2 candidates are tracked for Wisconsin Assembly District 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Joel Kitchens and Renee A. Paplham. Candidate information follows official Brown County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Joel Kitchens (Republican), Renee A. Paplham (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Joel Kitchens is the sitting member, per the Wisconsin Elections Commission's incumbent listing and the Legislature's roster. Wisconsin has no runoffs; the August 11 partisan primary set each party's nominee, and unopposed nominees still print. The field is the Wisconsin Elections Commission's certified Candidates on Ballot list for the November 3, 2026 general election (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.
This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Joel Kitchens, is on the ballot.
Wisconsin › Brown County › Wisconsin Assembly District 1
Republican Incumbent
Joel Kitchens has worked as a farm animal veterinarian in Door and Kewaunee counties for more than 30 years, co-founding a veterinary practice in Sturgeon Bay in 1984, per his official legislator biography. He served on the Sturgeon Bay School Board, including as its president, before his election to the Assembly in 2014. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Democratic
Renee Paplham works as a mediator with the Mediation Center of Green Bay, per Door County Daily News. She is a lifelong resident of Kewaunee County with a bachelor's degree from UW-Green Bay, and this is her second campaign for the seat after running against Rep. Joel Kitchens in 2024. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Who is running for Wisconsin Assembly District 1 in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Wisconsin Assembly District 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Joel Kitchens and Renee A. Paplham. Candidate information follows official Brown County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Wisconsin Assembly District 1 election in Wisconsin?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Wisconsin are on the Wisconsin election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Brown County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.
Candidate roster from official Brown County and state election office filings, last verified September 25, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Wisconsin election office, or see the full Brown County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
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