Biography
Merlin Van Buren is the Democratic candidate for Wisconsin State Assembly District 34 in the November 3, 2026 general election, facing incumbent Rob Swearingen (R).[1][2] Van Buren is a member of the Rhinelander School District school board and ran for the same Assembly seat in 2010 and 2012.[1]
Van Buren graduated from Waupun High School in 1978 and received a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1982.[1] He holds an at-large seat on the Rhinelander School District school board, with a term ending in 2029.[1]
Van Buren was defeated by Republican Dan Meyer in the November 2010 general election for District 34.[1] In 2012 he won the Democratic primary over Roberta Retrum but lost the general election to Rob Swearingen, 36.2 percent to 57.2 percent.[1] Ballotpedia reports that Van Buren was removed from the ballot before the 2014 primary.[1]
- 1.Merlin Van Buren - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Wisconsin Assembly District 34
Merlin Van Buren is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Wisconsin Assembly District 34 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.
