2022 Wisconsin elections
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The 2022 Wisconsin fall general election was held in the U.S. state of Wisconsin on November 8, 2022. All of Wisconsin's partisan executive and administrative offices were up for election, as well as one of Wisconsin's U.S. Senate seats, Wisconsin's eight seats in the United States House of Representatives, the seventeen odd-numbered seats in the Wisconsin State Senate, and all 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly. The 2022 Wisconsin fall primary was held on August 9, 2022.
The parties split the major state-wide races, with Democrats retaining the offices of governor and attorney general and Republicans retaining the U.S. Senate seat. Republicans gained one seat in the U.S. House delegation, taking the vast western 3rd congressional district following the retirement of 13-term Democratic congressman Ron Kind. Republicans also picked up one seat in the State Senate, reaching a supermajority. They also flipped one seat in the State Assembly, but fell three seats short of a supermajority in that chamber.
The 2022 Wisconsin spring election was held April 5, 2022. Three seats of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals were up in this election, as well as various nonpartisan local and judicial offices, including a special election for mayor of Milwaukee. The 2022 spring primary was held February 15, 2022.
These were the first elections held after the redistricting of the state following the 2020 United States census. The redistricting process could not be completed through the normal legislative process, and was handled by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which selected the Republican Party's preferred map.
Federal[edit]
U.S. Senate[edit]
Incumbent Republican Ron Johnson won a third six-year term, defeating the Democratic nominee, lieutenant governor Mandela Barnes.[1]
Five other Democrats registered to run in the Democratic primary: State treasurer Sarah Godlewski, Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry, former Assembly majority leader Tom Nelson, businessman Adam Murphy, and attorney Peter Peckarsky.[2][3] Barnes emerged from the primary after most of his prominent opponents withdrew from the race.
U.S. House[edit]
The 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin were held on November 8, 2022, to elect Wisconsin's delegation to the United States House of Representatives for the 118th United States Congress. A primary election for these offices was held August 9, 2022.
At the time of the 2022 election, Wisconsin had eight congressional districts, of which five were represented by Republicans and three were represented by Democrats.[4]: 14–19 Seven of the eight incumbents ran for and won re-election — Bryan Steil (WI-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05), Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Tom Tiffany (WI-07), and Mike Gallagher (WI-08).
- In Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district, Democrat Ron Kind retired after 24 years in congress. His seat was won by Republican Derrick Van Orden in the closest congressional race in the state.
These were the first congressional elections in Wisconsin under new districts, reflecting the 2020 United States census. The 2022 congressional district maps were Governor Tony Evers' "maps of least change" selected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
| District | Incumbent | This race | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 2021 CPVI | Representative | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
| Wisconsin 1 | R+7 | Bryan Steil | 2018 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| Wisconsin 2 | D+18 | Mark Pocan | 2012[5] | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| Wisconsin 3 | R+4 | Ron Kind | 1996 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican gain. |
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| Wisconsin 4 | D+25 | Gwen Moore | 2004 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| Wisconsin 5 | R+11 | Scott L. Fitzgerald | 2020 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| Wisconsin 6 | R+10 | Glenn Grothman | 2014 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| Wisconsin 7 | R+12 | Tom Tiffany | 2020 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| Wisconsin 8 | R+10 | Mike Gallagher | 2016 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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State[edit]
Executive[edit]
All of Wisconsin's partisan executive offices were up for election in November 2022 with partisan primaries held on August 9.
Governor[edit]
Incumbent Democratic governor Tony Evers, first elected in 2018, was re-elected to a second four-year term.[6][4]: 4–5 He defeated the Republican nominee, businessman Tim Michels.
In the Republican primary, Michels defeated former lieutenant governor Rebecca Kleefisch, state representative Timothy Ramthun, and former police officer Adam J. Fischer. Kevin Nicholson, another prominent Wisconsin businessman, withdrew from the race before the primary.
Lieutenant governor[edit]
Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Mandela Barnes, first elected in 2018, did not run for re-election—he instead ran for United States Senate.[7] State representative Sara Rodriguez won the Democratic nomination and was elected as a ticket with Tony Evers. State Senator Roger Roth won the Republican primary for lieutenant governor.
Other candidates in the Democratic primary included Peng Her, the CEO of Hmong Institute, and state representative David Bowen (Wisconsin politician). Bowen did not file papers to be on the ballot and subsequently suspended his campaign.[8] State senator Lena Taylor initially declared an intention to run for the office, but dropped out in December 2021, six months before the filing deadline.[9]
Other Republican candidates included state senate president pro tempore Patrick Testin, Lancaster mayor David Varnam, David King, Jonathan Wichmann, Will Martin, Kyle Yudes, Cindy Werner, and Ben Voelkel.[10]
Attorney general[edit]
Incumbent Democratic attorney general Josh Kaul, first elected in 2018, was re-elected to a second four-year term.[11][4]: 5 He defeated the Republican nominee, Fond du Lac County district attorney Eric Toney.[12][13][14]
Toney defeated former state representative Adam Jarchow and attorney Karen Mueller, from Chippewa Falls, in the Republican primary.
Secretary of state[edit]
Incumbent Democratic secretary of state Doug La Follette, first elected in 1974, narrowly won his 12th four-year term, defeating the Republican candidate, state representative Amy Loudenbeck.[15]
La Follette defeated Alexia Sabor, the chair of the Dane County Democratic Party, in the Democratic primary.
Other Republican primary candidates included Justin D. Schmidtka and Jay Schroeder, the party's 2018 nominee.[16]
Sharyl R. McFarland ran as the Wisconsin Green Party nominee, and Neil Harmon ran on the Libertarian Party ticket.
Treasurer[edit]
Incumbent Democratic state treasurer Sarah Godlewski, first elected in 2018, did not run for re-election—she instead sought the Democratic nomination for United States Senate.[17] The election was won by Republican John Leiber, a lawyer from Racine County, Wisconsin. He defeated Democrat Aaron Richardson, the mayor of Fitchburg, Wisconsin.
Other candidates in the Democratic primary included West Allis city councilmember Angelito Tenorio[18] and radiologist Gillian Battino. Former state treasurer Dawn Marie Sass also circulated nomination papers but missed the filing deadline.
On the Republican side Orlando Owens, a pastor and staffer for U.S. senator Ron Johnson, received the state Republican Party's endorsement,[19] but he lost the primary to Leiber.
Andrew Zuelke ran as the Constitution Party nominee.
Legislature[edit]
State Senate[edit]
The 17 odd-numbered districts out of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election in 2022. Republicans won 12 of those 17 seats, for a net gain of one seat, giving them a supermajority in this chamber going into the 106th Wisconsin Legislature.
These were the first state senate elections in Wisconsin under new districts, reflecting the 2020 United States census. The 2022 state senate maps were the Republican Legislature's "maps of least change" selected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
| Seats | Party (majority caucus shading)
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Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | |||
| Total after last election (2020) | 12 | 21 | 33 | |
| Total before this election | 12 | 21 | 33 | |
| Up for election | 6 | 11 | 17 | |
| This election | 5 | 12 | 17 | |
| Total after this election | 11 | 22 | 33 | |
| Change in total |  1
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 1
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State Assembly[edit]
All 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly were up for election in 2022. Republicans won 64 of those seats, for a net gain of three seats. They fell short of their goal of 66 seats, which would have given them a supermajority.
These were the first state assembly elections in Wisconsin under new districts, reflecting the 2020 United States census. The 2022 state assembly maps were the Republican Legislature's "maps of least change" selected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, maintaining Wisconsin's already heavily gerrymandered districts.
| Seats | Party (majority caucus shading)
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Total | Vacant | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | ||||
| Total after last election (2020) | 38 | 61 | 99 | 0 | |
| Total before this election | 38 | 57 | 95 | 4 | |
| Up for election | 38 | 57 | 95 | 4 | |
| This election | 35 | 64 | 99 | 0 | |
| Total after this election | 35 | 64 | 99 | 0 | |
| Change in total | 3
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3
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Judiciary[edit]
State Court of Appeals[edit]
Three seats on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals were up for election in April 2022.
- In District II, Judge Lori Kornblum, appointed by Governor Tony Evers in 2021, was defeated by Waukesha County circuit judge Maria S. Lazar.[20]
- In District III, Judge Thomas Hruz, appointed by Governor Scott Walker in 2014, was unopposed seeking a second six-year term.
- In District IV, Judge Brian Blanchard, first elected in 2010, was unopposed seeking a third six-year term.
State Circuit Courts[edit]
Forty six of the state's 257 circuit court seats were up for election in April 2022.[21]: 637–641 Nine of those seats were contested.[22] One of the contested seats, in Vilas County, was newly created from a 2020 act of the Wisconsin Legislature.[23] Three other newly-created seats, in Adams, Eau Claire, and Vilas counties, had only one candidate running.[22] Only three incumbent judges faced a contested re-election,[22] and only one incumbent judge lost her election—LaKeisha Haase of Winnebago County, who had been appointed a year earlier by Governor Tony Evers.[24]
- In Iowa County, incumbent district attorney Matt Allen defeated former municipal judge Rhonda Hazen for the judicial seat being vacated by Judge Margaret M. Koehler.
- In Kewaunee County, county corporation counsel Jeffrey R. Wisnicky defeated Brown County assistant district attorney Kimberly A. Hardtke for the judicial seat being vacated by Judge Keith A. Mehn. Attorney John Peterson was eliminated in the February primary.
- In Marathon County, attorney Rick Cveykus defeated county supervisor William A. Harris for the judicial seat being vacated by Judge Gregory Huber.
- In Oconto County, incumbent judge Jay Conley defeated incumbent district attorney Edward Burke.
- In Portage County, incumbent district attorney Louis J. Molepske defeated defense attorney Stephen W. Sawyer for the judicial seat being vacated by Judge Robert J. Shannon.
- In Sauk County, incumbent judge Michael Screnock defeated attorney Blake J. Duren.
- In Vilas County, attorney Daniel Overby defeated Milwaukee County assistant district attorney Meg O'Marro for a newly created judicial seat.
- In Winnebago County Branch 3, attorney Bryan Keberlein defeated court commissioner Lisa Krueger for the judicial seat being vacated by Judge Barbara Hart Key.
- In Winnebago County Branch 4, attorney Mike Gibbs defeated incumbent judge LaKeisha Haase.
| Circuit | Branch | Incumbent | Elected | Defeated | Defeated in Primary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Votes | % | Name | Votes | % | ||||
| Adams | 2 | --New Seat-- | Tania M. Bonnett | 2,014 | 98.24% | ||||
| Barron | 1 | James C. Babler | James C. Babler | 6,524 | 99.62% | ||||
| Crawford | Lynn Marie Ryder | Lynn Marie Ryder | 1,521 | 98.83% | |||||
| Dane | 3 | Valerie L. Bailey-Rihn | Diane Schlipper | 59,011 | 99.15% | ||||
| 4 | Everett Mitchell | Everett Mitchell | 59,312 | 99.01% | |||||
| 5 | Nicholas J. McNamara | Nicholas J. McNamara | 58,155 | 99.15% | |||||
| 14 | John D. Hyland | John D. Hyland | 58,064 | 99.09% | |||||
| 15 | Stephen Ehlke | Stephen Ehlke | 58,090 | 99.16% | |||||
| Eau Claire | 1 | John F. Manydeeds | John F. Manydeeds | 13,721 | 98.81% | ||||
| 6 | --New Seat-- | Beverly Wickstrom | 13,046 | 98.71% | |||||
| Fond du Lac | 2 | Peter L. Grimm | Laura Lavey | 11,164 | 99.97% | ||||
| 4 | Gary R. Sharpe | Tricia L. Walker | 10,854 | 99.91% | |||||
| 5 | Paul G. Czisny | Douglas R. Edelstein | 10,684 | 99.96% | |||||
| Iowa | Margaret M. Koehler | Matt Allen | 3,170 | 65.19% | Rhonda R. Hazen | 1,689 | 34.73% | ||
| Kewaunee | Keith A. Mehn | Jeffrey R. Wisnicky | 2,720 | 62.41% | Kimberly A. Hardtke | 1,628 | 37.36% | John Peterson | |
| Lincoln | 1 | Jay R. Tlusty | Galen Bayne-Allison | 5,479 | 99.20% | ||||
| Marathon | 2 | Gregory Huber | Rick Cveykus | 16,753 | 67.91% | William A. Harris | 7,891 | 31.98% | |
| Milwaukee | 5 | Kristela Cervera | Kristela Cervera | 89,969 | 98.53% | ||||
| 14 | Christopher R. Foley | Christopher R. Foley | 91,898 | 98.62% | |||||
| 25 | Stephanie Rothstein | Nidhi Kashyap | 87,737 | 98.52% | |||||
| 31 | Hannah C. Dugan | Hannah C. Dugan | 89,206 | 98.42% | |||||
| 34 | Glenn H. Yamahiro | Glenn H. Yamahiro | 89,065 | 98.51% | |||||
| 44 | Gwen Connolly | Gwen Connolly | 89,591 | 98.74% | |||||
| 45 | Jean Marie Kies | Jean Marie Kies | 87,965 | 98.70% | |||||
| Monroe | 2 | Mark L. Goodman | Mark L. Goodman | 6,343 | 99.34% | ||||
| Oconto | 2 | Jay N. Conley | Jay N. Conley | 5,822 | 73.43% | Ed Burke | 2,093 | 26.40% | |
| Outagamie | 4 | Yadira Rein | Yadira J. Rein | 18,167 | 100.0% | ||||
| 7 | Mark G. Schroeder | Mark G. Schroeder | 18,352 | 100.0% | |||||
| Pierce | Elizabeth Rohl | Elizabeth Rohl | 5,748 | 99.34% | |||||
| Portage | 2 | Robert J. Shannon | Louis J. Molepske Jr. | 9,454 | 56.17% | Stephen W. Sawyer | 7,357 | 43.71% | |
| 3 | Patricia Baker | Patricia Baker | 11,421 | 98.97% | |||||
| Racine | 2 | Eugene Gasiorkiewicz | Eugene Gasiorkiewicz | 18,273 | 98.47% | ||||
| 4 | Mark Nielsen | Mark Nielsen | 18,444 | 98.86% | |||||
| 5 | Kristin Cafferty | Kristin Cafferty | 18,258 | 98.87% | |||||
| Rusk | Steven P. Anderson | Annette Barna | 2,010 | 96.68% | |||||
| Sauk | 1 | Michael P. Screnock | Michael P. Screnock | 5,557 | 51.66% | Blake J. Duren | 5,199 | 48.34% | |
| 2 | Wendy J. N. Klicko | Wendy J. N. Klicko | 8,446 | 100.0% | |||||
| St. Croix | 4 | R. Michael Waterman | R. Michael Waterman | 11,076 | 99.00% | ||||
| Vilas | 1 | Martha Milanowski | Martha Milanowski | 3,766 | 99.58% | ||||
| 2 | --New Seat-- | Daniel Overbey | 2,597 | 56.20% | Meg Colleen O'Marro | 2,017 | 43.65% | ||
| Walworth | 2 | Daniel S. Johnson | Daniel S. Johnson | 12,028 | 99.02% | ||||
| 4 | David M. Reddy | David M. Reddy | 12,055 | 99.03% | |||||
| Waushara | 2 | --New Seat-- | Scott C. Blader | 3,154 | 99.15% | ||||
| Winnebago | 3 | Barbara Hart Key | Bryan D. Keberlein | 13,745 | 54.49% | Lisa Krueger | 11,421 | 45.27% | |
| 4 | LaKeisha Haase | Mike Gibbs | 13,786 | 53.23% | LaKeisha Haase | 12,081 | 46.64% | ||
| 5 | John Jorgensen | John Jorgensen | 19,418 | 98.91% | |||||
Local elections[edit]
Milwaukee[edit]
- A special election for Mayor of Milwaukee was held concurrent with the Spring general election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mayor Tom Barrett. Acting mayor and former city council president Cavalier Johnson defeated former city councilmember Bob Donovan. Johnson became the first African American to be elected mayor of Milwaukee.[20][25] City councilmember Marina Dimitrijevic, Milwaukee County sheriff Earnell Lucas, entrepreneur Michael Sampson, community advocate Nick McVey, and teacher Sheila Conley-Patterson were eliminated in the February primary.[26] State representative Daniel Riemer had filed to run, but dropped out of the race on December 23, 2021.[27]
Waukesha[edit]
- Shawn Reilly was re-elected to a third term as mayor of Waukesha, Wisconsin. He was a Republican who quit the party over the 2021 United States Capitol attack.[20]
See also[edit]
- Republican efforts to restrict voting following the 2020 presidential election § Wisconsin
- 2022 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
- 2022 Wisconsin Attorney General election
- 2022 Wisconsin State Senate election
- 2022 Wisconsin State Assembly election
- 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin
- 2022 United States elections
- Elections in Wisconsin
- Redistricting in Wisconsin
References[edit]
- ^ Glauber, Bill (January 7, 2022). "U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson poised to announce run for a third term as early as next week, according to sources". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- ^ Bauer, Scott (February 17, 2021). "Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry announces Senate run". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ Schmidt, Mitchell; Vetterkind, Riley (July 20, 2021). "Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes joins crowded Democratic field for US Senate". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
- ^ a b c Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (2019). "Elected Officials" (PDF). Wisconsin Blue Book 2019-2020 (Report). State of Wisconsin. ISBN 978-1-7333817-0-3. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ Langrehr, Jaymes (January 4, 2021). "Rep. Mark Pocan says he won't run for Sen. Ron Johnson's seat in 2022". WISC-TV. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ Bauer, Scott (June 5, 2021). "Gov. Evers announces reelection run". WITI (TV). Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- ^ Bauer, Scott (July 20, 2021). "Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes joins US Senate race". Associated Press. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
- ^ "Rep. David Bowen enters race for lieutenant governor, creating three-way Democratic primary".
- ^ "Lena Taylor abandons lieutenant governor bid". Wisconsin Public Radio. December 25, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ "Here's who's running for lieutenant governor in Wisconsin (So far)".
- ^ Bauer, Scott (July 12, 2021). "Wisconsin attorney general race heating up". Associated Press. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ Beck, Molly (October 22, 2021). "Former state lawmaker Adam Jarchow files paperwork to run for attorney general in Wisconsin". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- ^ "Fond du Lac prosecutor announces run for Wisconsin attorney general". Wisconsin State Journal. Associated Press. April 4, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- ^ Vetterkind, Riley (October 5, 2021). "UW-Madison professor Ryan Owens ends GOP bid for attorney general". Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ "Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug la Follette seeking reelection to a 12th term". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. March 17, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
- ^ "Wisconsin Secretary of State election, 2022".
- ^ Bauer, Scott (April 14, 2021). "Wisconsin Treasurer Godlewski launches US Senate bid". Associated Press. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- ^ "West Allis Alder Tenorio: Announces candidacy for WI State Treasurer". Angelito for Treasurer (Press release). July 15, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Wispolitics.com.
- ^ Leischner, Mike (May 22, 2022). "No Endorsement From State Republicans in Governor's Race". WTAQ. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
- ^ a b c Dirr, Alison; Glauber, Bill; Spicuzza, Mary (April 5, 2022). "Cavalier Johnson becomes first African American elected mayor of Milwaukee, defeats Bob Donovan in the spring general election". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
- ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (2019). "Wisconsin Officials and Employees" (PDF). Wisconsin Blue Book 2019–2020 (Report). State of Wisconsin. ISBN 978-1-7333817-0-3. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ a b c Candidate Tracking by Office - 2022 Spring Election - 4/5/2022 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. January 7, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ Schulte, Laura (March 5, 2020). "Wisconsin Circuit Court to get 12 new branches by 2023 in bill signed by Gov. Evers". Wausau Daily Herald. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ County by County Report 2022 Spring Election (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. May 18, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- ^ "Milwaukee mayoral candidates to face off in election forum at Turner Hall Ballroom". WTMJ-TV. March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ Sandler, Larry (December 7, 2021). "History Is on Hold in Milwaukee Mayor's Race". Milwaukee Magazine. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- ^ "Reports: Daniel Riemer drops out of Milwaukee mayoral race after brief run". WTMJ-TV. December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
External links[edit]
- Wisconsin Elections Commission official information for and about voters, elections and candidates
- Candidates at Vote Smart