VIROQUA, Wis. – On Monday, Viroqua businessman Steve Campbell announced his candidacy for the Wisconsin State Assembly seat representing the newly drawn 96th Assembly District. Campbell is the second Democrat to enter the race to unseat incumbent Republican Representative Loren Oldenburg who has held the seat since 2018.
Campbell grew up in Viroqua and has spent most of his life in the district. Campbell spent years working as a caregiver, bartender, and teacher’s aide, among other jobs before enrolling at UW-La Crosse.
After graduating he continued his work serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He currently owns Campbell Family Homes, providing residential services to people with varying levels of disabilities. Campbell also owns a small variety store, Viroqua Variety, on Main Street in Viroqua.
While continuing to grow his businesses, he has remained active in his community. He serves on the Sign Design Review Board for the City of Viroqua and the Viroqua Chamber of Commerce Board. Campbell’s says his vision for the district is ingrained in the strong community bonds of his youth. He believes that working together, despite differences, is the key to finding innovative solutions to the issues facing the 96th District.
Campbell says he will use his experience to focus on healthcare issues, economic development, advocating for more available housing and childcare options, restoring public school funding, protecting women’s rights, and supporting area farmers. An avid sportsman, Campbell has great respect for nature and maintaining the beautiful land and water of our region.
“With all the partisan gridlock slowing progress in our state, it sometimes feels as though our elected officials have forgotten who they work for. I intend to go to Madison and remind them.”
Campbell joins fellow Democrat Tara Johnson in the race to unseat Oldenburg. Johnson is a longtime member of the La Crosse County Board and its former chair and announced her candidacy in early March. Johnson was running as a candidate for the 3rd Congressional District seat held by Republican Derrick Van Orden, but dropped out last year for personal reasons before deciding to run for the 96th.
In making her announcement to run for the 96th Johnson was critical of the incumbent representative.
“For too long, rigged districts have kept our region from having a voice in the Assembly,” Johnson said. “[Oldenburg] is a rubber stamp for Robin Voss and his extremist
agenda.”
Republican incumbent Oldenburg announced that he is seeking reelection back in mid March. In his third term, Oldenburg updated the farmland preservation program tax credits to meet 21st century needs. He passed legislation to reduce the time it takes to notify the family if one of their family members was involved in an emergency. He also continued his effort to find solutions to the Coulee region’s flooding issues by working on proactive ways to prevent flooding through the creation of the new proactive disaster grant program.
In his announcement Oldnburg said “I’m excited to meet and earn the support of the residents in the new additions to the 96th Assembly District.”
Oldenburg grew up on a farm in Viroqua where he lives with his wife Linda. He is a Former Harmony Town Board Supervisor; Harmony Town Board Chairman; Westby Co-op Creamery board member and president. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2018, and re-elected in 2020, and 2022.
The 96th assembly district is one of the most changed districts in the state with the new maps approved by the Wisconsin legislature and the Governor. The old district included all of Crawford and Vernon County and the southern portion of Monroe County. The new district includes all of Vernon County and the southwest corner of La Crosse County. Some estimates show the district went from about 56 percent red to about 56 percent blue as a result of the realignment.
The 2024 fall primary is on August 13, while the 2024 General Election will be held on Nov. 5.
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