MADISON, Wis. (AP) ― High interest in Republican primaries for Wisconsin governor and U.S. Senate, along with some hotly contested local races, were expected to attract a record turnout for Tuesday's primary.
Election officials predicted 28 percent, or roughly 1.2 million people, would cast ballots before polls closed at 8 p.m.
Millionaire Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson faces Watertown businessman Dave Westlake and Milwaukee plumber Stephen Finn in the Republican primary for Senate. Johnson, who has already spent more than $4 million of his own money on the race, was viewed as the heavy favorite to advance and take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold.
Feingold, who has already focused his attention on Johnson in television ads and campaign rhetoric, was unopposed.
In the governor's race, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann and Wisconsin Rapids financial planner Scott Paterick were running as Republicans.
Walker has been building his campaign almost nonstop since he dropped out of the 2006 campaign, and he was the overwhelming choice for the Republican endorsement in May. Neumann, a real estate developer, chose to re-enter politics with this race after he served two terms in Congress in the 1990s and lost in a bid for the U.S. Senate in 1998.
Neumann spent at least $4 million of his own money on the race.
Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was expected to easily advance against Milwaukee businessman Tim John, who posted several humorous videos on his website but didn't appear to be campaigning beyond that.
Thirteen incumbents in the state Legislature faced challenges in Tuesday's primary, as did Democratic state Treasurer Dawn Marie Sass. Four Democrats and five Republicans were running for lieutenant governor. The winner for each party will be paired with the gubernatorial nominee.
Primaries were also being held in five of the state's eight congressional districts.