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Mayoral election in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2020)
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| 2020 Milwaukee elections |
|---|
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| Election dates |
| Filing deadline: January 7, 2020 |
| Primary election: February 18, 2020 General election: April 7, 2020 |
| Election stats |
| Offices up: mayor |
| Total seats up: 1 (click here for other city elections) |
| Election type: Nonpartisan |
| Other municipal elections |
| U.S. municipal elections, 2020 |
The city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, held a general election for mayor on April 7, 2020. A primary was scheduled for February 18, 2020. The filing deadline for this election was January 7, 2020.
The Wisconsin Election Commission voted unanimously to send absentee/mail-in ballot applications automatically to most registered voters in the November 3, 2020, general election.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Wisconsin modified its absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: Absentee and mail-in ballot applications were sent to most registered voters in the general election.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Elections
Click on the tabs below to show more information about those topics.
Candidates and results
General election
General election for Mayor of Milwaukee
Incumbent Tom Barrett defeated Lena Taylor in the general election for Mayor of Milwaukee on April 7, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tom Barrett (Nonpartisan) | 62.5 | 57,492 |
 | Lena Taylor (Nonpartisan) | 36.5 | 33,572 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.9 | 852 | ||
| Total votes: 91,916 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Milwaukee
Incumbent Tom Barrett and Lena Taylor defeated Tony Zielinski and Paul Rasky in the primary for Mayor of Milwaukee on February 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tom Barrett (Nonpartisan) | 50.0 | 33,151 |
| ✔ | | Lena Taylor (Nonpartisan) | 30.7 | 20,347 |
 | Tony Zielinski (Nonpartisan) | 15.7 | 10,385 | |
| Paul Rasky (Nonpartisan) | 2.9 | 1,902 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.8 | 509 | ||
| Total votes: 66,294 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Do you know of an official or organization that endorsed a candidate in this race? Let Ballotpedia know by email at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Additional elections on the ballot
- See also: Wisconsin elections, 2020
Mayoral partisanship
Once mayors elected in 2020 assumed office, the mayors of 65 of the country's 100 largest cities were affiliated with the Democratic Party.
Mayoral elections were held in 29 of the 100 largest U.S. cities in 2020. Seven party changes took place as a result of these 29 elections. Five offices held by Republican incumbents and two offices held by Democratic incumbents changed partisan control.
In Scottsdale, Arizona, independent David Ortega won the open seat. Incumbent Jim Lane (R) was term-limited. In Irvine, California, Democrat Farrah Khan defeated incumbent Christina Shea (R). In San Diego, California, Democrat Todd Gloria won the open seat. The incumbent, Kevin Faulconer (R), was term-limited. In Stockton, California, Republican Kevin Lincoln II defeated incumbent Michael Tubbs (D). In Honolulu, Hawaii, independent Rick Blangiardi won the open seat. Democratic mayor Kirk Caldwell was term-limited. In El Paso, Texas, Democrat Oscar Leeser defeated incumbent Donald Margo (R). In Corpus Christi, Texas, nonpartisan Paulette Guajardo defeated incumbent Joe McComb (R).
What was at stake?
Report a story for this election
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About the city
- See also: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is a city located in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. As of 2020, its population was 577,222.
City government
- See also: Mayor-council government
The city of Milwaukee uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.
Demographics
The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.
| Demographic Data for Milwaukee, Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | Wisconsin | |
| Population | 577,222 | 5,893,718 |
| Land area (sq mi) | 96 | 54,166 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White | 42% | 84.3% |
| Black/African American | 38.8% | 6.3% |
| Asian | 4.6% | 2.8% |
| Native American | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% |
| Other (single race) | 8.4% | 2.3% |
| Multiple | 5.6% | 3.4% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 19.4% | 7% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate | 84.4% | 92.6% |
| College graduation rate | 24.6% | 30.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income | $43,125 | $63,293 |
| Persons below poverty level | 24.6% | 11% |
| Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2015-2020). | ||
| **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
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.[1][2]
| 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. |
| 2016 Presidential Results by State Assembly District ' | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
| 1 | 49.45% | 49.55% | R+0.1 | 40.19% | 55.31% | R+15.1 | R |
| 2 | 45.06% | 53.88% | R+8.8 | 35.98% | 58.55% | R+22.6 | R |
| 3 | 46.37% | 52.37% | R+6 | 39.25% | 54.77% | R+15.5 | R |
| 4 | 47.96% | 51.02% | R+3.1 | 42.82% | 51.96% | R+9.1 | R |
| 5 | 45.84% | 53.01% | R+7.2 | 35.60% | 58.94% | R+23.3 | R |
| 6 | 44.15% | 54.75% | R+10.6 | 30.90% | 64.34% | R+33.4 | R |
| 7 | 57.11% | 41.73% | D+15.4 | 55.20% | 39.20% | D+16 | D |
| 8 | 86.53% | 12.79% | D+73.7 | 82.43% | 14.14% | D+68.3 | D |
| 9 | 74.69% | 24.42% | D+50.3 | 71.60% | 23.86% | D+47.7 | D |
| 10 | 89.76% | 9.63% | D+80.1 | 89.09% | 8.09% | D+81 | D |
| 11 | 86.92% | 12.62% | D+74.3 | 85.40% | 12.20% | D+73.2 | D |
| 12 | 80.00% | 19.52% | D+60.5 | 79.28% | 17.84% | D+61.4 | D |
| 13 | 41.61% | 57.43% | R+15.8 | 46.60% | 48.01% | R+1.4 | R |
| 14 | 42.53% | 56.71% | R+14.2 | 49.36% | 45.05% | D+4.3 | R |
| 15 | 44.86% | 54.03% | R+9.2 | 43.63% | 50.53% | R+6.9 | R |
| 16 | 90.18% | 8.97% | D+81.2 | 88.16% | 8.20% | D+80 | D |
| 17 | 86.03% | 13.52% | D+72.5 | 85.53% | 11.96% | D+73.6 | D |
| 18 | 89.18% | 10.15% | D+79 | 87.03% | 9.71% | D+77.3 | D |
| 19 | 69.95% | 28.13% | D+41.8 | 72.67% | 20.16% | D+52.5 | D |
| 20 | 58.37% | 40.39% | D+18 | 55.33% | 39.27% | D+16.1 | D |
| 21 | 47.93% | 51.07% | R+3.1 | 44.81% | 50.06% | R+5.3 | R |
| 22 | 42.44% | 56.73% | R+14.3 | 35.41% | 60.15% | R+24.7 | R |
| 23 | 34.62% | 64.61% | R+30 | 50.43% | 44.81% | D+5.6 | R |
| 24 | 43.05% | 56.18% | R+13.1 | 45.71% | 49.32% | R+3.6 | R |
| 25 | 46.93% | 51.76% | R+4.8 | 35.85% | 58.74% | R+22.9 | R |
| 26 | 45.64% | 53.35% | R+7.7 | 38.91% | 55.22% | R+16.3 | R |
| 27 | 45.07% | 53.89% | R+8.8 | 40.39% | 54.00% | R+13.6 | R |
| 28 | 43.68% | 54.77% | R+11.1 | 32.63% | 61.90% | R+29.3 | R |
| 29 | 48.16% | 50.05% | R+1.9 | 38.58% | 54.01% | R+15.4 | R |
| 30 | 46.24% | 52.24% | R+6 | 42.51% | 50.44% | R+7.9 | R |
| 31 | 46.56% | 52.48% | R+5.9 | 40.68% | 53.70% | R+13 | R |
| 32 | 41.42% | 57.37% | R+15.9 | 34.97% | 59.41% | R+24.4 | R |
| 33 | 39.95% | 58.97% | R+19 | 35.54% | 59.27% | R+23.7 | R |
| 34 | 44.59% | 54.39% | R+9.8 | 35.28% | 60.34% | R+25.1 | R |
| 35 | 46.89% | 52.10% | R+5.2 | 34.68% | 60.52% | R+25.8 | R |
| 36 | 46.49% | 52.48% | R+6 | 32.07% | 64.35% | R+32.3 | R |
| 37 | 45.97% | 52.93% | R+7 | 39.87% | 54.26% | R+14.4 | R |
| 38 | 41.66% | 57.48% | R+15.8 | 38.23% | 56.78% | R+18.5 | R |
| 39 | 42.12% | 56.85% | R+14.7 | 32.76% | 62.11% | R+29.4 | R |
| 40 | 45.04% | 53.94% | R+8.9 | 32.61% | 62.85% | R+30.2 | R |
| 41 | 48.58% | 50.35% | R+1.8 | 36.02% | 59.60% | R+23.6 | R |
| 42 | 51.09% | 48.03% | D+3.1 | 40.26% | 54.51% | R+14.3 | R |
| 43 | 58.46% | 40.22% | D+18.2 | 50.24% | 43.54% | D+6.7 | D |
| 44 | 63.57% | 35.53% | D+28 | 55.44% | 38.62% | D+16.8 | D |
| 45 | 63.99% | 34.88% | D+29.1 | 52.83% | 41.86% | D+11 | D |
| 46 | 63.63% | 35.46% | D+28.2 | 61.74% | 32.95% | D+28.8 | D |
| 47 | 71.05% | 27.83% | D+43.2 | 71.89% | 23.13% | D+48.8 | D |
| 48 | 77.21% | 21.61% | D+55.6 | 76.06% | 19.26% | D+56.8 | D |
| 49 | 56.34% | 42.26% | D+14.1 | 42.01% | 51.26% | R+9.3 | R |
| 50 | 54.10% | 44.84% | D+9.3 | 38.35% | 57.05% | R+18.7 | R |
| 51 | 59.12% | 39.77% | D+19.4 | 48.42% | 46.59% | D+1.8 | R |
| 52 | 45.04% | 53.91% | R+8.9 | 38.03% | 56.66% | R+18.6 | R |
| 53 | 43.36% | 55.55% | R+12.2 | 34.18% | 60.93% | R+26.7 | R |
| 54 | 57.39% | 41.08% | D+16.3 | 49.16% | 44.12% | D+5 | D |
| 55 | 47.32% | 51.08% | R+3.8 | 41.80% | 51.70% | R+9.9 | R |
| 56 | 43.05% | 55.69% | R+12.6 | 37.98% | 56.68% | R+18.7 | R |
| 57 | 58.41% | 39.31% | D+19.1 | 51.73% | 41.22% | D+10.5 | D |
| 58 | 31.25% | 67.77% | R+36.5 | 28.43% | 66.52% | R+38.1 | R |
| 59 | 31.24% | 67.73% | R+36.5 | 25.52% | 69.73% | R+44.2 | R |
| 60 | 31.82% | 67.23% | R+35.4 | 32.35% | 62.53% | R+30.2 | R |
| 61 | 44.42% | 54.59% | R+10.2 | 36.49% | 58.50% | R+22 | R |
| 62 | 45.73% | 53.46% | R+7.7 | 41.17% | 54.02% | R+12.9 | R |
| 63 | 42.73% | 56.47% | R+13.7 | 37.80% | 57.26% | R+19.5 | R |
| 64 | 58.84% | 40.05% | D+18.8 | 52.63% | 42.23% | D+10.4 | D |
| 65 | 67.06% | 31.78% | D+35.3 | 57.76% | 36.48% | D+21.3 | D |
| 66 | 75.23% | 23.77% | D+51.5 | 68.34% | 26.50% | D+41.8 | D |
| 67 | 48.07% | 50.75% | R+2.7 | 36.41% | 58.15% | R+21.7 | R |
| 68 | 51.24% | 47.56% | D+3.7 | 40.11% | 54.44% | R+14.3 | R |
| 69 | 43.65% | 55.15% | R+11.5 | 34.08% | 60.83% | R+26.8 | R |
| 70 | 48.55% | 50.09% | R+1.5 | 36.82% | 57.83% | R+21 | R |
| 71 | 57.55% | 41.03% | D+16.5 | 50.34% | 43.28% | D+7.1 | D |
| 72 | 48.68% | 50.09% | R+1.4 | 36.95% | 58.55% | R+21.6 | R |
| 73 | 60.93% | 37.66% | D+23.3 | 47.53% | 47.49% | D+0 | D |
| 74 | 57.74% | 40.88% | D+16.9 | 46.22% | 49.38% | R+3.2 | D |
| 75 | 47.55% | 51.22% | R+3.7 | 34.53% | 60.84% | R+26.3 | R |
| 76 | 81.64% | 15.70% | D+65.9 | 82.30% | 11.34% | D+71 | D |
| 77 | 82.23% | 16.20% | D+66 | 83.80% | 11.48% | D+72.3 | D |
| 78 | 71.91% | 26.85% | D+45.1 | 75.62% | 19.47% | D+56.2 | D |
| 79 | 60.89% | 38.29% | D+22.6 | 62.65% | 32.43% | D+30.2 | D |
| 80 | 63.93% | 35.08% | D+28.9 | 62.12% | 32.50% | D+29.6 | D |
| 81 | 61.46% | 37.67% | D+23.8 | 51.23% | 43.11% | D+8.1 | D |
| 82 | 43.03% | 56.32% | R+13.3 | 43.69% | 51.79% | R+8.1 | R |
| 83 | 31.12% | 68.10% | R+37 | 29.71% | 65.91% | R+36.2 | R |
| 84 | 42.31% | 56.84% | R+14.5 | 41.43% | 53.68% | R+12.3 | R |
| 85 | 52.04% | 46.78% | D+5.3 | 44.67% | 49.90% | R+5.2 | R |
| 86 | 43.96% | 55.02% | R+11.1 | 36.19% | 59.18% | R+23 | R |
| 87 | 44.81% | 53.95% | R+9.1 | 30.93% | 64.82% | R+33.9 | R |
| 88 | 48.79% | 50.35% | R+1.6 | 43.75% | 50.75% | R+7 | R |
| 89 | 46.02% | 52.97% | R+6.9 | 32.41% | 63.26% | R+30.9 | R |
| 90 | 63.31% | 35.13% | D+28.2 | 53.29% | 39.82% | D+13.5 | D |
| 91 | 60.63% | 37.68% | D+22.9 | 55.95% | 36.72% | D+19.2 | D |
| 92 | 55.89% | 42.98% | D+12.9 | 40.90% | 54.33% | R+13.4 | R |
| 93 | 47.10% | 51.80% | R+4.7 | 38.30% | 56.18% | R+17.9 | R |
| 94 | 51.53% | 47.32% | D+4.2 | 45.50% | 49.03% | R+3.5 | D |
| 95 | 64.46% | 33.93% | D+30.5 | 58.03% | 34.66% | D+23.4 | D |
| 96 | 55.57% | 42.95% | D+12.6 | 42.90% | 51.64% | R+8.7 | R |
| 97 | 39.90% | 59.02% | R+19.1 | 39.37% | 54.43% | R+15.1 | R |
| 98 | 33.69% | 65.46% | R+31.8 | 35.20% | 59.58% | R+24.4 | R |
| 99 | 26.70% | 72.64% | R+45.9 | 28.97% | 66.40% | R+37.4 | R |
| Total | 52.92% | 45.97% | D+7 | 47.01% | 47.78% | R+0.8 | - |
| Source: Daily Kos | |||||||
See also
| Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Wisconsin | Municipal government | Other local coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
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