

Before beginning his political career in 2019, James served as the police and fire chief in Altoona. He has also served in the U.S. Army from 1990 to 1993 and worked as a U.S. Army Reserve medic from 1993-1996. He earned an associate degree in police science from Chippewa Valley Technical College in 2001.

Cory Tomczyk won the race for the republican line on the ballot for the state senate’s 29th district, out-dueling Brent Jacobson by a 43 to 38 percent clip.

The spot on the ballot was up for grabs after Jerry Petrowski announced he would not be running for reelection after a 10-year stint on the job.

Tomczyk will face democrat Bob Look in the Nov. 8 election.

Incumbent Donna Rozar will be facing democrat Lisa Boero in November for the Wisconsin State Assembly 69th District seat. Both candidates ran unopposed in the primary election.