2024 Wisconsin State Legislature Voter Guide: Assembly District 71

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: Vinnie Miresse

R: Bob Pahmeier

This is a Democratic-leaning seat in Stevens Point and central Wisconsin that is open after State Rep. Katrina Shankland opted to run for Congress, losing in the Democratic primary to Rebecca Cooke. 

Vinnie Miresse is running to keep this seat in Democratic control. He has served on the Portage County Board since 2017, and was just re-elected earlier this year to another two-year term. He chairs the Solid Waste Management Board and the Portage County Healthcare Center committee. He was recently in Wausau during a campaign visit from Gov. Tim Walz, which Civic Media covered. 

He’ll face Republican Bob Pahmeier, an Army veteran who recently retired after 26 years in various roles in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This is the first time he’s running for elected office.

CNalysis: Very Likely D

• Proj. margin: D+15

Modeled 2022 outcome: D+11.9