Edming not running for reelection

After serving the people of the 87th Assembly District for nearly 10 years, Rep. James “Jimmy Boy” Edming (R-Glen Flora) announced last week that he will not be seeking re-election to the State Assembly. With this announcement, Rep. Edming released the following statement: “After conversations with my family and prayerful consideration, I have decided that I will not seek re-election to the State Assembly this fall. This decision was an incredibly difficult one to make as serving the people of the 87th District in the State Assembly is truly the best job I have ever had. To this day I am still humbled by the trust my fellow citizens have placed in me to be their voice in Madison. Since my first run for the State Assembly, I have told folks that I was a problem solver, not a politician. Throughout my time in office, I have strived to live up to this promise and to stand up for the values of the Northwoods in Madison.”

“During my time in the Legislature, I have been proud to be a leader in advocating for veterans and active duty service members. This session, Speaker Vos gave me the tremendous honor of appointing me as the chairman of the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. I am incredibly proud of the work we did this session including passing legislation to remove barriers to hiring direct care staff at our state’s veterans homes and another proposal to make it easier for veterans’ spouses to access care at these facilities. I am also proud of my work in previous sessions to promote community-based employment for people with disabilities including enactment of the Employment First Act.”

“In the Legislature, I have also experienced my fair share of disappointments. One of the proposals I’ve worked the hardest on was the expansion of the veterans and surviving spouses property tax credit. While I was able to get it through the State Assembly with a unanimous 96-0 vote, Senate leadership unfortunately refused to give the proposal a vote before the session came to an end. While I won’t be here to continue leading this effort, I am confident some of my colleagues in both houses will continue working to get this important tax relief measure to the governor’s desk.

“While it will be hard to walk away, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve over these past ten years and look forward to what the next chapter holds.”

The 87th Assembly District currently includes all or portions of Marathon, Rusk, Sawyer and Taylor counties.

Rep. Edming was one of four area legislators to be moved out of their current districts as a result of new maps signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers in February.

Rep. Edming now resides within the new 68th Assembly District, which is currently represented by Karen Hurd (R-Fall Creek), who will no longer be living in the 68th. Hurd has said she intends to move into Clark County so she can run in the new 69th Assembly District, which will have no incumbent in the November election.

Rep. Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer) will be moved into the 68th.

The 87th has been greatly condensed and shifted to the southeast so it now centers around southeast Marathon County and portions of Shawano, Portage and Waupaca counties.

“Jimmy Boy” Edming