No Democrat, No Incumbent: Binsfeld vs Ellis for SD 9

Wisconsin Senate District 9 is exactly the kind of race cannabis reform advocates should be watching. It is a Republican-leaning district, there is no Democratic candidate on the ballot, and the open seat features a Republican candidate with no established record of supporting reform against an Independent who supports legalizing marijuana and advancing sensible cannabis policy.

Republican Amy Binsfeld faces Independent Christian Ellis in a district that leans approximately 15 points Republican. With Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu not seeking reelection, voters have an opportunity to choose new representation without an incumbent on the ballot.

For Wisconsin’s hemp and cannabis communities, this race deserves a closer look.

Ellis has publicly expressed support for adult-use marijuana legalization under a responsible regulatory framework. That is an important distinction in a state where cannabis reform continues to face significant legislative obstacles. Wisconsin needs lawmakers willing to consider protecting the hemp industry, expanding medical cannabis access, ending criminal penalties for responsible adult use, and creating a sensible regulatory system.

Binsfeld, a former state representative, does not have an established record of supporting cannabis reform, until now.

Binsfeld’s Opposition: Workers and Police Dogs

During a recent radio debate, Amy Binsfeld reportedly opposed hemp and cannabis reform, raising concerns that people would show up to work high and that police departments would have to retrain their drug-sniffing dogs. These arguments deserve scrutiny, particularly as Wisconsin’s hemp farmers and small businesses face an uncertain future.

Workplace impairment is a legitimate issue for employers to address, but it is not a reason to prohibit an entire industry. Wisconsin can establish sensible rules that distinguish impairment on the job from the lawful production, sale, and use of hemp and cannabis products. Likewise, concerns about police dogs should prompt a discussion about training, testing, and enforcement priorities—not automatically end the conversation about reform.

The question for voters is whether Wisconsin should develop practical regulations for a changing industry or continue defending prohibition because reform would require adjustments. Independent candidate Christian Ellis offers voters a different perspective, with support for hemp and cannabis reform. In an open, Republican-leaning district with no Democrat on the ballot, that contrast makes Senate District 9 an important race for the reform community to watch.

Senate District 9 stretches across eastern Wisconsin, encompassing nearly all of Sheboygan County, portions of southern and eastern Manitowoc County, and the northeast corner of Fond du Lac County. Its key communities include Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Sheboygan Falls, Plymouth, Kiel, Kohler, Oostburg, and Elkhart Lake, along with numerous smaller villages, townships, and rural farming communities. From the Lake Michigan shoreline to the agricultural countryside inland, this district brings together manufacturing, tourism, family farms, and small businesses. Decisions made in Madison affect all of them—including the future of Wisconsin’s hemp farmers and cannabis businesses.