The race for the 57th Assembly District

DISTRICT 57 – Business owner Dylan Testin, author and former state Rep. Bill Lorge, dairy farmer Kevin Krentz and Waushara County Board Supervisor Ed Delgado will face off in the Republican primary. The winner will face Democrat bartender and custodian Joey Marschall in the general election. The seat is currently held by Republican state Rep. Kevin Petersen who is not seeking reelection. The district favors Republicans. Petersen was first elected to the Assembly in 2006 and won reelection in 2024 by 34 percentage points. Marschall did not face a primary opponent. Krentz did not respond to questions from Wisconsin Watch.
State representatives write, review and vote on legislation that becomes state law if approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor. State representatives serve on one or more of 37 committees that take public testimony on bills and review legislation. They work on a state budget every other year to determine how tens of billions of dollars are spent. State representatives also oversee a small staff that helps provide constituent services. Each member of the Assembly represents roughly 59,000 people.

Ed Delgado, 53, Republican, Redgranite
Why should voters elect you?
I am running for Wisconsin State Assembly because the people of the 57th District deserve a representative who will listen, show up, and fight for their interests. As a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Waushara County Board supervisor, working professional, and longtime conservative advocate, I understand the challenges facing working families, small businesses, farmers, and communities throughout the district. I believe in limited government, fiscal responsibility, public safety, election integrity, constitutional carry, strong enforcement of immigration laws, lower taxes, and the protection of constitutional rights. Most importantly, I believe elected office should be earned through hard work and direct engagement with the people — not selected, but earned.

What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
The number one issue I hear about across the 57th District is the rising cost of living. Families are paying more for groceries, gas, utilities, insurance, healthcare, and just about everything else they need to get by. At the same time, homeowners, farmers, retirees, and small business owners continue to feel the pressure of high property taxes and government spending. In our rural communities, people often have to drive long distances for work, school, appointments, and everyday errands, making higher fuel costs hit even harder. Working families are doing everything right, but many feel like they’re falling further behind. That’s why affordability, lower taxes, and responsible government spending aren’t just political talking points—they’re everyday concerns that directly impact the people of the 57th Assembly District.

Bill Lorge, 66, Republican, Fremont
Why should voters elect you?

I was successful in the 1990s serving 10 years in the Assembly. My talents, experience and leadership can bring us all back together for the people of Wisconsin. I’m the best candidate to unite, not divide. I passed many great laws because I worked with both Republicans and Democrats like saving the Wolf River from the Exxon Mine, deregulating small rural cemeteries in Wisconsin, and making Highway 10 safer. My father was the senator from this district, so I learned well and became a leader. I retired from the corrupt dirty political world to raise my children, and I’m now able to get back to work to help save the world for them and future generations. Enough is enough, time to bring Bill back.

What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
The Wolf River flooding. The Army Corps of Engineers need to dredge ditches to take the water so it does not flood our communities like it did again this year. I have a great history with the Wolf River, I love that river and will do all I can to solve this problem so our citizens can relax knowing that the flooding has finally been fixed.

Joey Marschall, 42, Democrat, Poy Sippi

Why should voters elect you?
I want to bring a voice to the regular working class people of our state. I want to make healthcare affordable for everyone and fix our public education funding to actually fund public schools in order to give our children to best opportunity for success and lower our property taxes. I also want to increase our minimum wage to a living wage.

What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
I think affordability is the top issue. Some of the things I would do to address this is passing the Badgercare public option to help people afford healthcare. Also getting rid of the school voucher program, Public money should be going to public education and by funding public schools our property taxes dont have to continue to rise in order to pay for things the state should already be paying for.

Dylan Testin, 31, Republican, Waupaca
Why should voters elect you?
I have been a voice and leader in my community long before running for office.
What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?

Cost of living and the tax burden is the easy answer, and is priority number 1 in my campaign, but we also need to focus on protecting our natural resources as they are a major contributor to our way of life in rural Wisconsin. From agriculture to tourism dollars, we rely heavily on our lakes and land in District 57.

This report of the Wisconsin State Assembly District 57 was produced by Wisconsin Watch.