Wahner, Thompson lead in early results

Voters in Douglas County opted to send the register of deeds back to office for another term.

With half the precincts reporting, Register of Deeds Gayle Wahner was leading over newcomer Mike Kapalin by a 3-to-1 margin.

The Democrat who wins the primary is running unchallenged on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The register of deeds race may not be the most glamorous race on the ballot that pits four Republicans against one another in a statewide race for a U.S. Senate seat to be vacated when U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., retires at the end of his term.

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson was holding a modest lead over challengers with about one-third of the statewide precincts reporting. Madison-area businessman Eric Hovde, former congressman and businessman Mark Neumann and Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitgerald are vying for the seat.

Whoever wins Tuesday’s race faces Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, the only Democrat in the race in November.

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