Swearingen crushes Bangstad in landslide win

Republican Donald Trump saw his fortunes slip in Wisconsin this year, but the president still ran strong in northern Wisconsin on Tuesday, fueled by GOP strength across the board, as Northwoods GOP Assembly incumbent Rob Swearingen powered his way to a massive win over Democratic challenger Kirk Bangstad in the 34th Assembly district.

Republicans also retained the 12th Senate district seat with state Rep. Mary Felzkowski of Irma defeating Democrat Ed Vocke for the seat vacated when Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany was elected to Congress. Tiffany himself sailed to re-election over Democrat Tricia Zunker.

In the 34th Assembly district, Swearingen focused especially on constituent service and his work on such issues as bringing broadband to the Northwoods, as well his belief in smaller government.

Bangstad focused on winning attention in the national media while boycotting local media, refusing to grant a candidate interview to The Lakeland Times and likewise spurning a debate with Swearingen at WXPR.

That strategy did not work. All totaled Swearingen captured 21,537 votes to Bangstad’s 13,148, a 62-38% margin. Swearingen swept Oneida County 12,574 to 8,636 and Vilas County, 8,963 to 4,512.

“I appreciate the confidence the voters have put into me to serve another term in the state Assembly,” Swearingen said. “I look forward to being a strong voice for the Northwood’s and our values.”

In the seventh congressional district, Tiffany outran Zunker with 61% of the vote district wide. Tiffany won Oneida County 13,877 to 9,999 and Vilas County 9,499 to 5,761.

“Thank you to everyone in northern and western Wisconsin who voted in today’s election,” Tiffany said. “In particular, I want to thank all of our supporters and volunteers for all the work they put into all three of our campaigns this year. None of our victories would have been possible without you.”

In the 12 Senate district race, Felzkowski torched the mostly invisible Vocke by a large margin district-wide and in Oneida and Vilas counties. Felzkowski won 15,766 to 9,720 in Oneida County and by 8,729 to 4,644 in Vilas County.

Felzkowski said she was honored to have been selected to serve.

“I want to thank everyone who supported my campaign and volunteered their time and efforts to make sure our common sense, conservative principles prevailed,” she said. “I want to thank every single constituent who voted for either candidate, for doing your civic duty and participating in our democracy.”

Trump himself ran strong across the Northwoods, winning Oneida County 13,671 to 10,105 and Vilas County 9,261 to 5,903.

Turnout was strong in both Oneida and Vilas counties. In Oneida County, 24,221 people cast ballots, while in Vilas County 15,398 out of 16,939 registered voters cast ballots, or 91%.

Richard Moore is the author of the forthcoming “Storyfinding: From the Journey to the Story” and can be reached at richardmoorebooks.com.