Kooyenga captures GOP race to succeed Vukmir in Assembly

Barring a successful write-in campaign in the general election, Dale Kooyenga, 31, will fill the state Assembly seat left empty by Rep. Leah Vukmir, who stepped down in order to run against Jim Sullivan for the 5th district's state Senate seat.

With 90% of precincts reporting late Tuesday, Kooyenga, a certified public accountant, had secured 57% of the votes, followed in a distant second by attorney David Coon with 18%. Kooyenga, an Iraq War veteran, earned a bronze star for working with local Iraqis to restore a major highway outside Baghdad.

Six Republican candidates ran to represent the 14th District, which includes Wauwatosa, West Allis, Brookfield, Elm Grove and a small section of Milwaukee. In addition to coon, the other candidates were Chris Maurer, a finance manager; Dennis Kaun, retired from running an insurance agency, Michael Olen, a City of Milwaukee building inspector; and Ryan Shulander, a manager for a medical company.

In the absence of any Democratic candidates, the winner of this election automatically fills the seat after the Nov. 2 general election barring a successful write-in campaign.