UPDATED Tuesday, April 27, 2010 --- 9:19 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Assembly Majority Leader Tom Nelson has registered to run for lieutenant governor.

Nelson, a Kaukauna Democrat, registered with state election officials Tuesday to begin raising money for a campaign. Nelson, is completing his third term in the Assembly and first as majority leader.

He faces a crowded field for lieutenant governor. Three other Democrats, four Republicans and a Libertarian are running to replace incumbent Barbara Lawton, who has chosen not to seek re-election.

Milwaukee Alderman Tony Zielinski, a fifth Democrat in the hunt, dropped out of the race Tuesday. He says close advisers for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett, Milwaukee's mayor, told him two people from Milwaukee couldn't win a statewide race.

Barrett spokesman Phil Walzak denied anyone from the campaign told Zielinski to quit or that two people from Milwaukee couldn't win.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Tuesday, January 19, 2010 --- 10:00 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Republican Rebecca Kleefisch, the wife of state Rep. Joel Kleefisch, is running for lieutenant governor.

Kleefisch announced her candidacy on Tuesday. She joins three other Republicans who previously announced, including state Rep. Brett Davis of Oregon, Superior Mayor Dave Ross and Lake Geneva businessman Ben Collins.

Kleefisch is a former television news anchor who lives in Oconomowoc.

She says the lieutenant governor should work to better market the state to entice companies to locate and expand in Wisconsin.

At least three Democrats are running as well.

Incumbent Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton is not running.

The field will be narrowed to one candidate from each party on the Sept. 14 primary. The general election is Nov. 2.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Tuesday, December 22, 2009 --- 9:00 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A Democratic state senator from Milwaukee is running for lieutenant governor.

State. Sen. Spencer Coggs announced Tuesday that he will run for the position next year. Current Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton is not seeking a third term.

The 60-year-old Coggs served 20 years in the state Assembly before joining the Senate in 2003. He's not up for re-election in the Senate until 2012, so if he loses the lieutenant governor's race he won't have to give up his seat.

Three other Democrats and three Republicans have already filed with the Government Accountability Board to run for the office. They will be narrowed to one candidate from each party on the Sept. 14 primary. The general election is Nov. 2.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Posted Tuesday, November 10, 2009 --- 4:54 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A Lake Geneva businessman says he will run for lieutenant governor.

Republican Ben Collins says he has founded a defense technology company called Aptus Technologies, Inc., in Lake Geneva. He says he served three tours in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army.

He says he'll focus on creating jobs if he wins the lieutenant governor's seat.

Superior Mayor Dave Ross and state Rep. Brett Davis of Oregon have said they're running for lieutenant governor as Republicans, too.

Milwaukee Alderman Tony Zielinski and James Schneider of Gotham have said they'll run on the Democratic side. Incumbent Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, a Democrat, has said she won't run again.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Thursday, September 17, 2009 --- 9:55 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Republican state Rep. Brett Davis of Oregon has filed paperwork to explore a run for lieutenant governor.

Davis announced Thursday that he will spend the next few weeks deciding whether to launch a run. He says he will announce his decision later this year.

The position is open because Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton has announced she will run for governor next year as a Democrat. A number of Republicans and Democrats have said they are considering a run.

The only candidates registered to run so far are Republican Superior Mayor Dave Ross and Democratic Milwaukee Ald. T. Anthony Zielinski.

The 33-year-old Davis has been in the Legislature since 2004. He represents parts of Dane, Rock and Lafayette counties.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Posted Friday, September 11, 2009 --- 7:00 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The older brother of comedian Chris Farley says he's contemplating a run for lieutenant governor in Wisconsin as a Republican.

Tom Farley Jr. of Madison said Thursday he still needs to consult with a couple people and convince his wife it's a good idea before he commits.

Chris Farley grew up in Madison before leaving for a career on "Saturday Night Live" and in films. He died in 1997 from an accidental drug overdose.

Tom Farley runs the Chris Farley Foundation, which works to combat substance abuse. Last year he wrote a biography about his brother called "The Chris Farley Show."

Superior Mayor Dave Ross is already running as a Republican. Milwaukee Ald. T. Anthony Zielinski is running as a Democrat.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Monday, August 24, 2009 --- 9:15 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Democratic Milwaukee Alderman Tony Zielinski is running for lieutenant governor.

Zielinski announced on Friday that he would seek the position after serving since 2004 as an alderman in Milwaukee. Prior to that, Zielinski was on the Milwaukee County Board for 16 years.

He says the lieutenant governor has a bully pulpit that can be used to champion law and order issues and promote a healthy economy.

Democratic Milwaukee state senators Lena Taylor and Spencer Coggs are also considering running for the position.

On the Republican side, Superior Mayor Dave Ross has said he is running.

Current Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton is expected to run for governor since incumbent Gov. Jim Doyle is not seeking a third term.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Posted Friday, July 3, 2009 --- 9:25 a.m.

SUPERIOR, Wis. (AP) -- Superior Mayor Dave Ross is running for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor.

Ross mailed in registration papers that will allow him to assemble a campaign staff and begin raising money for the 2010 race. He says he'll hold a campaign kickoff on September 11 at his hometown of Barker's Island.

Ross says he's a fiscal conservative and will campaign in favor of responsible state spending and budgeting. He finished in first place for the nomination in a straw pol at the state Republican convention in May.

Ross was elected mayor of Superior in 2003, and re-elected in 2007 with 65 percent of the vote.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.