2008 Wisconsin state elections

The Wisconsin spring nonpartisan general election was held April 1, 2008. Voters statewide cast ballots for Wisconsin Supreme Court and an amendment to the state Constitution.

The Wisconsin fall partisan primary was held on September 9, 2008. Voters selected the parties' candidates for the subsequent fall general election.

The Wisconsin fall partisan general election was held on November 4, 2008, the same date as the Federal and Congressional elections. Offices elected include half of the state's Senate seats and all of the state's Assembly seats.[1]

Spring nonpartisan election

Judge Michael Gableman was elected with 51% of the vote, defeating incumbent Justice Louis Butler with 49% of the vote.[2] The heavy spending of outside interest groups in this race, including Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce,[3] has inspired some to call for reforms to Wisconsin election law and the selection of judges.[4] The ascendancy of Michael Gabelman to the bench tilts the Court in a more conservative direction.[5]

By a margin greater than 2-1, voters chose to amend the state's Constitution.[6]

Partial veto. Shall section 10(1)(c) of article V of the constitution be amended to prohibit the governor, in exercising his or her partial veto authority, from creating a new sentence by combining parts of two or more sentences of the enrolled bill?

The amendment is intended to reduce the veto power of the Governor which has been historically used by governors of all parties to rework legislation.[7]

Fall partisan election

Voters in Wisconsin in this election cycle cast ballots for many state legislators. Senators from even-numbered districts and all assemblymen were up for election.

Senate contests

Senate Democrats expanded the controlling majority they gained from the Republicans in the previous election cycle.

Wisconsin Senate Elections[8]
District	Incumbent 2004 Vote[9]	2008 Status	Democratic	Republican	Libertarian	Independent	Winner 2008 Vote[10]
SD-2	Robert Cowles 89.13%	Re-election		Robert Cowles			Robert Cowles 100%*
SD-4	Lena Taylor 99.16%	Re-election	Lena Taylor (cw)				Lena Taylor 100%*
SD-6	Spencer Coggs 99.15%	Re-election	Spencer Coggs Nicholas E Cosey				Spencer Coggs 100%*
SD-8	Alberta Darling 56.94%	Re-election	Sheldon Wasserman (cw)	Alberta Darling (cw)			Alberta Darling 51%*
SD-10	Sheila Harsdorf 59.21%	Re-election	Alison Page (cw)	Sheila Harsdorf (cw)			Sheila Harsdorf 56%*
SD-12	Roger Breske 53.47%	Open	Jim Holperin (cw)	Tom Tiffany (cw)			Jim Holperin 51%*
SD-14	Luther Olsen 99.35%	Re-election		Luther Olsen			Luther Olsen 100%*
SD-16	Mark Miller 60.04%	Re-election	Mark Miller (cw)				Mark Miller 100%*
SD-18	Carol Roessler 98.60%	Open[11]	Jessica King (cw)	Michael Brooks Randy Hopper (cw) Tim Lakin (cw)	Jake Wesenberg		Randy Hopper† 50%*
SD-20	Glenn Grothman 99.15%	Re-election		Glenn Grothman Jarrett John Wiesolek		Clyde Winter (cw)	Glenn Grothman 80%*
SD-22	Robert Wirch 52.11%	Re-election	Robert Wirch (cw)	Ben Bakke (cw)			Robert Wirch 67%*
SD-24	Julie Lassa 67.57%	Re-election	Julie Lassa	Tom Kimmet			Julie Lassa 68%*
SD-26	Fred Risser 80.81%	Re-election	Fred Risser			Dennis deNure (cw)	Fred Risser 100%*
SD-28	Mary Lazich 99.27%	Re-election	Paul Scheuble	Mary Lazich			Mary Lazich 100%*
SD-30	Dave Hansen 54.55%	Re-election	Dave Hansen (cw)	Chad M. Fradette (cw)			Dave Hansen 66%*
SD-32	Dan Kapanke 52.56%	Re-election	Tara Johnson (cw)	Dan Kapanke (cw)			Dan Kapanke 51%*

Candidates listed in bold are their party's nominee for the seat. Candidates with a strike have not submitted adequate nomination documents to appear on the 2008 primary and general election ballots by the July 8th deadline. Candidates not submitting adequate nomination documents may still run write-in candidacies.

† This race is yet subject to a recount. * Results are AP election night reports not yet certified by the elections board.

Assembly contests

Assembly Republicans failed to defend their control of the house with Democrats taking the majority in the chamber for the first time in 14 years.

Wisconsin Assembly Elections[8]
District	Incumbent 2006 Vote[12][13]	2008 Status	Democratic	Republican	Libertarian	Independent	Winner 2008 Vote[14]
AD-1	Garey Bies 53.56%	Re-election	Chris Baeb (cw) Dick Skare (cw)	Garey Bies			Garey Bies 51%*
AD-2	Frank Lasee 89.30%	Re-election	Lee Brocher (cw) Kevin Garthwaite (cw) Ted Zigmunt (cw)	Frank Lasee			Ted Zigmunt 52%*
AD-3	Al Ott 59.30%	Re-election	Justin Krueger	Al Ott			Al Ott 58%*
AD-4	Phil Montgomery 55.96%	Re-election	Sam Dunlop (cw)	Phil Montgomery (cw)			Phil Montgomery 53%*
AD-5	Tom Nelson 62.29%	Re-election	Tom Nelson (cw)	Jim Steineke (cw)			Tom Nelson 64%*
AD-6	Gary Tauchen 60.33%	Re-election	John Powers	Gary Tauchen (cw)			Gary Tauchen 55%*
AD-7	Peggy Krusick 98.90%	Re-election	Peggy Krusick	Corrine Wiesmueller (cw)	Brad Sponholz		Peggy Krusick 60%*
AD-8	Pedro Colón 98.76%	Re-election	Pedro Colón (cw) José Guzman Laura Manriquez				Pedro Colón 100%*
AD-9	Josh Zepnick 98.48%	Re-election	Josh Zepnick				Josh Zepnick 100%*
AD-10	Annette "Polly" Williams 99.06%	Re-election	Charisha Allen Annette "Polly" Williams				Annette "Polly" Williams 100%*
AD-11	Jason Fields 99.42%	Re-election	Jason Fields Deon Price				Jason Fields 100%*
AD-12	Fred Kessler 98.76%	Re-election	Fred Kessler				Fred Kessler 100%*
AD-13	David Cullen 64.34%	Re-election	David Cullen			Matthew Pietz	David Cullen 100%*
AD-14	Leah Vukmir 61.64%	Re-election	Dave Hucke (cw)	Leah Vukmir (cw)			Leah Vukmir 62%*
AD-15	Tony Staskunas 97.31%	Re-election	Josh Hoisington Tony Staskunas	Davd Nickel			Tony Staskunas 61%*
AD-16	Leon Young 98.66%	Re-election	Richard M Badger (cw) David D. King Andrew Parker (cw) Leon Young				Leon Young 100%*
AD-17	Barbara Toles 90.90%	Re-election	Samantha Bady Barbara Toles				Barbara Toles 100%*
AD-18	Tamara Grigsby 98.68%	Re-election	Tamara Grigsby				Tamara Grigsby 100%*
AD-19	Jon Richards 98.38%	Re-election	Jon Richards				Jon Richards 100%*
AD-20	Christine Sinicki 98.36%	Re-election	Phillip Landowski (cw) Christine Sinicki (cw) Steven Sutherland				Christine Sinicki 100%*
AD-21	Mark R. Honadel 98.02%	Re-election	Glen Brower (cw) Justine Kozanoglu	Mark R. Honadel (cw)			Mark R. Honadel 53%*
AD-22	Sheldon Wasserman 98.70%	Open	Andy Feldman (cw) Guy Johnson (cw) Dan Kohl (cw) Sandra Pasch (cw) Rosemary Ponik	Yash P. Wadhwa (cw)			Sandra Pasch 67%*
AD-23	Jim Ott 56.09%	Re-election	Rene Settle-Robinson	Jim Ott (cw)			Jim Ott 58%*
AD-24	Suzanne Jeskewitz 99.23%	Open	Charlene S. Brady (cw) Torrey Lauer (cw)	Dan Knodl (cw) Jason LaSage (cw) Randall Melchert (cw) Michael Moscicke (cw)			Dan Knodl 62%*
AD-25	Bob Ziegelbauer 54.00%	Re-election	Bob Ziegelbauer				Bob Ziegelbauer 100%*
AD-26	Terry Van Akkeren 72.17%	Re-election	Terry Van Akkeren	Job Hou-Seye Alex Pieper		Colin R. Nelson	Terry Van Akkeren 65%*
AD-27	Steve Kestell 99.62%	Re-election	Bob Cox	Steve Kestell			Steve Kestell 66%*
AD-28	Ann Hraychuck 50.74%	Re-election	Ann Hraychuck (cw)	Kent Muschinske (cw) Lauren Stephens (cw)			Ann Hraychuck 55%*
AD-29	John Murtha 51.58%	Re-election	Chris Buckel (cw) L. John Peters (cw)	John Murtha	Craig Mohn		John Murtha 53%*
AD-30	Kitty Rhoades 57.40%	Re-election	Sarah Bruch (cw)	Bob Hughes Kitty Rhoades (cw)		Kitty Rhoades 55%*
AD-31	Steve Nass 63.99%	Re-election	Frank Urban (cw)	Steve Nass			Steve Nass 67%*
AD-32	Thomas A. Lothian 53.63%	Re-election	Doug A. Harrod (cw)	Thomas A. Lothian		John K. Finley	Thomas A. Lothian 52%*
AD-33	Scott Newcomer 71.63%	Re-election		Scott Newcomer (cw)			Scott Newcomer 100%*
AD-34	Dan Meyer 56.03%	Re-election	Paul Tubbs (cw)	Dan Meyer			Dan Meyer 50%*
AD-35	Donald Friske 98.98%	Re-election	Jay Schmelling (cw)	Donald Friske (cw)			Donald Friske 57%*
AD-36	Jeffrey L. Mursau 54.13%	Re-election	James Crawford Stan Gruszynski (cw)	Jeffrey L. Mursau			Jeffrey L. Mursau 52%*
AD-37	Andy Jorgensen 50.17%	Re-election	Andy Jorgensen (cw)	Kent Donald Koebke (cw) Tom Luetzow Brian A. Peters (cw)			Andy Jorgensen 59%*
AD-38	Joel Kleefisch 66.51%	Re-election	Richard Pas	Joel Kleefisch (cw)			Joel Kleefisch 66%*
AD-39	Jeff Fitzgerald 62.46%	Re-election	Aaron Onsrud (cw)	Jeff Fitzgerald (cw)			Jeff Fitzgerald 60%*
AD-40	Kevin Petersen 52.63%	Re-election	Kevin Kuehl (cw)	Kevin Petersen			Kevin Petersen 58%*
AD-41	Joan Ballweg 64.50%	Re-election	Scott Milheiser (cw)	Joan Ballweg (cw)			Joan Ballweg 63%*
AD-42	J.A. Hines 53.50%	Re-election	Fred Clark (cw)	J.A. Hines			Fred Clark 58%*
AD-43	Kim Hixson 50.02%	Re-election	Kim Hixson (cw)	Debi Towns (cw)			Kim Hixson 51%*
AD-44	Mike Sheridan 69.30%	Re-election	Mike Sheridan (cw)				Mike Sheridan 100%*
AD-45	Chuck Benedict 99.11%	Re-election	Chuck Benedict	Mike Hahn (cw)			Chuck Benedict 60%*
AD-46	Gary Hebl 99.06%	Re-election	Gary Hebl	Kathy Maves Spencer Zimmerman			Gary Hebl 66%*
AD-47	Eugene Hahn 50.29%	Open	Paul Fisk (cw) Trish O'Neil (cw)	John Keating Tim McCumber (cw) Steven Pate (cw) Keith Ripp (cw) Erich Ruth (cw)		Dennis E. Hruby (cw)	Keith Ripp† 48%*
AD-48	Joseph Parisi 75.56%	Re-election	Joseph Parisi				Joseph Parisi 100%*
AD-49	Phil Garthwaite 51.20%	Re-election	Phil Garthwaite (cw)	Kathy Kopp David Kuhle (cw) Dennis Lundell (cw) Travis T Tranel (cw)			Phil Garthwaite 54%*
AD-50	Sheryl Albers 56.94%	Open	Tom Crofton (cw) Darryl Teske (cw)	Todd R. Allbaugh Ed Brooks Craig L. Buswell Anthony Carver			Ed Brooks 56%*
AD-51	Steve Hilgenberg 53.26%	Re-election	Steve Hilgenberg	Nathan R Russell (cw)			Steve Hilgenberg 57%*
AD-52	John Townsend 99.35%	Re-election	Jerry Keifenheim	Scott Matthew John Townsend (cw)			John Townsend 58%*
AD-53	Carol Owens 98.24%	Open	Jeff Mann (cw)	Jacob Burns Mike Christianson Mike Hatch Richard J. Spanbauer Cecil Streeter (cw)			Richard Spanbauer 63%*
AD-54	Gordon Hintz 62.12%	Re-election	Gordon Hintz (cw)	Mark Reiff (cw)			Gordon Hintz 66%*
AD-55	Dean Kaufert 51.99%	Re-election	Mark Westphal (cw)	Dean Kaufert			Dean Kaufert 54%*
AD-56	Roger Roth 59.04%	Re-election	Susan Garcia Franz	Roger Roth			Roger Roth 60%*
AD-57	Steve Wieckert 53.17%	Open	Penny Bernard Schaber (cw)	Jo Egelhoff (cw) Peter Stueck (cw)			Penny Bernard Schaber 57%*
AD-58	Patricia Strachota 99.41%	Re-election		Patricia Strachota		Greg Dombro	Patricia Strachota 83%*
AD-59	Daniel LeMahieu 99.54%	Re-election		Daniel LeMahieu Karl McCarty			Daniel LeMahieu 100%*
AD-60	Mark Gottlieb 99.14%	Re-election	Perry Duman (cw)	Mark Gottlieb (cw)			Mark Gottlieb 70%*
AD-61	Robert Turner 99.06%	Re-election	Robert Turner		George Meyers		Robert Turner 88%*
AD-62	Cory Mason 52.37%	Re-election	Cory Mason (cw)		Keith R. Deschler		Cory Mason 85%*
AD-63	Robin Vos 58.16%	Re-election	Linda Flashinski (cw)	Robin Vos (cw)			Robin Vos 62%*
AD-64	James Kreuser 98.67%	Open	Peter W. Barca (cw) Carol J. Fischer Jim Huff (cw) Michael Orth (cw)	Jeffery Cassity (cw)			Peter Barca 100%*
AD-65	John Steinbrink 96.89%	Re-election	John Steinbrink	Arthur DeWolf Alexander J. Tiahnybok (cw)			John Steinbrink 66%*
AD-66	Samantha Kerkman 77.80%	Re-election	Mike Orr (cw) Larry Zamba (cw)	Samantha Kerkman			Samantha Kerkman 60%*
AD-67	Jeffrey Wood 54.00%	Re-election			Andrew McKenzie	Jeffrey Wood	Jeffrey Wood 50%*
AD-68	Terry Moulton 51.24%	Re-election	Kristen Dexter (cw) Michael Turner	Terry Moulton			Kristen Dexter 50%*
AD-69	Scott Suder 64.32%	Re-election	Tim Swiggum (cw)	Scott Suder			Scott Suder 59%*
AD-70	Amy Sue Vruwink 66.52%	Re-election	Amy Sue Vruwink (cw)	Dennis Seevers			Amy Sue Vruwink 70%*
AD-71	Louis Molepske 70.12%	Re-election	Louis Molepske (cw)	Daron L. Jensen			Louis Molepske 69%*
AD-72	Marlin Schneider 63.27%	Re-election	Thad Kubisiak (cw) Marlin Schneider	Jeff Tyberg			Marlin Schneider 62%*
AD-73	Frank Boyle 98.36%	Open	Vern Johnson (cw) Bruce Meyers Nick Milroy (cw) Mary Tripp (cw)			Jeffery L. Monaghan (cw)	Nick Milroy 81%*
AD-74	Gary Sherman 62.55%	Re-election	Alan E. Ralph Gary Sherman (cw)	Shirl LaBarre			Gary Sherman 62%*
AD-75	Mary Hubler 61.61%	Re-election	Mary Hubler				Mary Hubler 100%*
AD-76	Terese Berceau 99.04%	Re-election	Terese Berceau				Terese Berceau 100%*
AD-77	Spencer Black 99.13%	Re-election	Spencer Black				Spencer Black 100%*
AD-78	Mark Pocan 98.84%	Re-election	Mark Pocan				Mark Pocan 100%*
AD-79	Sondy Pope-Roberts 99.13%	Re-election	Sondy Pope-Roberts (cw)	Carl Skalitzky			Sondy Pope-Roberts 67%*
AD-80	Brett Davis 50.53%	Re-election	John Waelti (cw) Kristin Ann Wisnefske (cw)	Brett Davis (cw)			Brett Davis 56%*
AD-81	David Travis 99.41%	Open	Eric Englund (cw) Peng Her (cw) Tim Kiefer (cw) John W. Laubmeier Kelda Helen Roys (cw) Michael P. Ryan Justin Sargent (cw)				Kelda Roys 100%*
AD-82	Jeff Stone 98.47%	Re-election	Brian Barnstable	Jeff Stone			Jeff Stone 100%
AD-83	Scott Gunderson 68.57%	Re-election	Aaron Scott Robertson (cw)	Scott Gunderson			Scott Gunderson 73%*
AD-84	Mark Gundrum 98.97%	Re-election		Mark Gundrum			Mark Gundrum 100%*
AD-85	Donna Seidel 64.55%	Re-election	Donna Seidel	Jess F. Kufahl (cw)			Donna Seidel 64%*
AD-86	Jerry Petrowski 64.21%	Re-election	Nate Myszka (cw)	Jerry Petrowski			Jerry Petrowski 56%*
AD-87	Mary Williams 50.53%	Re-election	J. Suzanne Murphy Judy Reas (cw)	Mary Williams			Mary Williams 50%*
AD-88	James Soletski 50.15%	Re-election	James Soletski (cw)	Tony Theisen (cw)			James Soletski 56%*
AD-89	John Nygren 54.10%	Re-election	Randy Koehn (cw)	John Nygren			John Nygren 54%*
AD-90	Karl Van Roy 55.46%	Re-election	Lou Ann Weix (cw)	Karl Van Roy			Karl Van Roy 54%*
AD-91	Barbara Gronemus 69.50%	Open	Chris Danou (cw) Marge Baecker John Kimmel Steve Boe James Kraft Remy Ceci	Dave Hegenbarth (cw) David Anderson	Ted Burleson	Paul. A. Besseler (cw)	Chris Danou 54%*
AD-92	Terry Musser 54.05%	Open	Curtis Miller (cw) Mark Radcliffe (cw)	Dan Hellman (cw)			Mark Radcliffe 53%*
AD-93	Jeff Smith 50.62%	Re-election	Jeff Smith	Darcy Fields John Schiess			Jeff Smith 59%*
AD-94	Michael Huebsch 57.92%	Re-election	Cheryl Hancock (cw)	Michael Huebsch			Michael Huebsch 54%*
AD-95	Jennifer Shilling 98.44%	Re-election	Jennifer Shilling	Robert Erickson			Jennifer Shilling 100%*
AD-96	Lee Nerison 50.82%	Re-election	Dale Klemme (cw)	Lee Nerison			Lee Nerison 52%*
AD-97	Bill Kramer 55.83%	Re-election	Roger Danielsen Ruth Page Jones (cw) Steve Schmuki (cw)	Bill Kramer (cw)		Thomas J Russ (cw)	Bill Kramer 55%*
AD-98	Rich Zipperer 70.98%	Re-election	Victor Weers (cw)	Rich Zipperer (cw)			Rich Zipperer 72%*
AD-99	Don Pridemore 99.52%	Re-election		Don Pridemore (cw)			Don Pridemore 100%*

Candidates in bold won their primary and are their party's nominee for the indicated seat.[15] Candidates with a strike have not submitted adequate nomination documents to appear on the 2008 primary and general election ballots by the July 8th deadline. Candidates not submitting adequate nomination documents may still run write-in candidacies.

† This race is yet subject to a recount. * Results are AP election night reports not yet certified by the elections board.

External links

• Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Registered Candidates
• Project Vote Smart - Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Senate districts map
• Wisconsin Assembly districts map
• Search Wisconsin candidate Statements of Economic Interest

References

1. Constitution of the State of Wisconsin, Sections 4 and 5.
2. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Gableman victorious
3. Wausau Daily Herald - Report shows special interests dominate Wis. Supreme Court race]
4. CBS 3 WISC Archived 2008-08-03 at the Wayback Machine - Some Call For Changes In Supreme Court Races
5. The Capital Times - Gableman's victory shifts court to right
6. Wisconsin State Journal - Good riddance to monster veto
7. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Voters drive stake into 'Frankenstein veto'
8. Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Archived 2008-04-23 at the Wayback Machine - Candidate Registration
9. Associated Press - Results of Fall 2008 General Election
10. Wisconsin State Elections Board - Results of Fall 2004 General Election
11. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Boyle won't seek re-election
12. Wisconsin State Elections Board Archived 2008-04-30 at the Wayback Machine - Results of Fall 2006 General Election
13. Wisconsin State Elections Board Archived 2008-04-30 at the Wayback Machine - Results of Fall 2006 Recounts
14. Associated Press - Results of Fall 2008 General Election
15. TMJ4 Milwaukee Archived 2008-09-14 at the Wayback Machine - Election Results