Brandtjen announces candidacy for 24th Assembly District, faces Knodl in GOP primary

Menomonee Falls, Wis. (WAUK) — State Representative Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, has announced her candidacy for the newly-formed 24th Assembly District in Wisconsin. Brandtjen will face off against State Sen. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown, in the Republican primary on August 13th. The district covers Menomonee Falls, Germantown, Butler, and Lannon.

The announcement comes amid ongoing legal issues for Brandtjen. The Wisconsin Ethics Commission has recommended felony charges against a fundraising committee for former President Donald Trump and Brandtjen, alleging a conspiracy to evade campaign finance laws. However, Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper has decided not to file charges, joining three other county prosecutors in declining to pursue the case.

Knodl, who currently represents the 8th Senate District, announced his candidacy for the 24th Assembly District after being drawn into the same district as Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville.

The 24th Assembly District is expected to lean heavily Republican, with a 60.8% performance in the previous election cycle, that’s according to WisPolitics.com. The winner of the Republican primary will face the Democratic nominee in the general election on November 5th.

Brandtjen’s campaign statement highlighted her long-standing ties to the community, saying, “My family and I have been blessed to enjoy the benefits of living in Menomonee Falls for almost 30 years, and we know the importance for families of having a strong community.”