Biography
Charly Ray is the Democratic candidate for Wisconsin State Senate District 25 in the November 3, 2026 general election, running against Republican Erik Severson for a seat with no incumbent.[1][2] A forester and Bayfield County supervisor, he said in a Ballotpedia survey that he is running for better health care, school funding reform and more local power for towns and counties.[1][3]
Charly Ray's career experience includes working as a forester.[1] In a Ballotpedia survey, he said he owns Honest Dog Books in Bayfield with his wife, Julie Buckles, and that they have lived outside Washburn for 31 years, raised two children and ran a team of sled dogs for twenty years.[3] He said he has served in town government for 10 years and on the county board for five years.[3]
Ray advanced from the Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 25 on August 11, 2026.[1] He said in the survey that the school funding formula has not been updated since 1993 and needs reform, that he supports a BadgerCare buy-in option and state funding for rural emergency medical services, and that he wants Madison to support local decisions on land use.[3]
- 1.Charly Ray · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.Charly Ray - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Wisconsin Senate District 25
Charly Ray is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Wisconsin Senate District 25 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.