Borchardt Wins Neenah Mayoral Race, Penterman Retains Kaukauna Seat

Two Wisconsin municipalities vote in new and incumbent mayors in local elections.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:43am

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of a lone voting booth or ballot box sitting in a quiet, sunlit urban setting, conveying the solemnity and significance of local elections.The municipal elections in Neenah and Kaukauna reflect the continued importance of local politics and voter engagement in shaping the future of Wisconsin communities.Kaukauna Today

In the April 7 municipal elections, Neenah voters elected school teacher Brian Borchardt as their new mayor for the next four years, while Kaukauna voters retained incumbent Mayor Tony Penterman for a fifth consecutive two-year term.

Why it matters

Local mayoral elections are important for setting the agenda and priorities for their respective cities. The results in Neenah and Kaukauna reflect the voting preferences of residents in these Wisconsin communities.

The details

In Neenah, Brian Borchardt, a local school teacher, won the mayoral race, defeating the incumbent. In Kaukauna, Mayor Tony Penterman was re-elected to his fifth consecutive two-year term, indicating strong support from voters in that city.

  • The municipal elections took place on April 7, 2026.

The players

Brian Borchardt

The newly elected mayor of Neenah, Wisconsin, who is a local school teacher.

Tony Penterman

The incumbent mayor of Kaukauna, Wisconsin, who was re-elected to his fifth consecutive two-year term.

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What they’re saying

“We ran a clean campaign and a really positive campaign.”

— Brian Borchardt, Mayor-Elect of Neenah

The takeaway

The election results in Neenah and Kaukauna demonstrate the continued importance of local politics and the ability of voters to shape the leadership and direction of their communities.