Republican Gudex Won’t Seek Re-Election To State Senate

Republican state Sen. Rick Gudex, whose seat had been seen as a top target of Democrats, has announced he won’t seek re-election next year.

In a written statement, the Fond du Lac lawmaker said he planned to serve out his term before returning to the private sector.

Gudex won his Senate seat three years ago by just 600 votes. While he represents a swing district, Gudex has voted yes on several controversial GOP bills, including right to work and the 2015 state budget.

Democrats had already been campaigning to unseat him. Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris announced plans to challenge Gudex earlier this year. He’ll now be running for an open seat against Dan Feyen, who chairs both the Fond du Lac County Republican Party and the Republican Party of the 6th Congressional District.

Republicans hold a 19-to-14 edge in the state Senate, meaning Democrats would have to win three new seats to regain control of the chamber.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story featuring Associated Press content has been updated with original reporting.