Pfaff announces election campaign
By Steve Van Kooten
“I’ve got deep roots here in western Wisconsin, and I work to be a good neighbor. I look forward to continuing to be that good neighbor for the people I represent in the Wisconsin State Senate,” Pfaff wrote in an Aug. 30 press release.
Pfaff, who has held a seat in the 32nd District of Wisconsin since January 4, 2021, launched his re-election campaign a month after his last visit to Prairie du Chien, WI, where he spoke to voters alongside Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez and US Senator Tammy Baldwin.
A Wisconsin native and resident of Onalaska, Pfaff’s decision was lauded by William Garcia, Chair of the 32nd Congressional District of Wisconsin. “This means it’s going to be much harder for Republicans to flip the seat. They’ll have to flip more seats to get the majority.”
Strategically, Pfaff’s seat is crucial for the Democrat party, which holds a minority position with 11 seats of 33 in the State Senate. Pfaff can make it more difficult for Republicans to override Governor Tony Evers veto powers and make a stronger position for the party in 2024.
“If he can get the State Senate back in Democrat hands, they can pass common sense legislation,” Garcia said.
In the launch announcement, Pfaff highlighted several platforms for his campaign, including accessible childcare, affordable healthcare, economic development through family farm/small business investment and to “fight like Hell to restore reproductive freedoms to women in our state.”
Pfaff won’t receive a free pass to re-election, according to Garcia: “I think he will receive a real challenge from Republicans in the election.”
Pfaff won his seat by 600 votes in the 2020 election.
The announcement has ended speculation Pfaff could challenge US Congressman Van Orden’s seat next year, a political fight Pfaff lost in 2022. While the field has remained open for a challenger to Van Orden’s spot in Congress, Pfaff has his sights trained on Wisconsin for 2024.
“I came to Madison with a willingness to work with anyone, regardless of party, to get things done for the people of Wisconsin.”
