Wisconsin State Senate District 10
Wisconsin State Senate District 10 is represented by Rob Stafsholt (R).
As of the 2020 Census, Wisconsin state senators represented an average of 178,711 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 172,674 residents.
About the office
Members of the Wisconsin State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Half of the senate is up for election every two years. 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.[1]
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."[2]
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[3] | |
|---|---|
| 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. |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Wisconsin State Legislature, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat.[4] The governor can call for an election when allowed by law. The election cannot be held after February 1 before a spring general election, unless it is held on the same day of the election, which is the first Tuesday in April. The same requirement applies to any election preceding the fall general election (after August 1), with the exception of elections held on the first Tuesday in November.[5] Also, all vacancies must be filled quickly as long the vacancy happened before the second Tuesday in May during an election year.[6]
See sources: Wisconsin Cons. Art. IV, § 14
2016 pivot county
This district was one of 710 state legislative districts that, based on boundaries adopted after the 2010 census, intersected with one or more Pivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.
The 206 Pivot Counties were located in 34 states. Iowa, with 31, had the most such counties. At that time, the partisan makeup of state legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties was slightly more Republican than the overall partisan makeup of state legislatures throughout the country.[7]
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
On February 19, 2024, Gov. Tony Evers (D) signed Senate Bill 488 into law, adopting new Wisconsin legislative maps.[8] The maps were approved by majority votes in both chambers of Wisconsin's state legislature on February 13. The state Senate voted 18-14 in favor of adopting the new legislative maps, while the state Assembly vote total was 63-33.
In the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, Janet Protasiewicz had defeated Daniel Kelly, changing the balance of the court from a conservative to a liberal majority for the first time in 15 years.[9][10] Later that year on December 22, 2023, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 vote that the state's legislative maps were unconstitutional and ordered new maps to be drawn before the 2024 election.[11] The court rejected the least change approach the conservative majority had adopted for the 2022 maps and ruled that the new maps must satisfy the state constitution's contiguity requirements.[12]
How does redistricting in Wisconsin work? In Wisconsin, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the Wisconsin State Legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[13]
The Wisconsin Constitution requires that state legislative districts be compact and "that they be bounded by county, precinct, town, or ward lines where possible." The state constitution further stipulates that state legislative districts should be contiguous.[13]
Below are the maps in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle. The map on the right was in effect for Wisconsin's 2024 state legislative elections.
Wisconsin State Senate District 10
before 2020 redistricting cycle
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Wisconsin State Senate District 10
after 2020 redistricting cycle
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2024
See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Wisconsin State Senate District 10
Incumbent Rob Stafsholt defeated Paul Hambleton in the general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 10 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Rob Stafsholt (R) | 62.4 | 66,652 |
 | Paul Hambleton (D)  | 37.6 | 40,158 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 89 | ||
| Total votes: 106,899 | |||
| = 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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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 10
Paul Hambleton advanced from the Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 10 on August 13, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Paul Hambleton | 99.8 | 13,888 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 23 | ||
| Total votes: 13,911 | |||
| = 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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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 10
Incumbent Rob Stafsholt advanced from the Republican primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 10 on August 13, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rob Stafsholt | 99.7 | 14,858 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 49 | ||
| Total votes: 14,907 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2020
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Wisconsin State Senate District 10
Rob Stafsholt defeated incumbent Patty Schachtner in the general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 10 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rob Stafsholt (R) | 59.9 | 61,914 |
 | Patty Schachtner (D) | 40.1 | 41,410 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 29 | ||
| Total votes: 103,353 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 10
Incumbent Patty Schachtner advanced from the Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 10 on August 11, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Patty Schachtner | 100.0 | 13,306 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 2 | ||
| Total votes: 13,308 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 10
Rob Stafsholt defeated Cherie Link in the Republican primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 10 on August 11, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rob Stafsholt | 64.8 | 12,603 |
| Cherie Link | 35.1 | 6,828 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 4 | ||
| Total votes: 19,435 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2018
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 10, Special Election, 2018 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Patty Schachtner |
54.6% | 12,249 | |
| Republican | Adam Jarchow | 44.2% | 9,909 | |
| Libertarian | Brian Corriea | 1.2% | 273 | |
| Total Votes | 22,434 | |||
| Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission | ||||
A special election for the position of Wisconsin State Senate District 10 was held on January 16, 2018. Patty Schachtner (D) defeated Adam Jarchow (R) and Brian Corriea (L) with 55 percent of the vote in the general election.[14] Jarchow conceded to Schachtner on Twitter, saying, "I just called Patty Schachtner and congratulated her on her victory tonight. I look forward to working with her as our new state Senator. Thank you to all who worked so hard for our campaign."[15]
Results indicated that voter turnout in the 2018 District 10 special election was at its lowest compared to elections in the district within the last decade, with 22,434 votes cast. As of January 1, 2018, Wisconsin Senate District 10 had 99,917 registered voters, meaning approximately twenty-two percent of registered electors voted in the 2018 special election.[14][16]
Regarding the election results, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote, "Schachtner's win gives Democrats momentum, but they remain deep in the minority. Once she is seated, Republicans will hold an 18-14 advantage, with one district vacant."[17] Wisconsin is currently one of 26 Republican trifectas: Scott Walker (R) holds the governor’s office and Republicans have majorities in the state Senate and state Assembly.
The special election garnered national interest, with outside groups providing contributions and resources to both the Democratic and Republican candidates. District 10 last saw a similar amount of outside involvement during a 2011 recall effort.[18][19]
The seat was left vacant after the resignation of Sheila Harsdorf (R). Harsdorf resigned from the state Senate effective November 10, 2017, after being appointed as secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.[20] Harsdorf held the seat from 2001 to 2017, winning the recall election leveled against her in 2011.
Harsdorf won the seat with 59.2 percent and 63.2 percent of the vote in 2012 and 2016, respectively. The last Democratic state senator to hold the district was Alice Clausing. Clausing represented District 10 from 1993 to 2001. Harsdorf defeated Clausing in the 2000 election for the seat with 50.34 percent of the vote. Clausing received 47.15 percent.[21][22] Senate District 10 is one of 710 state legislative districts that intersect with one or more Pivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. In 2016, Trump won the district with 55.30 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 38.05 percent.
Democratic group Greater Wisconsin Political Independent Expenditure Fund bought $30,000 in online ads and the National Democratic Redistricting Committee–chaired by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder–gave $10,000 to Lockwood Strategy Lab in Washington, D.C. for online advertising to support Schachtner.[23] Conservative group Americans for Prosperity spent over $50,000 on ads and mailings supporting Jarchow, the first time the group’s Wisconsin chapter directly recommended a candidate. Other groups, such as the Democratic group Greater Wisconsin Committee and the Republican State Leadership Committee also spent money on the election.[18][19]
As of January 13, Schachtner and Jarchow had cumulatively raised $523,609.19. Over $50,000 of their total monetary contributions and in-kind donations were received after January 1. Schachtner raised $209,649.53 in monetary contributions and in-kind donations. Some of her biggest donors included the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and the State Senate Democratic Committee.[24][25] Jarchow raised $313,959.66 via monetary contributions, loans, and in-kind donations. His biggest donors included the Republican Party of Wisconsin and the Committee to Elect a Republican Senate. Jarchow loaned his campaign $50,000.00.[26][27][28]
A primary election was held on December 19, 2017. Schachtner defeated Reuben Herfindahl and John Calabrese in the Democratic primary. Jarchow defeated Shannon Zimmerman in the Republican primary.[29]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 10 Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|
Patty Schachtner |
70.5% | 3,898 | ||
| John Rocco Calabrese | 24.7% | 1,365 | ||
| Reuben Helge Herfindahl | 4.7% | 260 | ||
| Scattering | 0.1% | 3 | ||
| Total Votes | 5,526 | |||
| Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission |
||||
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 10 Republican Primary, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|
Adam Jarchow |
55.9% | 4,023 | ||
| Shannon Zimmerman | 44% | 3,161 | ||
| Scattering | 0.1% | 8 | ||
| Total Votes | 7,192 | |||
| Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission |
||||
Voter turnout
From 2008 to 2016, an average of 85,090 votes were cast in Wisconsin Senate District 10 elections. The 2018 special election saw a drop in total turnout of 73 percent. One-third as many people voted in the 2018 election as they did in the 2011 recall election, the second-lowest instance of voter turnout from 2008 to 2018. In 2011, 64,411 citizens cast a vote, compared to the 22,434 who voted in the 2018 special election. Find out the voter turnout in other noteworthy state legislative special elections in 2017 here.
Past Senate District 10 elections
2016 election
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2016
Incumbent Sheila Harsdorf defeated Diane Odeen in the Wisconsin State Senate District 10 general election.[30][31]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 10 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Sheila Harsdorf Incumbent |
63.22% | 56,496 | |
| Democratic | Diane Odeen | 36.78% | 32,863 | |
| Total Votes | 89,359 | |||
| Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission | ||||
2012 election
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2012
Incumbent Sheila Harsdorf defeated Daniel Olson in the Wisconsin State Senate District 10 general election.[32]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Daniel Olson | 40.7% | 35,728 | |
| Republican | Sheila Harsdorf Incumbent |
59.2% | 51,911 | |
| - | Scattering | 0.1% | 95 | |
| Total Votes | 87,734 | |||
2011 recall
Harsdorf defeated Moore in the August 9 recall.
| August 9 Recall - District 10[33] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Sheila Harsdorf (R)
|
37,102 | 57.6% | ||
| Shelly Moore (D) | 27,257 | 42.32% | ||
| Scattering | 52 | .08% | ||
2016
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.
Incumbent Sheila Harsdorf defeated Diane Odeen in the Wisconsin State Senate District 10 general election.[30][34]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 10 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Sheila Harsdorf Incumbent |
63.22% | 56,496 | |
| Democratic | Diane Odeen | 36.78% | 32,863 | |
| Total Votes | 89,359 | |||
| Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission | ||||
Diane Odeen ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Senate District 10 Democratic primary.[35][36]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 10 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Diane Odeen (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Sheila Harsdorf ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Senate District 10 Republican primary.[35][36]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 10 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Sheila Harsdorf Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2012
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2012
Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 14, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. Republican incumbent Sheila Harsdorf defeated Democrat Daniel Olson in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the primary elections.[37][38]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Daniel Olson | 40.7% | 35,728 | |
| Republican | Sheila Harsdorf Incumbent |
59.2% | 51,911 | |
| - | Scattering | 0.1% | 95 | |
| Total Votes | 87,734 | |||
Campaign contributions
From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Wisconsin State Senate District 10 raised a total of $4,147,260. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $188,512 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Wisconsin State Senate District 10 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $384,790 | 2 | $192,395 |
| 2020 | $1,416,800 | 3 | $472,267 |
| 2016 | $574,198 | 2 | $287,099 |
| 2012 | $337,214 | 2 | $168,607 |
| 2010 | $34,184 | 1 | $34,184 |
| 2008 | $368,543 | 2 | $184,272 |
| 2006 | $22,919 | 1 | $22,919 |
| 2004 | $342,173 | 5 | $68,435 |
| 2002 | $23,507 | 1 | $23,507 |
| 2000 | $642,932 | 3 | $214,311 |
| Total | $4,147,260 | 22 | $188,512 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Wisconsin Statutes, "Chapter 13: Legislative Branch: 13.02 Regular sessions," accessed October 5, 2021
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Annotated Wisconsin Constitution- Article IV, Section 6," accessed May 23, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes," accessed February 10, 2021 (Statute 17.19 (1), Wisconsin Statutes)
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes," accessed February 10, 2021 (Statute 8.50, Wisconsin Statutes)
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes," accessed February 10, 2021 (Statute 8.50(4)-(d), Wisconsin Statutes)
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
- ↑ Office of the Governor, "Gov. Evers Signs Fair Maps for Wisconsin," February 19, 2024
- ↑ NBC, "In heated Wisconsin Supreme Court debate, candidates tangle over 'fake elector' scheme," March 21, 2023
- ↑ NBC News, "Wisconsin governor signs new state legislative maps into law, ending a GOP gerrymander," February 19, 2024
- ↑ The New York Times, "Justices in Wisconsin Order New Legislative Maps," December 22, 2023
- ↑ Wisconsin Examiner, "Wisconsin Supreme Court rules state voting maps unconstitutional," December 22, 2023
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 All About Redistricting, "Wisconsin," accessed May 7, 2015
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Canvass Results for 2018 Special Election State Senate District 10," accessed January 30, 2018
- ↑ Twitter, "Adam Jarchow," accessed January 16, 2018
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "January 1, 2018 Voter Registration Statistics," accessed January 17, 2018
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Democrats grab key Wisconsin Senate seat in Tuesday's special elections," January 16, 2018
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Wisconsin State Journal, "Next week's special Senate election first to test national Democratic wave in Wisconsin," January 10, 2018
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Tuesday's Wisconsin Senate special election could be bellwether for 2018 legislative races," January 12, 2018
- ↑ Fox 6 Now, "“I am honored:” Governor Scott Walker appoints Sen. Sheila Harsdorf as Agriculture head," November 10, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin State Elections Board , "Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2000," accessed January 12, 2017
- ↑ The State of Wisconsin Collection, "State of Wisconsin 1999-2000 blue book," accessed January 12, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin Campaign Finance Information System, "Post Election reporting period for special elections 2018 (Assm: 58, 66; Sen: 10): National Democratic Redistricting Committee," accessed January 12, 2018
- ↑ Wisconsin Campaign Finance Information System, "Campaign Finance Report State of Wisconsin CF-2," accessed January 16, 2018
- ↑ Wisconsin Campaign Finance Information System, "Special Report of Late Contribution State of Wisconsin CF-3," accessed January 12, 2018
- ↑ Wisconsin Campaign Finance Information System, "Campaign Finance Report State of Wisconsin ETHCF-2," accessed January 16, 2018
- ↑ Wisconsin Campaign Finance Information System, "Campaign Finance Report State of Wisconsin CF-2," accessed January 16, 2018
- ↑ Wisconsin Campaign Finance Information System, "Special Report of Late Contribution State of Wisconsin CF-3, Amended," accessed January 16, 2018
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "2017 Special Partisan Primary Senate District 10," accessed November 25, 2017
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidates on Ballot by Election - 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016," accessed November 4, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "2016 Fall General Election Results," accessed December 2, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, Official 2012 primary results, accessed November 23, 2013
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "District 10 Recall Election Results," accessed August 19, 2011
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "2016 Fall General Election Results," accessed December 2, 2016
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidate Tracking by Office," accessed June 20, 2016
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 Wisconsin Elections and Ethics Commissions, "2016 Partisan Primary," accessed September 16, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Secretary of State, "2012 General Election Candidates by Office," accessed November 23, 2013
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, Official 2012 primary results, accessed November 23, 2013
