Ray And Severson To Vie For Wisconsin Senate Seat

Charly Ray and Erik Severson are competing to fill the vacant 25th District Senate seat in the November 2026 election.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Elections

Ray And Severson To Vie For Wisconsin Senate Seat

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Charly Ray and Erik Severson are set to compete for the vacant Wisconsin 25th District Senate seat in the November 2026 election. The vacancy follows the redistricting process that moved incumbent Senator Romaine Quinn to the 23rd District.

Why it matters

The race centers on policy shifts regarding state school funding formulas and healthcare access, including the potential adoption of federal Medicaid expansion. Candidates are also addressing local concerns such as the regulation of data centers.

The 25th District Senate seat remains vacant following recent map changes. The Bayfield County Board recently enacted an 18-month moratorium on data centers to manage regional development.

The players

Charly Ray

He is a candidate for the Wisconsin Senate and a current member of the Bayfield County Board.

Erik Severson

He is a former two-term Assembly member who resides in Horse Creek.

Romaine Quinn

He is the incumbent Senator who was moved into the 23rd District due to new legislative maps.

The details

Charly Ray, a member of the Bayfield County Board, is running against former two-term Assembly member Erik Severson. Ray supports Medicaid expansion and school funding reform, while planning to assist local communities in their efforts to regulate data center infrastructure.

1993: Charly Ray moved to northern Wisconsin.
Last 10 years: Charly Ray served on the Town of Bayview board.
Recent days: Bayfield County Board approved 18-month data center moratorium.
October 15, 2026: Article publication regarding the Senate race.
November 2026: The Wisconsin state election.

Political Context

The recent legislative map changes in Wisconsin have reshaped the electoral landscape, forcing incumbents like Romaine Quinn into new districts. This creates new political openings that challenge candidates to balance local land-use issues with broader state-level policy platforms.

Voters in the 25th District will determine which candidate's approach to state school funding and Medicaid expansion will influence future policy. Local residents should also monitor how the winner addresses the 18-month moratorium on data centers currently in effect.

The takeaway

The outcome of this election will define the legislative direction for school funding and healthcare policy in Wisconsin. Voters should assess how both candidates intend to manage the intersection of local zoning ordinances and state-level infrastructure development.