Assembly District 69 is due for a GOP primary race before the fall, following the emergence of two registered Republican candidates for the seat.

Coming August 13, voters will decide if Lori Voss of Abbotsford or Karen Hurd of rural Withee is to advance to the November ballot. The current seat District 69 incumbent, Donna Rozar of Marshfield, is running for District 86 on account of new maps approved this spring, which excludes Marshfield from District 69. Rozar will face John Spiros of Marshfield and Trine Spindler of Stratford for the Republican nomination in District 86.

As for District 69, Hurd and Voss each come with their own accomplishments and policy positions.

Currently the Assembly representative for District 68, Hurd chose to move to rural Withee in order to keep representing her constituents, after maps were redrawn to take Fall Creek out of District 68 and put it into District 91.

Karen Hurd

The only candidate for District 69 with a state legislative record thus far, Hurd has served on several committees in Madison, including the Agricultural Committee, Corrections Committee, Energy Committee, Family Law Committee, and Rural Development Committee, among others. As District 68 representative she authored a bill for 100-day Senior which aids seniors and taxpayers by reducing trips to the pharmacy and cutting dispensing fees. She has also authored two other bills, one that would seek to provide 1,200 beds for the severely mentally ill and work at de-stigmatizing mental health issues, along with one called the Mainstreet Housing Bill that created a revolving loan fund for the rehabilitation of mainstream housing.

Hurd has also coauthored a bill on the child and dependent care tax credit as well as one assigning money previously allocated for healthy initiatives but never used and directed this to support Wisconsin agriculture and SNAP benefit recipients. She has been married to her husband Steve for 46 years with five children and six grandchildren and has served in the United States Army. She is endorsed by Wisconsin Family Action PAC, Wisconsin Right to Life, the Dairy Business Association and the National Rifle Association. Chosen the 2023-24 School Choice Champion by School Choice Action Wisconsin, Hurd pledges to fix the economy, keep communities safe, empower parents and put kids first. Running on the slogan “let your voice be Hurd,” she asks for your vote August 13.

As for Voss, she is a retired veteran, small business owner, and has served both as mayor and city council member in Abbotsford, among her other qualifications. With a 42 year record of public service, she is also an EMT with Central Fire and EMS for the past 14 years and served in the Army National Guard.

Lori Voss

“I have always stood for the Stars and Stripes, kneeled for the cross and I will always carry these values forward as our area’s voice in Madison,” Voss shared of her candidacy. “I love rural Wisconsin and have lived here all my life, raised my children here and now am asking for your vote to bring my experience and the values we share to Madison.”

Growing up on a local dairy farm, Voss promises to restore common sense to government and protect the unborn.

“My promise to voters is to work to restore common sense to government by supporting local law enforcement, standing up against woke ideologies, protecting the unborn, closing our open borders, and getting government out of the way of economic development,” Voss said. As such she asks for your vote August 13.

Also registered as candidates in District 69 but without a primary challenger are Roger Halls of Stanley (Democrat) and Joshua Steven Kelley (Independent) of Greenwood.

With August 13 fast approaching, websites and social media have both been set up for Hurd and Voss, with Hurd’s website being www.karenhurdforassembly.com while Voss is on Facebook at Lori Voss for State Assembly.

More information on each of the District 69 candidates will be made available as the fall election approaches.