Irma State Rep. Mary Felzkowski hopes to move up to a seat in the State Senate.
The Republican announced her candidacy Monday, hoping to take the seat being vacated by Minocqua Republican Tom Tiffany.
Tiffany is filing a notice of non-candidacy in the 12th State Senate District as he makes a run for U.S. Congress.
Felzkowski was first elected to the state legislature in 2012, representing the Tomahawk, Merrill, and Antigo areas.
She said she decided to run for Senate after Tiffany won his congressional primary on Feb. 18.
“I was very much encouraged by the support that I got. We just had a press conference in Merrill, and there was well over 35 people that came to support me and to say that I should do this, so it’s pretty humbling,” Felzkowski said.
Felzkowski has served two terms on the legislature’s powerful budget committee.
She said her views generally match with those of Tiffany and former Gov. Scott Walker.
“We align conservatively,” Felzkowski said. “I want less government, less regulation, less taxes, more freedoms for people. I’m strong in right-to-life, protecting the unborn, strong in Second Amendment.”
The district covers parts of 11 counties in northern Wisconsin.