2024 Wisconsin State Legislature Voter Guide: Senate District 32
By Dan Shafer
September 17, 2024 1:39 PM CDT
Republican Stacey Klein faces Democratic incumbent Brad Pfaff in the race for Senate District 32 in the 2024 election.
This is part of The Recombobulation Area and Civic Media’s 2024 Wisconsin State Legislature Voter Guide. Read the first part of the series, “New Board, New Game,” here. See the full district-by-district breakdown of the Wisconsin State Senate here. See the comprehensive Voter Guide here.
D: Brad Pfaff*
R: Stacey Klein
In 2020, Brad Pfaff won the closest race on the map in the State Senate, defeating Republican Dan Kapanke by less than 600 votes. This helped protect the governor’s veto, and kept Republicans one seat shy of a Senate supermajority. In 2022, Pfaff ran for Congress, coming much closer than many might have expected against Republican Derrick Van Orden — 51.8% to 48.1% — a race many feel could have been won by the Democrat with more support from the national party.
Before running for State Senate, Pfaff served as the agriculture secretary-designee under Gov. Evers, but was fired by the Republican leadership in an unprecedented move. Pfaff also was a long-time staff member for Rep. Ron Kind, and worked for the USDA under President Barack Obama. Pfaff is now seeking a second term as a state senator in this La Crosse area district in western Wisconsin.
Stacey Klein is the Republican challenger in this race. She was initially running for U.S. Senate this year, but in April, chose instead to run for State Senate. She was criticized for anti-LGBTQ comments made during her brief campaign against Tammy Baldwin. Klein currently serves on the Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors, and is the treasurer for the Republican Party of Trempealeau County.
CNalysis: Likely D
- Proj. margin: D+9
Modeled 2022 outcome: D+8.3
