The Ballot Brief
Door County, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Assembly District 1

Kitchens and Paplham are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Door County election filings.

About this race

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.

What this office does

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.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

Wisconsin › Door County › Wisconsin Assembly District 1

Joel Kitchens

RepublicanIncumbent

Biography

Joel Kitchens is a veterinarian with a bachelor's degree in agriculture and a veterinary degree from Ohio State University who has practiced in Sturgeon Bay since 1984, per the campaign site. Kitchens chairs the Assembly Committee on Education, is vice chair of the Committee on Environment, and served 15 years on the Sturgeon Bay School Board, per the campaign site.

Renee A. Paplham

Democratic

Biography

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.

Next on your ballotWisconsin Senate District 1

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Questions about this race

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 Door 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 Door 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.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Door County and state election office filings, last verified October 15, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Wisconsin election office, or see the full Door County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Door County ballot

4 tracked races in Door County, Wisconsin. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Door County SheriffDoor County Clerk of Circuit CourtSee all 4 Door County races
Candidate profiles
Joel Kitchens, full profileRenee A. Paplham, full profileOfficial Wisconsin election office