Hovde just edged out Thompson in GOP Primary in City, Town of Waukesha

Published on: 8/15/2012

Similar to Waukesha County results, the City of Waukesha was essentially split on former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and businessman Eric Hovde in Tuesday's Republican U.S. Senate Primary.

But unlike the County results where Thompson beat Hovde by 752 votes or 1 percent of the votes, Hovde just edged out Thompson, the eventual winner in the primary, in the City of Waukesha - 2,900 (32.9 percent) to 2,849 (32.4).

Former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann, who resides in Nashotah, finished third in the final results but was fourth in the County and City behind Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald.

The Town of Waukesha had similar results, as Hovde beat Thompson, 693 (34.7 percent) to 614 (30.7). Fitzgerald had 392 votes and Neumann brought in 298 votes.

With the win, Thompson, 70, now faces U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, 50, (D-Madison) in the Nov. 6 general election. 

The winner is succeeding longtime U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, who is not seeking re-election.

In another contested race in Waukesha County, Kathleen Novack, a Pewaukee alderman, defeated Town of Mukwonago Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer Kathy Karalewitz and City of Waukesha Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Gina Kozlik in the Republican County Clerk Primary.

Novack received 36 percent of the vote, Karalewitz about 33.5 and Kozlik around 30.2.

But the City of Waukesha did not give its full support to Novack as she finished third (29.2 percent of the votes), behind Karalewitz (36) and Kozlik (34.4).

The Town followed suit in backing Karalewitz as she received 689 votes or 47.3 percent, outdistancing herself from Novack's 397 (27.2) and Kozlik's 370 (25.4).

Novack now faces Democrat Jessie Read in the general election.

The winner will succeed Kathy Nickolaus, who not seeking re-election.   

The other contested race in the county was the Register of Deeds Republican primary.

Former Delafield Mayor and Incumbent Jim Behrend won convincingly over Michael R. Starich and Barbara Larson-Lloyd. 

There is no opponent from the Democratic Party in the general election.

Overall, there was a 23 percent voter turnout in the City of Waukesha and about a 33 percent turnout in the Town of Waukesha.