No doubt he sees the writing on the wall…
First-term Republican state Sen. Rick Gudex announced Monday that he won’t seek re-election, putting a competitive Senate district up for grabs in 2016 and giving Democrats a potential opening in a district they’re targeting for a pickup.
Republican Dan Feyen of Fond du Lac announced he will run for the seat, at about the same time Gudex made his plans public. It wasn’t immediately clear if other Republicans might run as well.
Gudex, R-Fond du Lac, was first elected in 2012, beating Democrat Jessica King by 600 votes. The district he represents, Senate District 18, includes the cities of Oshkosh and Fond du Lac.
Democrats are making Senate District 18 central to their statewide plan to narrow or reverse the 19-14 Republican majority in the state Senate. Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris is running for the seat as a Democrat.
With the right organization and a strong Presidential candidate, Mark will win this seat.
I have a good feeling that the new DPW staff and leadership will not let this opportunity slip away, as would have probably happened in the past.