Challengers Jeff Foster and Richard Pulcher will compete for the Democratic nomination for the 23rd District in the Wisconsin State Senate in the Aug. 11 fall primary election.
Wisconsin state senators serve four-year terms. The candidate who receives the most votes will appear as the Democratic candidate in the Nov. 3 general election. Current 23rd District State Sen. Jesse James (R-Thorp) filed for noncandidacy in this race after choosing to retire. Current 25th District State Sen. Romaine Quinn (R-Birchwood) will compete as the Republican nominee for the 23rd District seat because he no longer resides in District 25 following 2023 redistricting.
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USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin asked each of the candidates to address important issues in the district and why they are running for the position.
Jeff Foster
Residence: Town of Grant, Dunn County
Age: 72
Occupation and education: Retired. Bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; graduate courses in social work from UW-Milwaukee; master of business administration from UW-Oshkosh.
Relevant experience: Child Protective Services social worker; dairy farmer; co-founder and first president of the Wisconsin Sheep Dairy Cooperative; delegate of Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District to the Democratic Convention in 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026; delegate to the Wisconsin Democratic State Convention in 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026
Campaign website/Facebook page: jefffosterprogress.wixsite.com/senate and Jeff Foster for the People on Facebook
Richard Pulcher
The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.
Why are you running for office?
Foster: I’m running for State Senate for greater public education support as required by the state constitution and a voucher system phase out, both of which would relieve our property tax burden. I have a plan for state-funded high-quality universal child care that includes income-based repayment by the wealthiest families. I’m running for rural revitalization, including family farms, health care, main street and housing. I will use my office to represent rural families and the elderly for a better future.
What makes you the better candidate in this race?
Foster: I have the social and financial education that informs me of competing interests, the background of a former social worker, a farmer and a business leader to view issues from various perspectives, and the drive to see challenges through to accomplishment.
What is the most pressing issue facing the 23rd Senate District, and how would you address it?
Foster: It is very difficult to point to one issue that is the most pressing. Some will say it is roads. Others will say it’s data centers. Then there is the catch-all, affordability. However, for 17 years, our legislature has failed to meet the funding requirement it set for itself, creating a burden on property taxpayers who make no money from living in their homes. This affects renters as well, whose landlords pass the property tax onto them. School district improvements have gone to referenda, adding even more to property taxes. Declining enrollments in rural school districts have put increasing pressure on consolidation or closures, further threatening the character of rural villages and towns. I will support fully-funded public schools, because our children are our most precious natural resource and deserve the best learning opportunities regardless of zip code to become healthy, happy and productive citizens.
What are residents telling you are their most important issues, and how would you address them?
Foster: When I ask voters what their most pressing issues are, some say school funding, some say health care, some say roads and some just want cooperation between the parties. I tell them that 408 bills were proposed by Democrats in 2025. Of those, nine had public hearings. The rest were never even discussed in committee. If I am elected and Democrats take back the Senate, I will introduce or support bills that address the issues facing my district and expect to negotiate with fellow senators.
Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: 2 Democrats compete in primary for District 23 State Senate seat
Reporting by Erik Pfantz, Wausau Daily Herald / Wausau Daily Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Erik Pfantz, Wausau Daily Herald | USA TODAY Network
