Station Selected:
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.
Of the three competitive Eau Claire area seats, this is the most Democratic-leaning. This will also be an open seat after Republican incumbent Warren Petryk chose to retire.
Christian Phelps won the primary to be the Democratic candidate in this race, defeating Nickolas Butler in a narrow victory by about 300 votes. Phelps has worked as the communications director for the Wisconsin Public Education Network and is on the board of trustees of the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation.
The Republican running is James Rolbiecki, who currently serves on the Town of Washington Town Board.
CNalysis: Likely D (FLIP)
Modeled 2022 outcome: D+12.5