Voters took a bipartisan approach to choosing their favorite elected officials in the Chippewa Valley this past year. Chippewa County Sheriff Travis Hakes, a Republican who has been in office just over a year, rose from No. 3 in the 2023 poll to achieve the top ranking this time around. A longtime favorite, state Rep. Jodi Emerson — a Democrat whose district encompasses most of the City of Eau Claire — placed second this year, followed by her colleague under the dome, state Sen. Jeff Smith, a fellow Democrat, whose district encompasses a broad swath of west-central Wisconsin. —Tom Giffey