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Ringhand takes Democratic primary in 45th

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Janis Ringhand

EVANSVILLE — Janis Ringhand's contact with residents in the new communities drawn into the 45th District paid off Tuesday, she said.

Ringhand of Evansville, the 80th Assembly District representative, won 1,819-1,071 over Beloit City Councilwoman Sheila De Forest in the Democratic primary for the 45th Assembly District.

Ringhand now faces Orfordville Village Board member Beth Schmidt, who beat her fellow board member Russell Rucker in Tuesday's Republican primary.

"I'm very happy right now," Ringhand said by phone from a party at the VFW in Evansville. "Thank you to my voters, and I'm looking forward to moving forward with what we started in the last session."

She wants to continue working with people from both sides of the aisle to get Wisconsin moving, she added.

Ringhand has not moved from her Evansville home, but the new Assembly lines place her in the 45th District, adding Orfordville and much of Beloit to the area she has been representing.

Rep. Amy Loudenbeck, R-Clinton, is the incumbent in the 45th, but redistricting puts her in the 31st District.

Ringhand took nearly 63 percent of the vote, which she attributed to her determined effort to meet with residents. Her campaign knocked on more than 10,000 doors and called more than 1,000 people. She said she's been out and will continue to get to know people in Beloit and Orfordville, both areas she does not currently represent.

A mistake in initial election results gave De Forest more votes than she received in the city of Evansville, Rock County Clerk Lori Stottler confirmed. Ringhand won Evansville 480-42.

Voter contact will be Ringhand's No. 1 focus as she heads into the general election, she said.

The biggest issue is jobs in the area, she said, noting her support for a manufacturing technology center in Beloit. Ringhand also serves on the Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs and pledged to continue to help support veterans in every way possible, including job creation and health care.

"I'm going to be out there working as hard as ever," she said. "I'm looking forward to serving the new constituents in the new 45th."