Marklein, of Spring Green, is seeking a fourth Senate term against Democratic state Rep. Jenna Jacobson of Oregon. The election is Nov. 3. The district includes southern Dane County, all of Crawford, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette counties, and portions of Vernon and Rock counties.

The new map, adopted in 2024 after a legal fight over Wisconsin’s legislative districts, made the 17th more competitive. It is one of four Senate battlegrounds this year, according to an analysis by Marquette University research fellow John Johnson, who rated the race a tossup in July.

The district has leaned toward Democratic candidates for president, governor and U.S. Senate in recent elections, but Marklein has often run ahead of his party. He won 60% of the district’s vote in 2022, compared with 52% for Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels. In 2018, Marklein won 54%, while Republican Gov. Scott Walker received 49% there.

Both candidates say they are focused on the basics of campaigning: meeting voters, knocking on doors and showing up at community events. Jacobson says she hears frustration about rising costs and a lack of action in Madison. “Please just do something,” she said voters tell her as she canvasses.

Jacobson, who has represented the 50th Assembly District since 2022, previously worked in housing programs and financial analysis. She said growing up in a family that relied on food stamps shaped her perspective. After the 2016 election, she became more involved in local politics and eventually joined the Oregon Village Board before running for the Assembly.

Marklein, a former accountant and fraud examiner, has represented the area in the Legislature since 2011, first in the Assembly and then in the Senate. He points to his familiarity with the district and a longstanding practice of personally canvassing thousands of homes. He says voters recognize his work in their communities.

The contest has drawn heavy spending and sharp-edged advertising. Campaign finance reports filed in September showed Jacobson had raised $1.3 million during the year and spent more than $870,000 on paid media, with about $54,000 on hand. Marklein reported raising nearly $459,000 and spending almost $931,000 on paid media, with just under $134,000 remaining. Ads from both sides have traded personal attacks and arguments over candidates’ records.

School funding and affordability are central to the campaign. Jacobson says stronger state support for public schools could ease pressure on property taxpayers and wants lawmakers to review the formula used to distribute aid. Marklein, co-chair of the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, says districts facing declining enrollment should consider ways to reduce costs, including sharing some grades or administrative services. He opposes district consolidation.

Both candidates support increasing state reimbursement for special education, though they differ on how much. Jacobson backs raising the reimbursement rate from 45% to 90%. Marklein supports an increase but says lawmakers must weigh it against other budget priorities. Both also supported a spring proposal to use part of the state’s then-$2.5 billion surplus for school funding and payments to residents, though Marklein raised concerns about using one-time funds for ongoing expenses.

They also diverge on some responses to rising costs. Marklein favors looking for savings in the next state budget. Jacobson supports raising Wisconsin’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, a measure she co-authored in 2023.

On data centers, both candidates support regulation and a role for local governments in decisions about proposed facilities. Marklein backed a Republican bill that passed the Assembly but did not receive a Senate vote. A Democratic bill, which also proposed renewable-energy and union-wage requirements, did not receive a hearing. Jacobson opposes confidential agreements between companies and public officials and says communities need more help assessing proposals. Marklein says developers should cover costs for local services such as fire protection.

Both candidates also want to slow consideration of two proposed high-voltage transmission lines that could affect the district. Marklein opposes the projects. Jacobson says residents need more information and that routes should follow existing infrastructure where possible. The state Public Service Commission will decide whether the lines can be built.

On childcare, Marklein says government should support families and providers without taking over the system, while Jacobson favors moving toward a universal model, potentially in stages. Both describe the expired Child Care Counts program as temporary support, but Jacobson is skeptical that easing regulations alone would address the industry’s problems.

The results could help determine control of the Senate, but the contest also puts practical questions before district voters: who should bear the cost of public schools, how communities should manage energy and data-center development, and what role state government should play in making care and daily expenses more affordable.