Wood County election results roll in

WOOD COUNTY – Nov. 3, otherwise known as Election Day, has come and gone, and the votes have been counted. The trend at a statewide level leans Democratic — within the county, however, Republicans won most races.
Republican Governor Candidate Tom Tiffany beat Democratic Candidate David Crowley in a close race within Wood County, 18,243 votes to 13,880. Two write-in candidates — Mark Grimek and Jamie Jo Carothers --- each received a vote. Statewide, however, Crowley won the race, and will be inaugurated in early January.
The race was also close between Democratic Attorney General Candidate Josh Kaul and Republican Candidate Eric Toney. Kaul received 14,314 votes, while Toney received 17,672. Once again, the statewide trend leaned further left, and Kaul ultimately won his third term as Wisconsin Attorney General.
Republican Secretary of State Candidate Jay Schroeder was the popular choice over opponents JoCasta Zamarripa (Democrat) and Pete Karas (Wisconsin Green Party), receiving 17,873 votes within the county. Zamarripa received 12,927 votes, and Karas received 1,109. Zamarripa defeated Schroeder on a state level.
Wood County Republicans outnumbered Democrats at the polls when it came to the State Treasurer race, as well, with Incumbent Republican Candidate John S. Leiber receiving 18,676 votes compared to Democratic Candidate Yee Leng Xiong’s 13,132. On a statewide level, Xiong took the race with an estimated 51.1 percent of the vote compared to Leiber’s 48.9 percent.

Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District
The City of Wisconsin Rapids had a close vote but ultimately followed the larger trend in the state, giving 3,160 votes to Republican Derrick Van Orden and 3,516 to Democrat Rebecca Cooke. Independent Alexander Valiensi Kent received 94 votes, and Independent Rustin Provance received 44.
In the Town of Grand Rapids, Van Orden received 2,281 votes while Cooke got 1,786. Kent received 43 votes and Provance received 21.
The Town of Saratoga also voted largely for Van Orden, who received 1,569 votes compared to Cooke’s 896. Alexander Valiensi Kent received 22 votes, and Rustin Provance 20.
Van Orden was the most popular choice in the Village of Port Edwards with 434 votes. Cooke received 379 votes. Kent received eight votes and Provance received two votes.
Van Orden received the popular vote again in the Town of Port Edwards with 389 votes. Opponent Cooke received 255 votes, while Kent got 15 and Provance three.
Van Orden won the popular vote in the Town of Seneca with 312 votes. Cooke came in second with 219, Kent received five and Provance four.
In the Town of Sherry, Van Orden received 238 votes. Cooke received 119 votes. Kent received two votes, and Provance received one.
In the Town of Rudolph, Van Orden took the popular vote again, receiving a total of 334 votes. Cooke received 196 votes, and Kent and Provance received four and two votes, respectively.
The story was similar in the Village of Rudolph, where Van Orden received 121 votes compared to Cooke’s 85. Kent received three votes and Provance received one.
In the Town of Sigel, Van Orden received 335 votes. Cooke received 189. Kent received nine votes, and Provance received four.
In the Village of Biron, Van Orden again won the popular vote with 203 votes. Cooke came close, receiving 187 votes. Kent received seven votes. Provance received three.
In the Village of Milladore, Van Orden took the vote with 73 while Cooke received 51. Kent received three votes and Provance received one.
Van Orden also won the popular vote in the Village of Vesper with 164 votes. Cooke received 81 votes, and Kent three.
In Nekoosa, Van Orden won by more than 100 votes, receiving a total of 491 votes. Cooke received 374 votes. Kent received 14 votes, and Provance received six.
While Van Orden seemed to be the more popular choice locally, Cooke ultimately won the race. The 3rd Congressional District covers a large portion of western Wisconsin in addition to parts of Portage, Wood and Adams counties.
In the Town of Auburndale, 269 people voted yes to the question “Shall all candidates in the town of Auburndale for elective town offices be nominated at a nonpartisan primary?” Eighty-five people voted no.
Grand Rapids request to exceed levy
The Town of Grand Rapids asked residents whether they could exceed the levy of $1,888,036 in 2027 for the purpose of maintaining and providing general town operations and public safety services, including police protection, fire protection and emergency services, by a total of 15.890%, which results in a levy of $2,188,036, and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $300,000 for each fiscal year going forward. There were 1,350 votes in favor and 2,654 against, ultimately blocking the request to exceed the levy.