Democratic Party primaries in Wisconsin, 2018
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 17 (online or mail), or Nov. 2 (in-person)
- Early voting: Varies by locality
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Voter ID: Photo ID required
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Primary elections—in which registered voters select a candidate whom they believe should run on their party's ticket in the general election—can reflect internal conflict over the direction of a party.
Heading into the 2018 election, the Democratic Party sought to increase its power at the state and federal levels under the Trump administration. Its membership, however, disagreed on several major policy areas, including healthcare, free trade, education funding, a federal job guarantee, and a proposal to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).[1][2]
Candidates endorsed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee won 31 of 33 primaries in 2018.[3] Democratic Socialists of America member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D) primary victory over incumbent Joseph Crowley (D) in New York's 14th Congressional District was a notable victory for progressive activists.[4][5][6]
Democrats also won a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama for the first time in 30 years and flipped longtime Republican seats in the Wisconsin state Senate and Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District. A record number of Republican congressional retirements also led to large Democratic fields for typically non-competitive seats.[7]
This page focuses on the Democratic primaries that took place in Wisconsin on August 14, 2018. In addition, the page provides context for understanding the state party apparatus.
Battleground primaries
Battleground elections are those that Ballotpedia expected would either be more competitive than other races or attract significant national attention.
- Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District election (August 14, 2018 Democratic primary)
- Wisconsin gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 14 Democratic primary)
Federal elections
U.S. Senate
Democratic primary candidates- Tammy Baldwin (Incumbent) ✔
U.S. House
District 1
Democratic primary candidates
District 2
Democratic primary candidates- Mark Pocan (Incumbent) ✔
District 3
Democratic primary candidates- Ronald James Kind (Incumbent) ✔
District 4
Democratic primary candidates- Gwen Moore (Incumbent) ✔
- Gary George
District 5
Democratic primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection surveyDistrict 6
Democratic primary candidates- Dan Kohl ✔
District 7
Democratic primary candidates = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection surveyDistrict 8
Democratic primary candidatesState elections
Wisconsin Party Control: 1992-2026
Two years of Democratic trifectas • Ten years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | R | R | R | D | D | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Gubernatorial election
Democratic primary candidates
- Tony Evers ✔
- Matthew Flynn
- Andy Gronik
- Michael McCabe
- Mahlon Mitchell
- Josh Pade
- Kelda Roys
- Paul Soglin
- Kathleen Vinehout
- Dana Wachs
Did not make the ballot:
Lieutenant gubernatorial election
Democratic primary candidates
Did not make the ballot:
Attorney general election
Democratic primary candidates
Secretary of state election
Democratic primary candidates
- Douglas J. La Follette (Incumbent) ✔
- Arvina Martin
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
State party overview
- See also: Democratic Party of Wisconsin
| Party control in Wisconsin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Governor | Democratic |
| Senate | Republican |
| House | Republican |
| Click here for party control in all 50 states |
Wisconsin has a Democratic triplex and a divided trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general. The Republican Party controls both chambers of the state legislature.
State political party revenue
State political parties typically deposit revenue in separate state and federal accounts in order to comply with state and federal campaign finance laws. The following table displays the Democratic Party of Wisconsin's revenue over a six-year period from 2011 to 2016. Revenue totals are broken down by account type and year. The data was compiled through publicly available state and federal campaign finance reports.
| Democratic Party of Wisconsin revenue, 2011 to 2016[9][10] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Federal account | State account(s) | Total |
| 2011 | $3,140,160.36 | $3,428,477.54 | $6,568,637.90 |
| 2012 | $15,461,783.97 | $2,915,985.95 | $18,377,769.92 |
| 2013 | $1,181,423.06 | $543,127.41 | $1,724,550.47 |
| 2014 | $3,157,821.52 | $4,144,587.60 | $7,302,409.12 |
| 2015 | $1,491,353.95 | $562,783.34 | $2,054,137.29 |
| 2016 | $11,308,600.19 | $3,453,852.39 | $14,762,452.58 |
Wisconsin compared to other states
The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following maps display total state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic and Republican state party affiliates from 2011 to 2016. The blue map displays Democratic state parties and the red map displays Republican state parties. Click on a state below to view the state party's revenue per capita totals:
Total Democratic and Republican state political party revenue per capita in the United States, 2011-2016
Primary election scheduling
Wisconsin was one of four states to hold a primary election on August 14, 2018.
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Wisconsin utilizes an open primary system; registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[11]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In Wisconsin, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time. Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.[12]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in Wisconsin, one must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of Wisconsin at their current address for at least 28 days before the election. A voter must be at least 18 years of age by Election Day.[13]
Prospective voters can register online or by mailing a form to their municipal clerk. If registering by mail, the application must be postmarked no later than 20 days before the election.[14] Voters must also register online by the 20th day before the election. In-person registration at a municipal clerk's office must be completed by 5 p.m. or the close of business on the Friday before Election Day, whichever is later. Prospective voters can also register at their polling place on Election Day using same-day voter registration. Voters must provide proof of residence when registering to vote.[13]
Automatic registration
Wisconsin does not practice automatic voter registration.[15]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Wisconsin has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
Wisconsin allows same-day voter registration.[16]
Residency requirements
Wisconsin law requires 28 days of residency in a precinct before a person may vote.[13]
Verification of citizenship
Wisconsin does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who provides false information "may be subject to fine or imprisonment under State and Federal laws."[17]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[18] Six states — Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring individuals provide proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. Two states, Georgia and Mississippi, require a person provide proof of citizenship if their citizenship status cannot be verified by other means. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The site My Vote, run by the Wisconsin Election Commission, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Wisconsin requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[19][20]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of January 2026. Click here for the Wisconsin Election Commission's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
- Wisconsin Department of Transportation-issued driver's license
- Wisconsin Department of Transportation-issued identification card, with or without a photo
- Veteran ID card or U.S. Uniformed Service ID card
- U.S. passport book or card
- Identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin
- Photo identification card issued by a Wisconsin accredited university, college, or technical college, containing the date the card was issued, an expiration date, and a signature. (If expired, the voter must also provide a separate document proving enrollment)
- Certificate of naturalization issued within the past two years
- Driver’s license receipt issued by Wisconsin Department of Transportation (valid for 45 days from date issued)
- Identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin Department of Transportation (valid for 45 days from date issued)
- Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles ID Petition Process Photo Receipt (valid for 60 days from date issued)
To view Wisconsin state law pertaining to voter identification, click here.
The following voters do not need to provide photo ID:[21]
- Confidential electors
- Active military and permanent overseas voters who vote by absentee ballot
- Indefinitely confined voters who vote by absentee ballot
Voters can obtain a free Wisconsin State ID Card at a Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles office. Voters need the following to apply for an ID:[22]
- Proof of name and date of birth (such as a birth certificate)
- Proof of identity (Social Security Card, Medicaid/Medicare Card, etc.)
- Proof of Wisconsin residency (utility bill, government mail, lease, etc.)
- Proof of U.S. citizenship (U.S. Birth certificate or citizenship paperwork)
- Social Security Number
Voters who do not have all or any of the materials listed above can still obtain an ID. Call the voter ID hotline for assistance at (844) 588-1069.[22]
Early voting
Wisconsin permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting allows citizens to cast their ballots in person at a polling place before an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting. Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire do not offer no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
All voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail in Wisconsin. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee/by mail.[23][24]
To vote absentee/by mail, a request to the municipal clerk must be received by 5 p.m. on the fifth day before Election Day. Once completed, returned ballots must be received no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day.[24][25] Indefinitely confined voters and military voters who are not away from their residence must request an absentee ballot by the fourth day before the election.[24]
See also
| Federal primaries in Wisconsin | State primaries in Wisconsin | Wisconsin state party apparatus | Wisconsin voter information |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Footnotes
- ↑ CNN, "Why a 'federal jobs guarantee' is gaining steam with Democrats," April 26, 2018
- ↑ The Atlantic, "What ‘Abolish ICE’ Actually Means," July 11, 2018
- ↑ CNBC, "Despite Ocasio-Cortez upset, Democratic primaries have not gone as far left as some argue," June 28, 2018
- ↑ New York Times, "There Is a Revolution on the Left. Democrats Are Bracing." July 21, 2018
- ↑ New York Times, "Democrats Are Moving Left. Don’t Panic," July 23, 2018
- ↑ Time, "How Democrats in Congress Responded to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Surprise Win," June 28, 2018
- ↑ CNN, "9 Democratic primaries to watch in 2018," October 26, 2017
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Sen. Tammy Baldwin raises $2.4 million in 3 months for Wisconsin Senate race," October 12, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin Campaign Finance Information System, "View Filed Reports," accessed May 2016 (Search terms Republican Party of Wisconsin and Democratic Party of Wisconsin)
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Candidate and Committee Viewer," accessed May 2016 (Search terms Republican Party of Wisconsin and Democratic Party of Wisconsin)
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wis. Stat. § 5.62," accessed January 5, 2026
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wis. Stat. § 6.78," accessed January 5, 2026
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Voter Registration and Proof of Residence," accessed January 5, 2026
- ↑ City of Milwaukee Election Commission, "How to Register to Vote," accessed January 5, 2026
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Automatic Voter Registration," accessed January 5, 2026
- ↑ Vote.gov, "Register to vote Wisconsin," accessed January 5, 2026
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Wisconsin Voter Registration Application," accessed January 5, 2026
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Acceptable Photo IDs," accessed January 5, 2026
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Acceptable Photo IDs for Voting in Wisconsin," accessed January 5, 2026
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Exceptions to the Photo ID law," accessed January 5, 2026
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Wisconsin Department of Transportation, "Wisconsin ID card for voting purposes - petition process," accessed January 5, 2026
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Vote Absentee Guide," accessed January 5, 2026
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Voting by Absentee Ballot," accessed January 5, 2026
- ↑ Wisconsin Election Commission, "FAQ," accessed January 5, 2026
