With 92 percent of precincts reporting the Associated Press has declared Susan Sommer the winner of the Democratic Primary in the 12th Senate District. The seat was left vacant by Sen. Jim Holperin (D-Conover) who decided not to run again.

Sommer is a Rhinelander native who lives in Phelps. She's an associate attorney for an Eagle River law firm, and spent 17 years as an assistant district attorney in southern Wisconsin.

After serving as a prosecutor, she joined the Americorps program, where she worked with Habitat for Humanity.

Sommer says the last legislative session is also what convinced her to run for public office.

"I'm running because this last legislative session caused me great concern, it was such a divisive session for our whole state," Sommer said.

Sommer intends to take her compassion for people and respect to Madison, to reach her hand across the aisle to whomever, she said.

Sommer would like to re-visit the Clean Energy Jobs Bill to focus on producing clean energy, while creating well-paying green jobs. She also wants to bring a public health insurance option to our state, another priority.

"We have a great opportunity to do it before the federal government steps in here in 2014 and along with that we can implement a public insurance option, perhaps through our Badgercare program which is one of the greatest in the country," Sommer said.

She also wants to completely refund the public education system, and allocate more aid to poverty stricken schools, many which are in the Northwoods.

Sommer will face republican challenger Tom Tiffany on November 6th.