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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: Jodi Emerson*
Western Wisconsin includes many of the swingiest areas in the state of Wisconsin, and that purple nature of the region is better reflected under new maps. Previously, the area around Eau Claire was drawn to have one safe Democratic seat surrounded by several deep-red Republican seats. Now, that’s different. There are now three competitive districts in and around Eau Claire County and the Chippewa Valley. The 91st includes much of the eastern part of Eau Claire County, and actually becomes far less Democratic-leaning than it has been in previous years, but still with a clear blue lean.
This district is represented by Democrat Jodi Emerson, who has served in the Assembly since 2019, winning re-election by comfortable margins each time, now running for a fourth term. She is currently the Vice-Chair of the Speaker’s Task Force on Human Trafficking. In recent months, she’s been critical of the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee’s refusal to release millions in funding for health care facilities following closures in the region. She recently joined a bipartisan pro-democracy group, “democracyFIRST.” She’s also currently the state director for the National Foundation for Women Legislators.
She’ll be running against Republican Michele Skinner. Skinner is currently serving in her first term on the Eau Claire County Board, and was a chair on the Lake Altoona Rehabilitation and Protection District. She also worked in broadcast television for about 20 years, including at WEAU in Eau Claire.
CNalysis: Likely D
Modeled 2022 outcome: D+9.7