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Democratic Party primaries in Wisconsin, 2022

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2024
2020

Democratic Party primaries, 2022

Wisconsin Democratic Party.jpg

Primary Date
August 9, 2022

Federal elections
Democratic primaries for U.S. House

State party
Democratic Party of Wisconsin
State political party revenue

This page focuses on the Democratic primaries that took place in Wisconsin on August 9, 2022.

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.[1][2]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Federal elections

U.S. Senate

See also: United States Senate election in Wisconsin, 2022 (August 9 Democratic primary)

The 2022 U.S. Senate elections in Wisconsin took place on November 8, 2022. Voters elected one candidate to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

U.S. House

See also: United States House elections in Wisconsin, 2022 (August 9 Democratic primaries)
The U.S. House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin were on November 8, 2022. Voters elected eight candidates to serve in the U.S. House from each of the state's eight U.S. House districts. To see a full list of candidates in the primary in each district, click "Show more" below.
Show more

District 1

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

District 2

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

District 3

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 4

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

District 5

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 6

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

No candidates filed for the Democratic Party primary.


    Did not make the ballot:
    Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

    District 7

    Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


    Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

    District 8

    Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


    Did not make the ballot:

    State elections

    State Senate

    See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2022
    The Wisconsin State Senate was one of 88 state legislative chambers with elections in 2022. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2020, 86 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections. To see a full list of state Senate candidates in the Democratic primaries, click "Show more" below.
    Show more

    Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2022

    • Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
    • Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
    Office Democratic Party Democratic Republican Party Republican Other
    District 1

    Green check mark transparent.pngAndrea Gage-Michaels

    Green check mark transparent.pngAndré Jacque (i)

    District 3

    Green check mark transparent.pngTim Carpenter (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngAngel Sanchez

    District 5

    Green check mark transparent.pngJessica Katzenmeyer
    Tom Palzewicz

    Green check mark transparent.pngRob Hutton

    District 7

    Green check mark transparent.pngChris Larson (i)

    Red Arnold
    Green check mark transparent.pngPeter Gilbert

    District 9

    Green check mark transparent.pngJarrod Schroeder (Write-in)

    Green check mark transparent.pngDevin LeMahieu (i)
    Jeanette Deschene
    Ruth Villareal

    District 11

    Green check mark transparent.pngSteven Doelder  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngStephen Nass (i)

    Did not make the ballot:
    Dylan Kurtz 

    District 13

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Jagler (i)

    Did not make the ballot:
    Todd Menzel 

    District 15

    Green check mark transparent.pngMark Spreitzer

    Green check mark transparent.pngMark Trofimchuck

    District 17

    Green check mark transparent.pngPat Skogen

    Did not make the ballot:
    Tripp Stroud 

    Green check mark transparent.pngHoward Marklein (i)

    District 19

    Green check mark transparent.pngKristin Alfheim  Candidate Connection

    Did not make the ballot:
    Mark Scheffler  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngRachael Cabral-Guevara
    Andrew Thomsen  Candidate Connection

    Did not make the ballot:
    Anthony Phillips 

    District 21

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Did not make the ballot:
    Kendall Curtis 

    Green check mark transparent.pngVan Wanggaard (i)
    Jay Stone

    District 23

    Green check mark transparent.pngDan Hardy (Write-in)  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngJesse James
    Sandra Scholz
    Brian Westrate

    District 25

    Green check mark transparent.pngKelly Westlund

    Green check mark transparent.pngRomaine Quinn

    District 27

    Green check mark transparent.pngDianne Hesselbein

    Green check mark transparent.pngRobert Relph

    District 29

    Green check mark transparent.pngBob Look

    Brent Jacobson
    Jon Kaiser
    Green check mark transparent.pngCory Tomczyk

    District 31

    Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Smith (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Estenson  Candidate Connection

    Did not make the ballot:
    Amber Provance 

    District 33

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Green check mark transparent.pngChris Kapenga (i)


    State Assembly

    See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2022
    The Wisconsin State Assembly was one of 88 state legislative chambers with elections in 2022. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2020, 86 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections. To see a full list of state Assembly candidates in the Democratic primaries, click "Show more" below.
    Show more

    Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2022

    • Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
    • Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
    Office Democratic Party Democratic Republican Party Republican Other
    District 1

    Green check mark transparent.pngRoberta Thelen

    Green check mark transparent.pngJoel Kitchens (i)
    Milt Swagel

    District 2

    Green check mark transparent.pngRenee Gasch  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngShae Sortwell (i)

    District 3

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Green check mark transparent.pngRon Tusler (i)

    District 4

    Ashton Arndorfer  Candidate Connection
    Green check mark transparent.pngDerek Teague  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Steffen (i)

    District 5

    Green check mark transparent.pngJoey Van Deurzen  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngJoy Goeben
    Tim Greenwood  Candidate Connection
    Kraig Knaack

    District 6

    Green check mark transparent.pngWilliam Switalla

    Matthew Albert
    Craig Arrowood
    David Kohn
    Nathan Michael  Candidate Connection
    Dean Neubert
    Green check mark transparent.pngPeter Schmidt  Candidate Connection

    District 7

    Green check mark transparent.pngDaniel Riemer (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngZachary Marshall

    District 8

    Green check mark transparent.pngSylvia Ortiz-Velez (i)

    No candidates filed for the Republican primary


    District 9

    Green check mark transparent.pngMarisabel Cabrera (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngRyan M. Antczak

    District 10

    Bryan Kennedy
    Green check mark transparent.pngDarrin Madison Jr.

    No candidates filed for the Republican primary


    District 11

    Green check mark transparent.pngDora Drake (i)

    No candidates filed for the Republican primary


    District 12

    Green check mark transparent.pngLaKeshia Myers (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngGreg Canady

    District 13

    Green check mark transparent.pngSarah Harrison  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngTom Michalski
    Erik Ngutse  Candidate Connection

    District 14

    Green check mark transparent.pngRobyn Vining (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngKeva Turner  Candidate Connection

    District 15

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Green check mark transparent.pngDave Maxey

    District 16

    Green check mark transparent.pngKalan Haywood (i)

    No candidates filed for the Republican primary


    District 17

    Green check mark transparent.pngSupreme Moore Omokunde (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngAbie Eisenbach  Candidate Connection

    District 18

    Green check mark transparent.pngEvan Goyke (i)

    No candidates filed for the Republican primary


    District 19

    Green check mark transparent.pngRyan Clancy  Candidate Connection

    No candidates filed for the Republican primary


    District 20

    Green check mark transparent.pngChristine Sinicki (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngScott Hermann

    District 21

    Green check mark transparent.pngNathan Jurowski  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngJessie Rodriguez (i)

    District 22

    Green check mark transparent.pngMatt Brown

    Green check mark transparent.pngJanel Brandtjen (i)

    District 23

    Green check mark transparent.pngDeb Andraca (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngPurnima Nath

    District 24

    Green check mark transparent.pngBob Tatterson  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngDaniel Knodl (i)

    District 25

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Green check mark transparent.pngPaul Tittl (i)

    District 26

    Green check mark transparent.pngLisa Salgado

    Green check mark transparent.pngTerry Katsma (i)

    District 27

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Green check mark transparent.pngAmy Binsfeld

    District 28

    Green check mark transparent.pngPatty Schachtner

    Green check mark transparent.pngGae Magnafici (i)

    District 29

    Green check mark transparent.pngDanielle Johnson  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngClint Moses (i)

    District 30

    Green check mark transparent.pngSarah Yacoub

    Green check mark transparent.pngShannon Zimmerman (i)

    District 31

    Green check mark transparent.pngBrienne Brown  Candidate Connection

    Jason Dean
    Green check mark transparent.pngEllen Schutt
    Maryann Zimmerman  Candidate Connection

    District 32

    Green check mark transparent.pngAdam Jaramillo

    Green check mark transparent.pngTyler August (i)
    Bart Williams

    District 33

    Green check mark transparent.pngDon Vruwink (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngScott Johnson (i)
    Dale Oppermann

    District 34

    Green check mark transparent.pngEileen Daniel

    Green check mark transparent.pngRob Swearingen (i)

    District 35

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Green check mark transparent.pngCalvin Callahan (i)

    District 36

    Green check mark transparent.pngBen Murray  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngJeffrey Mursau (i)

    District 37

    Green check mark transparent.pngMaureen McCarville

    Green check mark transparent.pngWilliam Penterman (i)

    District 38

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Green check mark transparent.pngBarbara Dittrich (i)  Candidate Connection

    District 39

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Green check mark transparent.pngMark Born (i)

    District 40

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Green check mark transparent.pngKevin Petersen (i)

    District 41

    Green check mark transparent.pngWilliam Fletcher (Write-in)

    Green check mark transparent.pngAlex Dallman (i)

    District 42

    Green check mark transparent.pngTheresa Valencia  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngJon Plumer (i)

    District 43

    Green check mark transparent.pngJenna Jacobson  Candidate Connection
    Matt McIntyre

    Green check mark transparent.pngMarisa Voelkel

    District 44

    Green check mark transparent.pngSue Conley (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngSpencer Zimmerman

    District 45

    Green check mark transparent.pngClinton Anderson  Candidate Connection
    Ben Dorscheid  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Klett

    District 46

    Syed Abbas
    Analiese Eicher
    Andrew Hysell
    Mike Jacobs
    Green check mark transparent.pngMelissa Ratcliff

    Green check mark transparent.pngAndrew McKinney

    District 47

    Green check mark transparent.pngJimmy Anderson (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngLamonte Newsom  Candidate Connection

    District 48

    Green check mark transparent.pngSamba Baldeh (i)

    No candidates filed for the Republican primary


    District 49

    Green check mark transparent.pngLynne Parrott

    Green check mark transparent.pngTravis Tranel (i)

    District 50

    Green check mark transparent.pngMichael Leuth

    Green check mark transparent.pngTony Kurtz (i)

    District 51

    Green check mark transparent.pngLeah Spicer  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngTodd Novak (i)

    District 52

    Green check mark transparent.pngJoe Lavrenz  Candidate Connection

    Lawrence Foster
    Donald Hannemann
    Green check mark transparent.pngJerry O’Connor
    Robert Thresher

    District 53

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Green check mark transparent.pngMichael Schraa (i)

    District 54

    Green check mark transparent.pngLori Palmeri  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngDonnie Herman

    District 55

    Green check mark transparent.pngStefanie Holt  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngNate Gustafson  Candidate Connection

    District 56

    Green check mark transparent.pngPatrick Hayden  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngDave Murphy (i)

    District 57

    Green check mark transparent.pngLee Snodgrass (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngAndrew Fox

    District 58

    Green check mark transparent.pngMary Ann Rzeszutek

    Green check mark transparent.pngRick Gundrum (i)

    District 59

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Green check mark transparent.pngTy Bodden
    Vinny Egle

    District 60

    Green check mark transparent.pngDaniel Larsen  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngRobert Brooks (i)
    Samuel Krieg  Candidate Connection

    District 61

    Green check mark transparent.pngMax Winkels

    Mike Honold
    Green check mark transparent.pngAmanda Nedweski

    District 62

    Green check mark transparent.pngAnthony Hammes

    Green check mark transparent.pngRobert Wittke (i)

    District 63

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Green check mark transparent.pngRobin Vos (i)
    Adam Steen  Candidate Connection

    District 64

    Green check mark transparent.pngTip McGuire (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngEd Hibsch

    District 65

    Green check mark transparent.pngTod Ohnstad (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngFrank Petrick

    District 66

    Green check mark transparent.pngGreta Neubauer (i)

    No candidates filed for the Republican primary


    District 67

    Green check mark transparent.pngJason D. Bennett  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngRob Summerfield (i)

    District 68

    Green check mark transparent.pngNate Otto

    Chris Connell
    Green check mark transparent.pngKaren Hurd  Candidate Connection
    Hillarie Roth  Candidate Connection

    District 69

    Green check mark transparent.pngLisa Boero  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngDonna Rozar (i)

    District 70

    Green check mark transparent.pngRemy Gomez  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngNancy VanderMeer (i)

    District 71

    Green check mark transparent.pngKatrina Shankland (i)

    Robert Glisczinski
    Green check mark transparent.pngScott Soik

    District 72

    Green check mark transparent.pngCriste Greening  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngScott Krug (i)

    District 73

    Green check mark transparent.pngLaura Gapske  Candidate Connection

    Scott Luostari
    Green check mark transparent.pngAngie Sapik  Candidate Connection

    District 74

    Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Adams

    Green check mark transparent.pngChanz Green
    John Schey

    District 75

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Armstrong (i)

    District 76

    Green check mark transparent.pngFrancesca Hong (i)

    No candidates filed for the Republican primary


    District 77

    Green check mark transparent.pngShelia Stubbs (i)

    No candidates filed for the Republican primary


    District 78

    Green check mark transparent.pngLisa Subeck (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngMatt Neuhaus

    District 79

    Green check mark transparent.pngAlex Joers  Candidate Connection
    Brad Votava  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngVictoria Fueger

    District 80

    Green check mark transparent.pngMike Bare  Candidate Connection
    Anna Halverson
    Chad Kemp
    Doug Steinberg
    Dale Yurs  Candidate Connection

    Nathan Graewin
    Green check mark transparent.pngJacob Luginbuhl

    District 81

    Green check mark transparent.pngDave Considine (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngShellie Benish  Candidate Connection
    Bob Wood

    District 82

    Green check mark transparent.pngDeborah Davis  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngChuck Wichgers (i)

    District 83

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Pat Goldammer
    Green check mark transparent.pngNik Rettinger

    District 84

    Green check mark transparent.pngLu Ann Bird

    Laura Barker
    Green check mark transparent.pngRobert Donovan
    David Karst

    District 85

    Green check mark transparent.pngKristin Conway  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngPatrick Snyder (i)

    District 86

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Spiros (i)

    District 87

    Green check mark transparent.pngElizabeth Riley

    Green check mark transparent.pngJames Edming (i)
    Michael Bub

    District 88

    Green check mark transparent.pngHannah Beauchamp-Pope

    Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Macco (i)

    District 89

    Green check mark transparent.pngJane Benson

    Green check mark transparent.pngElijah Behnke (i)

    District 90

    Green check mark transparent.pngKristina Shelton (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngMicah Behnke

    District 91

    Green check mark transparent.pngJodi Emerson (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngJosh Stanley

    District 92

    Green check mark transparent.pngMaria Bamonti

    Green check mark transparent.pngTreig Pronschinske (i)
    Ryan T. Owens

    District 93

    Green check mark transparent.pngAlison Page  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngWarren Petryk (i)

    District 94

    Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Doyle (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngRyan Huebsch

    District 95

    Green check mark transparent.pngJill Billings (i)

    Green check mark transparent.pngChris Woodard  Candidate Connection

    District 96

    Mark Fritsche
    Green check mark transparent.pngJayne Swiggum  Candidate Connection

    Did not make the ballot:
    Karen Mischel 

    Green check mark transparent.pngLoren Oldenburg (i)
    Holly Ottesen Liska

    District 97

    No candidates filed for the Democratic primary


    Green check mark transparent.pngScott Allen (i)

    District 98

    Green check mark transparent.pngChristina Barry

    Green check mark transparent.pngAdam Neylon (i)

    District 99

    Green check mark transparent.pngAlec Dahms  Candidate Connection

    Green check mark transparent.pngCindi Duchow (i)


    State executive offices

    See also: Wisconsin state executive official elections, 2022

    Five state executive offices were up for election in Wisconsin in 2022:

    Governor
    Lieutenant Governor
    Attorney General
    Secretary of State
    Treasurer

    To see a full list of candidates in the Democratic primaries, click "Show more" below.
    Show more

    Governor

    Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


    Did not make the ballot:

    Lieutenant Governor

    Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


    Did not make the ballot:
    Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

    Attorney General

    Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

    Secretary of State

    Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


    Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

    Treasurer

    Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


    Did not make the ballot:
    Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

    Primary election competitiveness

    See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2022

    This section contains information about the primary election competitiveness of election in Wisconsin. For more information about this data, click here.


    U.S. Senate competitiveness

    U.S. House competitiveness

    Post-filing deadline analysis

    The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in Wisconsin in 2022. Information below was calculated on July 26, 2022, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

    Twenty-two candidates filed to run for Wisconsin's eight U.S. House districts, including nine Democrats and 13 Republicans. That's 2.75 candidates per district, less than the 2.88 candidates per district in 2020 and the 3.1 in 2018. This was the first election to take place under new district lines following the 2020 census. Wisconsin was apportioned eight districts, the same number it was apportioned after the 2010 census.

    The 22 candidates who filed this year were the fewest candidates running for Wisconsin's U.S. House seats since 2012, when 20 candidates ran. Twenty-three candidates ran in 2020, 25 in 2018, 23 in 2016, and 27 in 2014.

    One district — the 3rd — was open. That was the same number of open seats as every other election cycle since 2012. Rep. Ron Kind (D), the incumbent in the 3rd district, did not file for re-election. Five candidates — four Democrats and one Republican — ran to replace Kind, the most candidates who ran for a seat this year.

    There were six contested primaries this year — one Democratic and five Republican. That was the same number as in 2020 and 2018 and two fewer than in 2016 and 2014. Four incumbents — two Democrats and two Republicans — did not face any primary challengers. Two districts — the 6th and the 8th — were guaranteed to Republicans because no Democrats made the ballot.

    State executive competitiveness

    State legislative competitiveness

    Post-filing deadline analysis

    The following analysis covers all state legislative districts up for election in Wisconsin in 2022. Information below was calculated on June 22, 2022, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

    There were 38 contested state legislative primaries in Wisconsin in 2022, 16% of the total number of possible primaries, and a 15% increase compared to the 2020 election cycle.

    A primary is contested when more candidates file to run than there are nominations available, meaning at least one candidate must lose.

    Republican candidates drove the increase this cycle. Of the 38 contested primaries in 2022, there were nine for Democrats and 29 for Republicans. For Democrats, this was down from 18 in 2020, a 50% decrease. For Republicans, the number increased 93% from 15 in 2020 to 29 in 2022.

    Of those 38 contested primaries, nine featured an incumbent, representing 11% of incumbents who filed for re-election. This was the highest rate of incumbents in contested primaries since 2014 when 12% of incumbents faced primary challenges.

    All nine incumbents in contested primaries in 2022 were Republicans. No Democratic incumbents who filed for re-election faced a contested primary.

    Overall, 258 major party candidates—110 Democrats and 148 Republicans—filed to run. All 99 Assembly districts held elections in 2022 as did 17 of the 33 Senate districts.

    Thirty of those districts were open, meaning no incumbents filed. This guaranteed that at least 23% of the legislature held be represented by newcomers in 2023.

    Context of the 2022 elections

    Wisconsin Party Control: 1992-2025
    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
    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
    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
    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

    State party overview

    Democratic Party of Wisconsin

    See also: Democratic Party of Wisconsin

    State political party revenue

    See also: State political party revenue and State political party revenue per capita

    State political parties typically deposit revenue in separate state and federal accounts in order to comply with state and federal campaign finance laws.

    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 map displays total state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic state party affiliates.


    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.[3][4]

    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. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[5]

    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 for at least 28 days prior to the election. A voter must be at least 18 years of age by Election Day.[6]

    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. In-person registration must be completed by 5 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day. Prospective voters can also register in person at their municipal clerk's office up until the Friday before the election or at their polling place on Election Day. (Same-day voter registration requires proof of residency.)[6]

    Automatic registration

    Wisconsin does not practice automatic voter registration.[7]

    Online registration

    See also: Online voter registration

    Wisconsin has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.[7]

    Same-day registration

    Wisconsin allows same-day voter registration.[7]

    Residency requirements

    Wisconsin law requires 28 days of residency in a precinct before a person may vote.[6]

    Verification of citizenship

    See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

    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."[8]

    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.[9] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. 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.[10]

    The following list of accepted ID was current as of May 2023. Click here for the Wisconsin Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

    • Wisconsin Department of Transportation-issued driver license, even if driving privileges are revoked or suspended
    • Wisconsin Department of Transportation-issued identification card, with or without a photo
    • Military ID card issued by the U.S. Uniformed Services
    • U.S. passport book or card
    • Identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin (can be expired or unexpired)
    • Photo identification card issued by a Wisconsin accredited university or college, or technical college, containing the date the card was issued and a signature. (If expired, the voter must also provide a separate document proving enrollment).
    • Veteran's photo ID card issued by a government authority
    • 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)

    The following voters do not need to provide photo ID:[10]

    • 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:[11]

    • Proof of name and date of birth (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.[11]

    Early voting

    Wisconsin permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

    Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to 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.

    Absentee voting

    All voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail in Wisconsin. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee/by mail.[12][13]

    To vote absentee by mail, a request to the municipal clerk must be received by 5 p.m. on the Thursday before Election Day. Once completed, returned ballots must be received no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day.[12][14]


    Pivot Counties

    See also: Pivot Counties by state

    Twenty-three of 72 Wisconsin counties—32 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

    Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
    County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
    Adams County, Wisconsin 21.92% 8.73% 18.35%
    Buffalo County, Wisconsin 21.82% 2.93% 14.66%
    Columbia County, Wisconsin 2.14% 13.58% 15.26%
    Crawford County, Wisconsin 5.40% 19.98% 27.03%
    Door County, Wisconsin 3.22% 6.99% 17.33%
    Dunn County, Wisconsin 11.09% 4.97% 14.95%
    Forest County, Wisconsin 26.58% 5.44% 15.16%
    Grant County, Wisconsin 9.43% 13.77% 23.88%
    Jackson County, Wisconsin 11.74% 15.01% 21.84%
    Juneau County, Wisconsin 26.05% 7.03% 9.00%
    Kenosha County, Wisconsin 0.31% 12.23% 18.06%
    Lafayette County, Wisconsin 8.99% 15.37% 22.32%
    Lincoln County, Wisconsin 20.60% 0.71% 12.48%
    Marquette County, Wisconsin 24.09% 0.27% 5.28%
    Pepin County, Wisconsin 23.08% 2.22% 12.89%
    Price County, Wisconsin 25.00% 0.04% 13.40%
    Racine County, Wisconsin 4.28% 3.54% 7.41%
    Richland County, Wisconsin 5.50% 16.13% 20.63%
    Sauk County, Wisconsin 0.35% 18.47% 23.04%
    Sawyer County, Wisconsin 18.41% 0.49% 6.23%
    Trempealeau County, Wisconsin 12.64% 14.08% 26.39%
    Vernon County, Wisconsin 4.43% 14.73% 22.00%
    Winnebago County, Wisconsin 7.34% 3.73% 11.66%

    In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Wisconsin with 47.2 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 46.5 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Wisconsin cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 76.7 percent of the time. In that same time frame, Wisconsin supported Republicans slightly more than Democratic candidates, 50.0 to 46.7 percent. The state, however, favored Democrats in every presidential election from 2000 to 2012 before voting for Trump in 2016.

    Presidential results by legislative district

    The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state Assembly districts in Wisconsin. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[15][16]

    In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 43 out of 99 state Assembly districts in Wisconsin with an average margin of victory of 34.1 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 36 out of 99 state Assembly districts in Wisconsin with an average margin of victory of 34.6 points. Clinton won three districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
    In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 56 out of 99 state Assembly districts in Wisconsin with an average margin of victory of 12.1 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 63 out of 99 state Assembly districts in Wisconsin with an average margin of victory of 19.4 points. Trump won two districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.


    See also


    External links

    Footnotes

    1. National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 4, 2024
    2. Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wis. State § 5.62 Partisan primary ballots," accessed October 4, 2024
    3. National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 4, 2024
    4. Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wis. State § 5.62 Partisan primary ballots," accessed October 4, 2024
    5. Wisconsin Election Commission, “Election Day Voting,” accessed May 4, 2023
    6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Voter Registration and Proof of Residence," accessed May 4, 2023
    7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed August 20, 2024
    8. Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Wisconsin Voter Registration Application," accessed November 2, 2024
    9. 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."
    10. 10.0 10.1 Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Photo ID," accessed May 4, 2023 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "wvid" defined multiple times with different content
    11. 11.0 11.1 Wisconsin Department of Transportation, "Wisconsin ID card for voting purposes - petition process," accessed May 4, 2023
    12. 12.0 12.1 Wisconsin Election Commission, "What is in-person absentee voting and how can I do it?" accessed May 4, 2023
    13. Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Vote Absentee Guide," accessed May 4, 2023
    14. Wisconsin Election Commission, "FAQ search results: absentee," accessed May 4, 2023
    15. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
    16. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017