Last week Stacey Klein announced she is transitioning her campaign for Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate seat to a bid for Wisconsin’s 32nd State Senate race in an attempt to unseat State Sen. Brad Pfaff.
Klein’s first comments about the race have been to acknowledge the following of supporters she has met as she traveled around Wisconsin. “I am humbled and grateful for the many supporters I met as we visited so many counties and communities. All across Wisconsin, I have been blessed with the chance to meet great families who care deeply about America, about Wisconsin, and about their own communities. I spoke with hardworking business owners who are deeply invested in their respective communities and seek to see that only strengthened. It is with their encouragement that I have decided to focus on this State Senate seat. I look forward to a healthy debate on the issues and taking the concerns of our friends and neighbors to the Wisconsin State Senate.”
Klein is native to Western Wisconsin, growing up on the family farm. She has three siblings, a sister and two brothers, who are serving in the military. Klein was recently elected to another term on the Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors. She lives in Trempealeau with her husband Chad and daughter McKenzie, enjoying the benefits of small town and rural life. “I lived in the Milwaukee area for a few years after graduating college. Living in an urban area provided some amazing opportunities and experiences, but we are blessed in Western Wisconsin with smaller close-knit communities, safe neighborhoods, and many family members, friends and close connections.” Klein is active locally in her school district, and also serves in the Republican Party of Trempealeau County as Secretary.
Citing her faith and values, Klein proudly talks about her family and upbringing. “We believe in traditional family values. We go to church and our faith is our strength, central to who we are. Far too many try to divide us, when at our core, I believe that these strengths are the cornerstones of the American way of life and they are constantly being chipped away at.” Klein issued the following statement when she described the conversations about possibly transitioning to the State Senate race. “Western Wisconsin deserves a Senator who will take these traditional values with them to Madison and defend our families against those who seek to undermine them.”
Pfaff running again
Pfaff made his announcment that is running again on April 4 at a La Crosse daycare center citing the child care issue as one of key issues of his campaign. Pfaff said he is also running to ensure BadgerCare is expanded, that insulin and prescription drug prices are capped, to ensure the state continues investing in manufacturing, technology and public schools. To improve access to affordable childcare and to codify Roe v. Wade into state law.
“I’m running for re-election because we need a State Senator who will champion working families by growing our economy, lowering costs, supporting our public schools, and defending access to reproductive healthcare,” said Pfaff. “I know we can work together and find common ground to make a better life for Wisconsinites. That is what I’ve fought for in the State Senate, and it’s why I’m running for re-election to keep up that fight.”
Pfaff grew up on his family’s dairy farm in northern La Crosse County and has held leadership positions at state and federal agencies. In 2009, Pfaff was appointed by President Obama to be Wisconsin executive director for the Farm Service Agency at the USDA. In 2015, Pfaff was appointed to serve as the USDA Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs.
In December 2018, Governor-elect Evers announced his nomination of Pfaff to serve as secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Pfaff began work in January 2019, but his appointment remained contingent on confirmation by the Wisconsin Senate. Eleven months later, in November 2019, the State Senate voted along party lines to reject Pfaff’s appointment. Evers subsequently hired Pfaff as director of business and rural development in the Wisconsin Department of Administration.
In 2020, Pfaff decided to make another run for Wisconsin Senate in the 32nd Senate district, following the announcement that incumbent Democratic senator Jennifer Shilling would not seek re-election. Shilling endorsed Pfaff in May 2020, and Pfaff defeated his opponents in the Democratic primary with 62% of the vote. He went on to win the 2020 general election, narrowly defeating Dan Kapanke in a rematch of their 2004 race.
Pfaff ran against Republican Derrick Van Orden in 2022 for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District. Van Orden won that seat by about 12,000 votes.
32nd Senate maps have changed
Under the newly-drawn state legislative maps Senate District 32 will encompass all of Vernon County and La Crosse County, and parts of Monroe County and Trempealeau County. The previous maps for District 32 didn’t include any parts of Trempealeau County and included all of Crawford County. Crawford County will now be included in Senate District 17.
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