Wisconsinites will vote for state Assembly and Senate candidates in a primary on Aug. 11 and in the general election Nov. 3, 2026.
This is the second election under more competitive district maps, but the first election for this particular Senate seat under the new maps.
Three Republicans and two Democrats are running for Senate District 11. The candidate from each party to receive the most votes Aug. 11 will advance to the November election.
What do the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly do?
The Wisconsin Legislature is made up of 99 Assembly representatives and 33 Senators from across Wisconsin. Together, they have the power to create, amend and repeal laws.
The Legislature plays a major role in deciding how to use taxpayer-funded state revenue every two years in the biennial budget. Whether more or less money is spent on education, economic development, tax relief — that is decided by the majority in the Legislature, along with Wisconsin's governor, who has to sign the budget, and other bills, into law.
What's at stake?
The Wisconsin Legislature has been firmly controlled by Republicans for more than a decade, under gerrymandered legislative maps.
Those maps were thrown out by the liberal-majority Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2023, which prompted the Legislature to approve new maps proposed by Gov. Tony Evers.
In the Senate, Republicans currently have a 18-15 majority. According to JR Ross of WisPolitics.com, there are four seats at play — one currently held by a Democrat and three by Republicans. If Democrats win any three of those, they get a majority. They are districts 5 (Brookfield), 17 (Spring Green), 21 (Racine) and 31 (Eau Claire).
Republicans are likely to maintain their majority in the Assembly. Ross says Democrats would have to sweep almost all of the "swing" seats and hold on to a few they won by the skin of their teeth in 2024, to have a chance of gaining a majority in the Assembly.
Senate District 11
Wisconsin Senate District 11 includes most of Walworth County, most of Kenosha County, and southwest Racine County, along with parts of southeast Rock County. It covers Burlington, Delavan, Elkhorn, Lake Geneva, Clinton, Darien, East Troy, Genoa City, Paddock Lake, Sharon, Union Grove, Walworth, along with most of the village of Pleasant Prairie and part of the city of Kenosha.
The current senator, Republican Steve Nass, is not running for re-election.
WUWM sent a questionnaire to the candidates. Their responses below may be edited for length and clarity.
Meet the candidates
Nick Polce (Republican)
Polce did not respond to WUWM's candidate questions. The information below is from his campaign website.
Polce says he is running for Senate because of the failure of lawmakers to address issues like the skyrocketing cost of living, increased property taxes, massive spending in the state budget and struggling schools.
"In the military we had a saying, 'you can delegate responsibility, but you cannot delegate accountability,'" Polce's campaign website reads. "That lesson has stayed with me throughout my life and career as a husband, father, businessman, and veteran. In every role, failure has real consequences. Yet lately, it seems that in Madison we have come to tolerate it."
Polce says if elected he will work to lower energy and healthcare costs and advocate for responsible budgeting.
"My experience in the military taught me that leadership means making tough decisions and standing by them, and I’ll bring that same accountability to Madison."
Sandy Wiedmeyer (Republican)
Wiedmeyer did not respond to WUWM's candidate questions. The information below is from her campaign website.
Wiedmeyer explains why she's running for office on her website: "I am running to take my proven commitment to conservativism to the next level and to help keep Wisconsin from becoming Illinois or Minnesota."
Her biography says she has a background in teaching and served as lead administrator at the largest municipally owned sports complex in the United States. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she founded Wisconsin Patriots and co-founded the first Moms for Liberty chapter in Wisconsin. In 2023, she became chairwoman of the Republican Party of Kenosha County.
Her priorities include making life more affordable with small government, low taxes and responsible investments. She wants to overturn Gov. Evers' 400-year school funding veto and eliminate taxes on pensions and retirement income. Wiedmeyer also says she is pro-life and wants to "limit participation in women's and girls' sports to women and girls' only."
Ellen Schutt (Republican)
Schutt did not respond to WUWM's candidate questions. The information below is from her campaign website.
Schutt's biography says she grew up on her family farm and still farms alongside her parents and siblings today, raising cattle and growing crops, while serving as the executive director of the Wisconsin FFA Foundation. Schutt also worked as an accountant and was elected to the state Assembly from 2023-2025.
"I’m running to bring proven conservative leadership to the State Senate — and to fight for the values that make our communities strong," she says on her website.
Her priorities include: public safety, making Wisconisn more affordable through lowering taxes and responsible budgeting, high-quality schools, empowering small businesses, defending life and supporting families and honoring veterans.
Adam Duda (Democrat)
Current occupation: Self-employed
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for State Senate to uphold the social contract: the reality that individual success is built on a strong public foundation. I arrived from Poland at age nine with very little. My ability to earn engineering and law degrees relied on the opportunities this country provided, and I am stepping up to ensure the next generation gets that exact same shot.
In WUWM's election survey, affordability is the top concern listed by voters. How would you work to address cost of living issues in Wisconsin?
State government must reduce the cost of living for working families and seniors.
First, I will use Wisconsin's surplus to increase shared revenue and fully fund public schools. This stops the endless cycle of local referendums and keeps property taxes in check.
Second, we must expand the Homestead Tax Credit so seniors aren't priced out of their homes.
Third, affordable childcare is critical economic infrastructure that allows young families to work and thrive.
Finally, large corporations and data centers must pay their fair share. They cannot pass infrastructure and energy costs onto local ratepayers.
By investing our surplus back into our communities, we build an economy that works for everyone.
A Marquette poll earlier this year found 70% of WI voters think the costs of large data centers are greater than the benefits they provide. How do you plan to address concerns about data centers?
I welcome innovation, but data centers must honor Wisconsin's social contract. These tech companies are choosing to locate here because of the foundation Wisconsin built: the power grid, the protected water, and the educated workforce. Without the infrastructure taxpayers already paid for, these companies would not be here. The partnership must run both ways. We cannot permit massive corporations to extract wealth without giving back. I will ensure this growth funds its own infrastructure instead of passing utility costs onto ratepayers. Holding corporations to their end of the social contract isn't anti-business. It is simply the rent they pay for using the public resources that make their success possible.
What are your top state budget priorities?
My top budget priorities protect taxpayers and strengthen communities.
First, we must use Wisconsin’s surplus to increase shared revenue and better fund public schools. State underfunding forces districts into endless referendums, driving up property taxes for families and seniors. Public funds belong in public classrooms; using the surplus here keeps local taxes down.
Second, the budget must ensure corporate growth pays for itself. Large data centers rely on infrastructure taxpayers already built. They must pay their fair share to upgrade it, rather than passing utility costs onto local ratepayers.
A state budget shouldn't be for political infighting; it is a practical blueprint to keep our local economies competitive.
How do you plan to remain accountable to the people of Wisconsin?
I will remain accountable by supporting rules that force politicians to answer to voters.
First, I support independent redistricting. Fair maps ensure representatives compete on their ideas rather than hiding behind safe districts.
Second, I will reject partisan infighting. I measure success by whether the 11th District gets its fair share of state revenue to lower property taxes.
Accountability means justifying every vote I cast to the people I represent.
Please list any notable endorsements you've received.
None listed.
Steven J. Doelder (Democrat)
Current occupation: Retired.
Why are you running for this office?
The citizens of Senate District 11 need to have a choice on November 3, 2026. We need to elect a person that is a problem solver and someone who will work for the benefit of ALL people, not just the wealthy. My background in science and problem solving will go a long way in making things work and getting things done for everyone in District 11.
In WUWM's election survey, affordability is the top concern listed by voters. How would you work to address cost of living issues in Wisconsin?
We need to look at the underlying cause of most problems facing the citizens of District 11; the influence of dark money in elections. Political decisions are being made to help the wealthy and not the working people. Rising health care costs, energy costs, food costs, and housing costs are the result of poor political decisions. We need to examine how to reign in dark money. Montana and Hawaii have come up with plans to do just that. We need to follow their lead.
A Marquette poll earlier this year found 70% of WI voters think the costs of large data centers are greater than the benefits they provide. How do you plan to address concerns about data centers?
What is needed is enough time for regulations to be enacted to match the rapid growth of this technology. I would propose and support a one-year moratorium on any data centers over a given size limit. A moratorium would allow regulations to catch up with this technology. We should also provide assistance to local municipalities in permitting such data centers. They are currently overwhelmed by big corporations trying to influence the permitting process.
What are your top state budget priorities?
Providing health care to all our citizens. We should be looking at providing community health centers in rural and other under-served communities. A single payer public health insurance plan should be available. Expanding Medicaid in Wisconsin would be a good short-term solution. Providing adequate funds for our public schools and universities should also be done. There should be no public taxpayer money going to private schools. We also need to adequately fund our State Parks and DNR. The 40-year bi-partisan Stewardship Fund is about to expire and needs to be funded.
How do you plan to remain accountable to the people of Wisconsin?
I would like to hold town halls in each of the four counties that make up District 11. This would allow my constituents an opportunity to ask questions and for me to answer their questions. Social media would also be used to get feedback from the people of my district.
Please list any notable endorsements you've received.
None at this time.
