In what might be seen as another example of a Democratic momentum entering this November’s midterm elections, Democrat Caleb Frostman defeated Republican State Rep. Andre Jacque in a special election to fill the State Senate seat vacated by former State Senator Frank Lasee.
Frostman, of Sturgeon Bay in Door County, earned 51.4 percent of the vote to represent Kewaunee and Door counties, and parts of Manitowoc, Calumet, Outagamie and Brown counties.
President Donald Trump won the district by 18 percentage points in 2016.
“I will let your feedback and our shared values guide me in my work as your State Senator,” Frostman said in his victory speech. “I learned these values growing up here in Wisconsin – treating each other with respect, helping our neighbors when they need a hand, listening to each other and working together to reach our goals.”
Governor Scott Walker initially decided not to call a special election but rather leave the seat vacant for nearly a year. He called the election only after being ordered to do so by a court.
Frostman will likely have to run for re-election, probably against Jacque again, before ever taking a vote on the Senate floor. The State Senate is not scheduled to be in session for the rest of the year and Frostman is already up for re-election in November.
In another special election to replace former State Rep. Keith Ripp, Republican Jon Plumer defeated Democrat Ann Groves Lloyd to represent the 42nd Assembly District in South Central Wisconsin.
