Petri’s Retirement Opens Door For Competitors

Longtime Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Tom Petri says he is retiring from the House of Representatives where he has served since 1979. The Republican is set to make the official announcement on Monday at a town hall meeting in Neenah.

Petri has represented Wisconsin’s 6th District for 18 terms. For many votes he ran unopposed, but this year a state lawmaker from his own party announced plans to run against Petri in a primary: Current state Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, is seen as being from the tea party wing of the Republican party.

Now that the incumbent Petri is stepping aside, it opens up the district’s ticket. Scott Furlong, a University of Wisconsin-Green Bay political scientist, says Republicans run the risk of putting forth a candidate who is seen as too “extreme.”

“If I was the Democratic party, I would definitely be looking at it as a possible pickup,” Furlong said. “Particularly now, because it looks like they will be running against a pretty ideological Republican candidate.”

The 6th District encompasses cities like Sheboygan and Manitowoc, Oshkosh and Fond Du Lac, and stretches west to Waushara.

Democrats do see it as an opportunity, according to state party spokesman Melissa Baldauff. She says it’s too soon to tell what Democrats may join the race, but adds there are several potential candidates.

“Anybody from, say, Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris to Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels,” she said. “Really strong Democrats who are leaders in the community, who I think might be looking hard at this race.”

Now that Petri is not up for re-election, more Republicans may also be planning to join the race. State Sen. Joe Leibham, R-Sheboygan, is considering a run.