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Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2020
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2022 →
← 2018
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| 2020 Wisconsin Assembly Elections | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General | November 3, 2020 |
| Primary | August 11, 2020 |
| Past Election Results |
| 2018・2016・2014 2012・2010・2008 |
| 2020 Elections | |
|---|---|
| Choose a chamber below: | |
Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for August 11, 2020. The filing deadline was June 1, 2020.
All 99 Assembly seats were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Democrats held 34 seats, Republicans held 63 seats, and there were two vacancies. Democrats gained four seats and Republicans lost two seats, resulting in a 61-38 Republican majority.
The Wisconsin State Assembly was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.
Wisconsin's 2020 state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In Wisconsin, the state legislature is responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. Both are subject to gubernatorial veto.
For detailed campaign finance information for the elections in this chamber, click here.
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.
Party control
| Wisconsin State Assembly | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 34 | 38 | |
| Republican Party | 63 | 61 | |
| Vacancy | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 99 | 99 | |
Candidates
General election candidates
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection
Democratic
RepublicanPrimary candidates
The candidate list below is based on an official list provided by the Wisconsin Elections Commission website as of June 8, 2020. The filing deadline for the August primary was on June 1, 2020.[1]
Campaign finance
The section and tables below contain data from financial reports submitted to state agencies. Districts and elections are grouped in sections of 10. To view data for a district, click on the appropriate bar below to expand it. The data is gathered and made available by Transparency USA.
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
Two incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election. Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Rob Hutton |  Republican |
House District 13 |
| Jim Ott | Republican |
House District 23 |
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
One incumbent lost in the Aug. 11 primaries. That incumbent was:
| Name | Party | Current Office |
|---|---|---|
| Staush Gruszynski |  Democratic |
Assembly District 90 |
Retiring incumbents
There were 13 open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020.[2] Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Office | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| JoCasta Zamarripa | Democratic |
Assembly District 8 | Retired |
| Jason Fields | Democratic |
Assembly District 11 | Retired |
| David Crowley | Democratic |
Assembly District 17 | Vacated before term end |
| Rob Stafsholt | Republican |
Assembly District 29 | Filed for different office |
| Mary Felzkowski | Republican |
Assembly District 35 | Filed for different office |
| Joan Ballweg | Republican |
Assembly District 41 | Filed for different office |
| Debra Kolste | Democratic |
Assembly District 44 | Retired |
| Melissa Sargent | Democratic |
Assembly District 48 | Filed for different office |
| Mike Rohrkaste | Republican |
Assembly District 55 | Retired |
| Amanda Stuck | Democratic |
Assembly District 57 | Filed for different office |
| Bob Kulp | Republican |
Assembly District 69 | Retired |
| Romaine Quinn | Republican |
Assembly District 75 | Retired |
| Chris Taylor | Democratic |
Assembly District 76 | Retired |
The 13 seats left open in 2020 represented no change from 2018. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.
| Open Seats in Wisconsin State Assembly elections: 2010 - 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2020 | 99 | 13 (13%) | 86 (87%) |
| 2018 | 99 | 13 (13%) | 86 (87%) |
| 2016 | 99 | 10 (10%) | 89 (90%) |
| 2014 | 99 | 21 (21%) | 78 (79%) |
| 2012 | 99 | 18 (18%) | 81 (82%) |
| 2010 | 99 | 20 (20%) | 79 (80%) |
Process to become a candidate
See statutes: Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, Chapter 8
The filing process for both ballot-qualified party candidates and other candidates (e.g., independents, non-recognized party candidates, etc.) is the same. The filing procedure, however, does vary somewhat according to the type of office being sought. Please note that only ballot-qualified party candidates can participate in primaries.[3]
For federal and state candidates
A candidate for federal office must file a declaration of candidacy with the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The declaration of candidacy must state the following:[3][4]
- that the individual is a candidate for the office named on the form
- that the individual meets the qualifications for office, or will meet the qualifications by the time he or she assumes office if elected
- that the individual will otherwise qualify for office if nominated and elected
The declaration of candidacy must be sworn before an individual authorized to administer oaths. The declaration of candidacy must be filed by 5:00 p.m. on June 1 preceding the election (if June 1 falls on non-business day, the form will be due on the next preceding business day).[3][4][5][6]
In addition to the declaration of candidacy, the candidate must submit nomination papers to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The number of signatures required varies according to the office being sought. Requirements are summarized in the table below.[3][5][6]
| Nomination paper signature requirements for federal candidates | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office | Minimum signatures | Maximum signatures |
| U.S. Senator | 2,000 | 4,000 |
| U.S. Representative | 1,000 | 2,000 |
| State senator | 400 | 800 |
| State representative | 200 | 400 |
| State supreme court justice | 2,000 | 4,000 |
Nomination papers must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on June 1 preceding the election (if June 1 falls on non-business day, the form will be due on the next preceding business day).[3][5][6]
Write-in candidates
On April 2, 2014, Governor Scott Walker signed into law AB 419, which requires that write-in candidates file campaign finance statements in order to have their votes tallied. Otherwise, there are no specific filing requirements for write-in candidates.[7]
2020 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for Wisconsin State Assembly candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Wisconsin State Assembly | All candidates | 200 | N/A | 6/1/2020 | Source |
Qualifications
Section 6 of Article 4 of the Wisconsin Constitution states, "No person shall be eligible to the legislature who shall not have resided one year within the state, and be a qualified elector in the district which he may be chosen to represent."
Salaries and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[8] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $57,408/year | $140/day for senators. Dane County senators are allowed half that amount. $155.70/day (with overnight) or $77.85/day (no overnight) for representatives. Dane County representatives receive only $77.85/day. |
When sworn in
Wisconsin legislators assume office the first Monday in January following the election, unless the first Monday of January falls on January 1 or 2. In those cases, legislators assume office on January 3.[9]
Wisconsin political history
Trifectas
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
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 |
Presidential politics in Wisconsin
2016 Presidential election results
| U.S. presidential election, Wisconsin, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 46.5% | 1,382,536 | 0 | |
| Republican |  Donald Trump/Mike Pence |
47.2% | 1,405,284 | 10 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 3.6% | 106,674 | 0 | |
| Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 1% | 31,072 | 0 | |
| Constitution | Darrell Lane Castle/Scott Bradley | 0.4% | 12,162 | 0 | |
| Workers Party | Monica Moorehead/Lamont Lilly | 0.1% | 1,770 | 0 | |
| American Delta | Rocky De La Fuente/Michael Steinberg | 0.1% | 1,502 | 0 | |
| - | Write-in votes | 1.2% | 35,150 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 2,976,150 | 10 | |||
| Election results via: Wisconsin Elections Commission | |||||
Note: The vote totals above are from the recount.
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.[10][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. An individual who is in line at the time 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 for at least 28 days prior to 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. 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.)[13]
Automatic registration
Wisconsin does not practice automatic voter registration.[14]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Wisconsin has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.[14]
Same-day registration
Wisconsin allows same-day voter registration.[14]
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."[15]
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.[16] 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.[17]
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:[17]
- 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:[18]
- 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.[18]
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.[19][20]
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.[19][21]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Candidates Tracking By Office (as of 06.08.2020 Challenges Pending).pdf," accessed June 8, 2020
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Government Accountability Board, "Ballot Access Manual (2023)," accessed apRIL 25, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, "Chapter 8, Section 21," accessed April 28, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, "Chapter 8, Section 20," accessed April 28, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, "Chapter 8, Section 15," accessed April 28, 2025
- ↑ Ballot Access News, "Wisconsin Will No Longer Count Write-in Votes Unless Write-in Candidate Files Paperwork," May 17, 2014
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin Statutes, "Chapter 13: Legislative Branch: 13.02 Regular sessions," accessed October 5, 2021
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 4, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wis. State § 5.62 Partisan primary ballots," accessed October 4, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin Election Commission, “Election Day Voting,” accessed May 4, 2023
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Voter Registration and Proof of Residence," accessed May 4, 2023
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed August 20, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Wisconsin Voter Registration Application," accessed November 2, 2024
- ↑ 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."
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Photo ID," accessed May 4, 2023 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "wvid" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 18.0 18.1 Wisconsin Department of Transportation, "Wisconsin ID card for voting purposes - petition process," accessed May 4, 2023
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Wisconsin Election Commission, "What is in-person absentee voting and how can I do it?" accessed May 4, 2023
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Vote Absentee Guide," accessed May 4, 2023
- ↑ Wisconsin Election Commission, "FAQ search results: absentee," accessed May 4, 2023
