AD 94: Incumbent Doyle (D) vs Huebsch (R)
The 94th Assembly District of Wisconsin is located in western Wisconsin, the district comprises parts of northern La Crosse County and southeast Trempealeau County. It includes the cities of Galesville and Onalaska, and the villages of Ettrick, Holmen, and West Salem, along with part of the north side of the city of La Crosse.
The district boundaries as a result of redistricting shifted slightly north to northwest. Depending on who you talk to, each has a different reason for why this is considered a competitive and close to a toss up race. The note on district performance from WisPolitics is 53.6% Republican. Davesredistricting is 50.3% Democratic lean and the Projects.cnalysis showed this race as a toss up early on and now is tilting Democrat. The current Incumbent is Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) and he ran for re-election to the La Crosse County Board in April 2024.
Republican Ryan Huebsch has some family ties to elected officials in this area as the district was formerly held by his father and ex-Assembly speaker, Mike Huebsch. Doyle was first elected in a 2011 special election when former Rep. Mike Huebsch resigned to serve as Department of Administration secretary under former Gov. Scott Walker. Mike Huebsch represented the 94th AD from 1995-2011 and served as Assembly speaker from 2007-2008.
This race is a rematch from two years ago, when Doyle won by 756 votes, just one a slightly different course.
Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska)
Political History
Incumbent
La Crosse County Board, 1986–present (chair, 2002–11).
Elected to Assembly in May 2011 special election. Reelected since 2012.
Leadership positions: Minority Caucus Vice Chair 2019, 2017.
Election History
2022: 51.3% of the vote to defeat Ryan Huebsch (R)
2020: 52.4% of the vote to defeat Kevin Hoyer(R)
2018: 60.2% of the vote to defeat Albert Rohland (R)
2016: 52.63% of the vote to defeat Julian Bradley (R)
2014: 54.1% of the vote to defeat Tracie Happel (R)
2012: 60.6% of the vote to defeat Bruce Evers (R)
What about cannabis reform?
So in working on reform and election coverage over the years we wondered why Rep. Doyle had not been more supportive of adult use recreational marijuana reform. A few news articles about Rep. Doyle and marijuana reform in his area led me to write an op-ed piece entitled “Did Doyle Dump Cannabis Reform?“
In all fairness, we do believe he supports medical marijuana, as Rep. Doyle was a past co-sponsor of the medical marijuana bill in 2017, but since than he has been missing as a co-sponsor for recreational marijuana efforts. It seems the voters in the area care about cannabis and enthusiastically voted 63% in favor of legal pot. The La Crosse County 2018 referendum results echoed the voices of many other referendums favoring legalization.
In 2021 Congressman Ron Kind (D) retires and who jumps into the primary race right away asking for your votes? Incumbents who are missing in action as elected officials. Doyles name was circulated around as a possible candidate which promoted me to write an article basically saying Doyle wants your vote, but is MIA on legalization.
In his September 2022 candidate interview Doyle states he has always been in favor of medical marijuana but is less enthusiastic about recreational marijuana, but referendums in his district show that is what the people want so he would support it based of that.
More recently, Doyle has this to say about marijuana in an interview on January 4th, 2024 with La Crosse Talk PM.
Money
An article from a joint publication between Ballotpedia and Transparency USA on Sept 7, 2022 entitled Steve Doyle spent more than any other Democratic Assembly candidate or officeholder in Wisconsin revealed that Wisconsin Democratic Assembly candidates and officeholders have spent $1.4 million during the 2022 election cycle. Among state representatives and candidates, Steve Doyle has spent more than any other Democrat.
Doyle is the representative for Wisconsin Assembly District 94 and is running for re-election in 2022. Doyle raised $662,798 and spent $130,155 between Jan. 1, 2021, and July 25, 2022, According to Wisconsin Ethics Commission.
vs
The Republican
Ryan Huebsch (R-Onalaska)
Ryan Huebsch, raised in West Salem, currently resides in Onalaska. He graduated from UW-La Crosse in 2018. He is 26 years old.
Campaign Facebook Page – contacted
Campaign Website – contacted
Policy Staff for Senator Eric Wimberger
– former Legislative Aide for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald for 3 years.
-Campaign Manager for Dan Kapanke for Senate 2022
His campaign has been contacted five (5) times with no response.
Stay tuned and get active!
I will provide you additional 2024 Wisconsin State Election coverage throughout the campaign season. This next election is extremely important for marijuana reform and I will continue to bring you information as more candidates make their political moves.
In the event that we end up with divided government in the 2024-25 legislation session, the official formation of The Wisconsin Cannabis Caucus would be a must first step towards reform. The official establishment of this Caucus will represent the growing, bipartisan support in Wisconsin.
Although session as ended we still urge you to contact your elected officials. The top four action alerts are still functionable on The Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Action Network for you immediate use.
Sources: CNanalysis (Tilt Dem +3) WisPolitics /2024 Assembly Races (53% Dem), Davesredistircing, PeoplesMaps, Ballotpedia
