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Ringhand wins 15th Senate seat; 3 Democrats win uncontested races
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By Times staff

MONROE - Democrat Janis Ringhand of Evansville defeated Republican Brian Fitzgerald of Janesville Tuesday in the race for the 15th Senate District seat.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Ringhand had 59 percent of the vote to Fitzgerald's 41 percent, with 36,348 votes to 24,759.

Ringhand, who previously held the 45th Assembly District seat, received 54 percent of the vote in Green County with 2,221 votes, and Fitzgerald took 46 percent with 1,891.

Ringhand will fill the seat of Sen. Tim Cullen, D-Janesville, who did not seek re-election. The 15th Senate District covers parts of Green, Dane, Rock Jefferson and Walworth counties.

Democrats also won in three uncontested area races.

Democrat Mark Spreitzer of Beloit ran uncontested for the 45th Assembly District seat vacated by Ringhand, receiving 2,759 votes in Green County. There were 107 write-in votes.

Spreitzer defeated Sheila De Forest in the August primary. The 45th Assembly District covers parts of Green and Rock counties.

Incumbent Democrat Sondy Pope of Cross Plains ran uncontested for the 80th Assembly District seat, receiving 3,909 votes in Green County. There were 106 write-in votes.

Pope was first elected to the chamber in 2012, when she defeated Republican Tom Lamberson in the general election. The 80th Senate District covers parts of Green, Iowa and Dane counties.

Democrat Jon B. Erpenbach ran uncontested for the 27th Senate District, receiving 4,027 votes in Green County. There were 113 write-in votes.

Erpenbach, who also ran unopposed in the August primary, was first elected to the chamber in 1998.

The 27th Senate District covers parts of Green, Iowa, Sauk, Columbia and Dane counties.