Wisconsin 2012 legislative election results

The tabs below contain analysis of election results in the 2012 legislative elections for Wisconsin.

• Senate
• House
• National Partisan Trends

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
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Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

Wisconsin State Senate Election Results

This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the Wisconsin State Senate 2012 elections. For results in individual contests see our Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2012 page. The following is a breakdown of the state senate before and after the election:

Wisconsin State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	17	15
	Republican Party	15	18
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		33	33

What You'll See on This Page

This page will display the following lists of candidates

• Incumbents running on November 6
• Defeated incumbents
• Challengers who defeated an incumbent
• Newly elected senators
• List of all winners
• Unopposed candidates
• Third party candidates

State Senate Overview:

• A total of 16 of the state's Senate seats were up for election in 2012.

Incumbents

Incumbents running in November 6

The following is a list of all of the incumbents running on the November 6 general election ballot:

1. Alberta Darling
2. Dave Hansen
3. Fred Risser
4. Glenn Grothman
5. Jennifer Shilling
6. Jessica King
7. Julie Lassa
8. Lena Taylor
9. Luther Olsen
10. Mark Miller (Wisconsin)
11. Mary Lazich
12. Robert Cowles
13. Robert Wirch
14. Sheila Harsdorf

Incumbents defeated

The followings is a list of incumbents defeated in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Jessica King	Democratic	Wisconsin State Senate District 18

Primary election

No candidates have this category yet.

Challengers who beat an incumbent

The following is a list of challengers who defeated an incumbent in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Nikiya Harris	Democratic	Wisconsin State Senate, District 6
Rick Gudex	Republican	Wisconsin State Senate, District 18
Tom Tiffany	Republican	Wisconsin State Senate District 12

Primary election

Results will display after the election on November 6.

New State Senators and General Election Winners

Newly elected senators

The following list will display the newly-elected members of the Wisconsin State Senate:

Democratic

1. Nikiya Harris

Republican

1. Rick Gudex
2. Tom Tiffany

Open Seat Winners

The following will display a list of candidates who won election in seats where no incumbent was running:

Democratic

Results will display after the election on November 6.

Republican

Results will display after the election on November 6.

Candidates who won election

The following will be a list of all candidates elected to the Wisconsin State Senate:

Democratic

1. Dave Hansen
2. Fred Risser
3. Jennifer Shilling
4. Julie Lassa
5. Lena Taylor
6. Mark Miller (Wisconsin)
7. Nikiya Harris
8. Robert Wirch

Republican

1. Alberta Darling
2. Glenn Grothman
3. Luther Olsen
4. Mary Lazich
5. Rick Gudex
6. Robert Cowles
7. Sheila Harsdorf
8. Tom Tiffany

Competitiveness

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates will not face major party competition:

Democratic

1. Fred Risser
2. Lena Taylor
3. Mark Miller (Wisconsin)
4. Nikiya Harris

Republican

1. Alberta Darling
2. Robert Cowles

Ballot Access

Third party candidates

The following is a list of third party and independent candidates who are running in 2012:

1. Koby Schellenger

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
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Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

Wisconsin State House Election Results

This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the Wisconsin House of Representatives elections in 2012. For results in individual contests, see our Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2012. The following is a breakdown of the state house before and after the election:

Wisconsin State Assembly
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	39	39
	Republican Party	58	60
	Independent	1	0
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		99	99

What You'll See on This Page

This page will display the following lists of candidates

• Incumbents running on November 6
• Defeated incumbents
• Challengers who defeated an incumbent
• Newly elected representatives
• List of all winners
• Unopposed candidates
• Third party candidates

State House Overview

• All 99 of the state's House seats were up for election in 2012.

Incumbency Analysis

Incumbents who ran on November 6

The following is a list of all of the incumbents who are running on the November 6 general election ballot:

1. Alvin Ott
2. Amy Loudenbeck
3. Amy Vruwink
4. Andre Jacque
5. Andy Jorgensen
6. Bill Kramer
7. Brett Hulsey
8. Chad Weininger
9. Chris Danou
10. Chris Kapenga
11. Chris Taylor
12. Christine Sinicki
13. Cory Mason
14. Dale Kooyenga
15. Daniel Knodl
16. Daniel LeMahieu
17. Dave Craig
18. Dean Kaufert
19. Dean Knudson
20. Don Pridemore
21. Duey Stroebel
22. Ed Brooks
23. Erik Severson
24. Evan Wynn
25. Fred Clark
26. Frederick Kessler
27. Garey Bies
28. Gary Hebl
29. Gary Tauchen
30. Gordon Hintz
31. Howard Marklein
32. Janet Bewley
33. Janis Ringhand
34. Jeffrey Mursau
35. Jeffrey Stone
36. Jeremy Thiesfeldt
37. Jill Billings
38. Jim Ott
39. Jim Steineke
40. JoCasta Zamarripa
41. Joan Ballweg
42. Joe Knilans
43. Joel Kleefisch
44. John Klenke
45. John Murtha
46. John Nygren
47. John Steinbrink
48. Jon Richards
49. Josh Zepnick
50. Kathy Bernier
51. Keith Ripp
52. Kevin Petersen
53. Lee Nerison
54. Leon Young
55. Mark Honadel
56. Mary Williams
57. Mike Endsley
58. Mike Kuglitsch
59. Nick Milroy
60. Pat Strachota
61. Paul Farrow
62. Penny Bernard Schaber
63. Peter Barca
64. Robin Vos
65. Roger Rivard
66. Samantha Kerkman
67. Sandy Pasch
68. Scott Krug
69. Scott Suder
70. Sondy Pope-Roberts
71. Stephen Nass
72. Steve Doyle
73. Steven Kestell
74. Terese Berceau
75. Tom Larson
76. Travis Tranel
77. Tyler August
78. Warren Petryk

Incumbents defeated

The followings will display a a list of incumbents defeated in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Evan Wynn	Republican	Wisconsin State Assembly District 43
Joe Knilans	Republican	Wisconsin State Assembly District 44
John Steinbrink	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 65
Roger Rivard	Republican	Wisconsin State Assembly District 75

Primary election

Candidate	Party	District
Jason Fields	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 11
Margaret Krusick	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 7

Challengers who beat an incumbent

The following will display a list of challengers who defeated an incumbent in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Dana Wachs	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 91
Daniel Riemer	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 7
Dave Murphy	Republican	Wisconsin State Assembly District 56
Debra Kolste	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 44
Dianne Hesselbein	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 79
Eric Genrich	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 90
Evan Goyke	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 18
Joe Sanfelippo	Republican	Wisconsin State Assembly District 15
John Jagler	Republican	Wisconsin State Assembly District 37
John Spiros	Republican	Wisconsin State Assembly District 86
Katrina Shankland	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 71
LaTonya Johnson	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 17
Mandela Barnes	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 11
Mandy Wright	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 85
Mark Born	Republican	Wisconsin State Assembly District 39
Mary Czaja	Republican	Wisconsin State Assembly District 35
Melissa Sargent	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 48
Michael Schraa	Republican	Wisconsin State Assembly District 53
Paul Tittl	Republican	Wisconsin State Assembly District 25
Rob Hutton	Republican	Wisconsin State Assembly District 13
Rob Swearingen	Republican	Wisconsin State Assembly District 34
Robb Kahl	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 47
Stephen Smith (Wisconsin)	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 75
Tod Ohnstad	Democratic	Wisconsin State Assembly District 65
Tom Weatherston	Republican	Wisconsin State Assembly District 62

Primary election

No candidates have been added to this category yet.

New Representatives and General Election Winners

Newly elected representatives

The following will list the newly-elected members of the Wisconsin House of Representatives:

Democratic

1. Dana Wachs
2. Daniel Riemer
3. Debra Kolste
4. Dianne Hesselbein
5. Eric Genrich
6. Evan Goyke
7. Katrina Shankland
8. LaTonya Johnson
9. Mandela Barnes
10. Mandy Wright
11. Melissa Sargent
12. Robb Kahl
13. Stephen Smith (Wisconsin)
14. Tod Ohnstad

Republican

1. Dave Murphy
2. Joe Sanfelippo
3. John Jagler
4. John Spiros
5. Mark Born
6. Mary Czaja
7. Michael Schraa
8. Paul Tittl
9. Rob Hutton
10. Rob Swearingen
11. Tom Weatherston

Open Seat Winners

The following will list candidates who won election in seats where no incumbent was running:

Democratic

Results will display after the election on November 6.

Republican

Results will display after the election on November 6.

Candidates who won election

The following will list all candidates elected to the Wisconsin House of Representatives in 2012:

Democratic

1. Amy Vruwink
2. Andy Jorgensen
3. Brett Hulsey
4. Chris Danou
5. Chris Taylor
6. Christine Sinicki
7. Cory Mason
8. Dana Wachs
9. Daniel Riemer
10. Debra Kolste
11. Dianne Hesselbein
12. Eric Genrich
13. Evan Goyke
14. Fred Clark
15. Frederick Kessler
16. Gary Hebl
17. Gordon Hintz
18. Janet Bewley
19. Janis Ringhand
20. Jill Billings
21. JoCasta Zamarripa
22. Jon Richards
23. Josh Zepnick
24. Katrina Shankland
25. LaTonya Johnson
26. Leon Young
27. Mandela Barnes
28. Mandy Wright
29. Melissa Sargent
30. Nick Milroy
31. Penny Bernard Schaber
32. Peter Barca
33. Robb Kahl
34. Sandy Pasch
35. Sondy Pope-Roberts
36. Stephen Smith (Wisconsin)
37. Steve Doyle
38. Terese Berceau
39. Tod Ohnstad

Republican

1. Alvin Ott
2. Amy Loudenbeck
3. Andre Jacque
4. Bill Kramer
5. Chad Weininger
6. Chris Kapenga
7. Dale Kooyenga
8. Daniel Knodl
9. Daniel LeMahieu
10. Dave Craig
11. Dave Murphy
12. Dean Kaufert
13. Dean Knudson
14. Don Pridemore
15. Duey Stroebel
16. Ed Brooks
17. Erik Severson
18. Garey Bies
19. Gary Tauchen
20. Howard Marklein
21. Jeffrey Mursau
22. Jeffrey Stone
23. Jeremy Thiesfeldt
24. Jim Ott
25. Jim Steineke
26. Joan Ballweg
27. Joe Sanfelippo
28. Joel Kleefisch
29. John Jagler
30. John Klenke
31. John Murtha
32. John Nygren
33. John Spiros
34. Kathy Bernier
35. Keith Ripp
36. Kevin Petersen
37. Lee Nerison
38. Mark Born
39. Mark Honadel
40. Mary Czaja
41. Mary Williams
42. Michael Schraa
43. Mike Endsley
44. Mike Kuglitsch
45. Pat Strachota
46. Paul Farrow
47. Paul Tittl
48. Rob Hutton
49. Rob Swearingen
50. Robin Vos
51. Samantha Kerkman
52. Scott Krug
53. Scott Suder
54. Stephen Nass
55. Steven Kestell
56. Tom Larson
57. Tom Weatherston
58. Travis Tranel
59. Tyler August
60. Warren Petryk

Competitiveness

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates will not face major party competition:

Democratic

1. Brett Hulsey
2. Chris Danou
3. Chris Taylor
4. Cory Mason
5. Dana Wachs
6. Daniel Riemer
7. Dianne Hesselbein
8. Evan Goyke
9. Frederick Kessler
10. Jill Billings
11. JoCasta Zamarripa
12. Jon Richards
13. Josh Zepnick
14. LaTonya Johnson
15. Leon Young
16. Mandela Barnes
17. Melissa Sargent
18. Nick Milroy
19. Penny Bernard Schaber
20. Peter Barca
21. Sandy Pasch
22. Terese Berceau
23. Tod Ohnstad

Republican

1. Daniel LeMahieu
2. Don Pridemore
3. Kevin Petersen
4. Pat Strachota

Ballot Access

Third party candidates

The following is a list of third party and independent candidates running in 2012:

1. Anthony Edwards
2. Ben Olson
3. Carl Skalitzky
4. David Stolow
5. Eric Bahr
6. Frank Mooney
7. Jim Maas
8. Jonathan Dedering
9. Josh Young
10. Kevin Fitzpatrick
11. Leroy Watson
12. Melba Morris-Page
13. Patrick Tjugum
14. Rich Martin
15. Terry Gray
16. Terry Virgil
17. Thomas Perry
18. Todd Albano

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Maine Massachusetts • Michigan• Minnesota • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

National Partisan Trends

The following tables will detail the partisan breakdown of national election results.

Incumbents who were defeated in the general election

In the 44 states with elections, there were 4,534 incumbents who ran in the general election. The following is a breakdown of incumbent defeats in the 2012 general election:

Incumbents defeated in 2012 legislative general election
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	21	49	70
Republican	37	182	219
Third Party	2	3	5
TOTALS	60	234	294

Total new legislators elected

In total, 1,707 (28.4%) new legislators were elected in 2012. Of these 1,707, 849 (50.0%) were Republicans and 854 (50.0%) were Democrats.

The following is the breakdown of new legislators.

New Legislators after the 2012 legislative elections
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	165	684	849
Republican	202	652	854
Independent	0	4	4
TOTALS	367	1,340	1,707

Winners of Open Seats

Open seats contests made up 705 (11.7%) of the 6,015 seats in 2012. Of these 705 open seats, Republicans won 401 (56.9%) while Democrats won 304 (43.1%). Going into the election, the number of open seats formerly held by each party was quite similar. Estimates prior to the election suggested that approximately 52% of the open seats were previously held by Republicans and 48% were held by Democrats.

The following is the breakdown of open seat winners.

Open Seat Winners in 2012 legislative elections
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	82	220	302
Republican	105	296	401
Third Party	0	0	0
TOTALS	187	516	703

Impact on legislative majorities

See also: Partisan balance of state legislatures

Partisan Balance of Chambers with 2012 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	17	24	1	1	18	24	0	1
State houses	15	27	1	0	19	24	0	0
Totals:	32	51	2	1	37	48	0	1

Partisan Balance of All 99 Chambers Before and After 2012 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	19	28	2	1	20	28	1	1
State houses	17	31	1	0	21	28	0	0
Totals:	35	60	3	1	41	56	1	1