These candidates will face off in the Republican primary for Wisconsin's 29th State Senate District

Three Republican candidates will face off in a primary race Aug. 9 for the 29th State Senate District seat. Brent Jacobson, Jon Kaiser and Cory Tomczyk will vie for a spot on the November ballot to face Democratic candidate Bob Look.

Incumbent Jerry Petrowski, who currently holds the seat, announced his retirement in March.

The 29th District includes all of Rusk and Taylor counties and parts of Marathon, Sawyer, Clark and Wood counties.

To learn more about registering to vote and to find your polling place, visit My Vote Wisconsin.

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin asked each of the candidates to address important issues in the district and why they believe they are the best candidate for the position

Brent Jacobson

Age: 39

Residence: Mosinee

Occupation: Mayor of Mosinee

Campaign website: https://www.facebook.com/BrentJacobsonForStateSenate

Jon Kaiser

Age: 27

Residence: Ladysmith

Occupation: Realtor and business owner

Campaign website: https://www.jonpkaiser.com/

Cory Tomczyk

Age: 59

Residence: Mosinee

Occupation: Business owner

Campaign website: https://www.coryforsenatewi.com/

Why are you running for this office?

Jacobson: Tony Evers’ policies have failed Wisconsinites the last three and a half years. I am running to work with fellow legislators in Madison to advance policies that will get Wisconsin back to work, move our economy forward, put parents back in control of their child’s education and support law enforcement.

Kaiser: I am running to bring common sense back to Madison. I am from a small rural town and I want to be a vocal proponent for our area by expanding rural broadband, fixing our roads and broken education system, lowering taxes and growing our local economy.

Tomczyk: I’m tired of Republican politicians who always have an excuse for not standing up for Republican values.

Why are you the best candidate in this race?

Jacobson: I have experience from both the public and private sector to serve us well in Madison. I have effectively led a city as mayor of Mosinee, I have served as a county supervisor, I have chaired a multi-community fire and EMS district, and I own a small business.

Kaiser: There are four unique characteristics of the district: Northwoods, agriculture, industrial and financial. I am from the Northwoods, grew up picking rock and shoveling manure at nearby farms, serve on our local Industrial Development Board and run an investment advisory business. I’m the only candidate who checks all four boxes.

Tomczyk: I am a strong conservative, not someone who is supported by a long list of establishment endorsements or funded by a political action committee.

What are residents telling you are their greatest concerns, and how would you address them?

Jacobson: Record-high gas prices, skyrocketing inflation, a record-high producer price index and a qualified worker shortage. I will work tirelessly to cut and eliminate income and property taxes, seek to clean up fraud and abuse in the unemployment insurance system, and push back against costly and ineffective energy policies.

Kaiser: Election integrity, education, rural broadband, infrastructure, finding workers to fill jobs and finding affordable housing are a few of the major ones, but I can’t address them in 50 words or less. Please visit my website, www.jonpkaiser.com to read my stance on these important issues.

Tomczyk: People are upset about the economy and election integrity. In the Senate I will work to reduce the expenses that the state places on its people. My mantra is "Spend less. Tax less. Regulate less." On election integrity I will support or author continued legislation to strengthen the electoral process. Voters can simply do this quicker by replacing Governor “Veto” Evers.

What is the most pressing issue facing Wisconsin, and how would you address it?

Jacobson: A qualified worker shortage, particularly in my state Senate district, many parts of which are rural with aging populations. First, we need to learn from the mistakes of the recent past. During the COVID-19 shutdowns, we infused an enormous amount of stimulus through money and benefits into the economy that, in part, created a sense of dependence on government. Second, it has become far too easy to stay on unemployment insurance. More audits and stricter work and job search requirements are a must. Finally, we must invest further in the trades — welders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and more.

Kaiser: A recent survey found that 86% of businesses in Wisconsin are struggling to hire employees, causing some businesses to shut their doors or minimize their operations. The answer to that problem is multi-faceted. First, we need housing that is affordable for the working class. There are tools out there for developers to build low-income housing, but there are currently no tools from the state to aid in the development of “workforce” housing. Additionally, we need to greatly expand technical training in high schools to have students “workforce-ready” straight out of school.

Tomczyk: The most pressing issue is the economic and taxation burden that is making life hard for employers and families. I will work to remove the hurdles that prevent Wisconsin from becoming a “destination” state for young families. I will work to support employers who want to do more for their people but are limited by state regulation.

Would you vote to repeal Wisconsin’s ban on abortions or to add exemptions to the law?

Jacobson: No. The current law should be honored and enforced. Other options are available to expecting mothers that we, as legislators, can and should improve. Adoption is a wonderful opportunity to bring a child into the world and give a couple not fortunate enough to conceive the gift of parenthood. Unfortunately, the process is expensive, time consuming and out of reach for many. I would work to streamline the process and reduce the cost while increasing supportive resources for expecting mothers that encourage adoption over terminating the pregnancy by traveling to a state where it is still available.

Kaiser: I would not vote to repeal the current abortion law on the books. I believe we need to greatly expand funding for pre- and post-natal care, resources for women’s mental and physical health, access to contraceptives and child care. I am proud to hold the compassionate position of advocating for the unborn, which is why I have been endorsed by both Wisconsin Right to Life and Pro-Life Wisconsin.

Tomczyk: I would not repeal the ban on abortions. My Catholic faith says it’s a sin. I cannot support abortion in any form. I would not negatively judge a woman who experienced the terror of rape or incest and chose to end that life. I would, as an adoptive parent, encourage her to allow that child to live and be adopted by people who would very much like the opportunity to provide for, care for and love that child.

Do you believe Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election legitimately?

Jacobson: The more concerning point is that we even have to ask the question. Democrats want the topic alive to divide what they fear most — a united Republican Party. There are real concerns among many, myself included, about the integrity of our elections. Tony Evers and WEC are to blame. Drop boxes, a loose interpretation of indefinitely confined voter, no oversight in nursing homes and private money in public elections should concern all of us. Our legislature passed laws to address these concerns; Evers vetoed them. I will immediately step forward to pass them again for a Republican governor to sign.

Kaiser: The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently ruled that ballot drop boxes are illegal in our state, and that is also the case in several other states “in question” following the 2020 election. That opinion further stated that the use of drop boxes in the 2020 election was also illegal and thus any ballot cast in that fashion is considered “illegitimate." Millions of ballots were cast in that fashion in 2020 and certainly made the difference in the race. While it is important that every voice be heard, we need to eliminate any voting mechanism that leaves the door open for fraud.

Tomczyk: I do not believe Biden won the election. There is too much evidence to the contrary. The film "2000 Mules" is one example, just one. The voting irregularities that have been documented in Wisconsin is another. The secondary crime on top of the election is the failure of leadership in the legislature to fully investigate and put everyone’s doubts to rest.

This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: Wisconsin's 29th Senate District: Republican candidates August primary