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1996 Wisconsin Senate election#Recall election

{{Short description|none}}

{{use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 1996 Wisconsin State Senate election

| country = Wisconsin

| type = legislative

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 1994 Wisconsin State Senate election

| previous_year = 1994

| next_election = 1998 Wisconsin Senate election

| next_year = 1998

| seats_for_election = 16 of 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate

| majority_seats = 17

| election_date = November 5, 1996

| image1 = Chuck Chvala.png

| image1_size = x150px

| leader1 = Charles Chvala

| party1 = Democratic Party of Wisconsin

| leaders_seat1 = {{nowrap|16th–Madison}}

| last_election1 = {{nowrap|7 seats, TBD%}}

| seats_before1 = 17

| seats1 = 9

| seats_after1 = 17

| seat_change1 = {{steady}}

| swing1 =

| popular_vote1 = 475,226

| percentage1 = 49.25%

| image2 = 3x4.svg

| image2_size = x150px

| leader2 = Michael Ellis

| party2 = Republican Party of Wisconsin

| leaders_seat2 = {{nowrap|19th–Neenah}}

| last_election2 = {{nowrap|10 seats, TBD%}}

| seats_before2 = 16

| seats2 = 7

| seats_after2 = 16

| seat_change2 = {{steady}}

| swing2 =

| popular_vote2 = 468,238

| percentage2 = 48.53%

| map_image =

| 1blank = Seats up

| map_caption = Map of the incumbents:
{{Legend0|#92C5DE|Democratic hold}}
{{Legend0|#F48882|Republican hold}}
{{Legend0|#D0D0D0|No election}}

| title = President

| before_election = Fred Risser

| before_party = Democratic Party of Wisconsin

| after_party = Democratic Party of Wisconsin

| after_election = Fred Risser

}}{{ElectionsWI}}

The 1996 Wisconsin Senate election were held on Tuesday, November 5, 1996. Sixteen of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election—the even-numbered districts. At the time, Democrats held 17 seats while the Republicans held 16, having lost their majority only months prior due to the recalling of Senator George Petak from office.

Summary

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! colspan="2" rowspan="3" |Seats

! colspan="2" |Party

(majority caucus shading)

! rowspan="3" |Total

style="height:5px"

| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |

Democratic

!Republican

colspan="2" nowrap="" |Last election (1994)

|7

|10

|17

colspan="2" nowrap="" style="font-size:80%" |Total after last election (1994)

|16

| {{party shading/Republican}} |17

|33

colspan="5" |
colspan="2" nowrap="" style="font-size:80%" |Total before this election

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |17

|16

|33

colspan="2" |Up for election

!9

!7

!16

rowspan="3" style="font-size:80%" |of which:

| nowrap="" style="font-size:80%" |Incumbent retiring

|1

|

|1

nowrap="" style="font-size:80%" |Vacated

|

|

|

nowrap="" style="font-size:80%" |Unopposed

|3

|1

|4

colspan="2" nowrap="" style="background:#ccc" |This election

!9

!7

!16

colspan="2" nowrap="" style="font-size:80%" |Change from last election

|{{Increase}} 2

|{{Decrease}} 3

|

colspan="5" |
colspan="2" nowrap="" style="font-size:80%" |Total after this election

! {{party shading/Democratic}} |17

!16

!33

colspan="2" nowrap="" style="font-size:80%" |Change in total

|{{Steady}}

|{{Steady}}

|

{{bar box|title=Popular vote|titlebar=#ddd|width=600px|barwidth=410px|bars={{bar percent|Democratic|{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|49.25}}

{{bar percent|Republican|{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|48.53}}

{{bar percent|Taxpayers|{{party color|Constitution Party (US)}}|1.55}}

{{bar percent|Libertarian|{{party color|Libertarian Party (US)}}|0.67}}}}{{bar box|title=Senate seats won|titlebar=#ddd|width=600px|barwidth=410px|bars={{bar percent|Democratic|{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|56.25}}

{{bar percent|Republican|{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|43.75}}}}

= Close races =

  • {{font color|red|State Senate district 30, 3.58%}}
  • {{font color|blue|State Senate district 28, 4.08%}}
  • {{font color|blue|State Senate district 10, 8.24%}}
  • {{font color|blue|State Senate district 16, 8.97%}}

Outgoing incumbents

= Retiring =

Recall election

= Background =

In October 1995, Senator, George Petak, faced controversy when he changed his vote on a funding bill for the Miller Park stadium. Miller Park was being planned to replace the forty-year-old Milwaukee County Stadium and was being pushed by Republican Governor Tommy Thompson and Milwaukee Brewers owner and future-Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig. Petak had promised his constituents that he would vote against the bill, but changed his mind based on the belief that the Brewers would leave Wisconsin if a new stadium wasn't built.{{cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Sandomir |date=May 7, 1998 |title=Stadiums Are Proposed, but Public Isn't Always Disposed to Pay Price |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/07/nyregion/stadiums-are-proposed-but-public-isn-t-always-disposed-to-pay-price.html |access-date=February 15, 2019 |work=The New York Times}}

Petak's change in vote supported a 0.1% increase in sales tax for five counties in the vicinity of the proposed stadium, which included Petak's home county of Racine. His actions caused outrage and frustration in his home district, and local Democrats were energized to collect signatures for a recall petition. After collecting 15,050 signatures, or 130% of the required 11,577 signatures,{{Cite news |last=Bowers |first=Faye |date=June 3, 1996 |title=Wisconsin state senator faces recall over stadium vote |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1996/jun/03/wisconsin-state-senator-faces-recall-over-stadium-/ |access-date=March 24, 2024 |work=Las Vegas Sun}} the recall was certified on March 26, 1996, and a recall election was ordered for June.{{cite news |date=March 27, 1996 |title=Recall gets green light |url=https://journaltimes.com/news/local/recall-gets-green-light/article_20c617d4-cba0-57de-9577-5da7c6992e6d.html |access-date=February 15, 2019 |work=Racine Journal Times |location=Madison}}

= Petition =

class="wikitable sortable"

! rowspan="2" |Dist.

! colspan="3" |Incumbent

! colspan="3" |Recall petition

Member

!Party

!First elected

!Signatures required

!Signatures approved (%)

!Status

21

|{{sortname|George|Petak}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} |Rep.

| align="center" |1990

|11,577

|15,050 (130%)

|Petition certified on March 26, 1996. Recall held on June 4, 1996.

= Results =

Nine months after his vote on the stadium tax, Petak became the first Wisconsin state legislator to be removed from office in a recall election, when he was defeated by Democratic State Representative Kimberly Plache.{{cite news |date=June 14, 1996 |title=Plache sworn in as state senator |url=https://journaltimes.com/news/local/plache-sworn-in-as-state-senator/article_cedc9167-78dd-53cd-adb3-595b212c682e.html |access-date=February 15, 2019 |work=Racine Journal Times}} As a result of the recall, control of the state Senate flipped to Democratic control for the rest of the session.

class="wikitable sortable"

! colspan="1" rowspan="2" |Dist.

! colspan="3" |Incumbent

! colspan="3" |This race

valign="bottom"

!Member

!Party

!First elected

!Primary{{Cite web |title=State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998 |url=https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AV57G6QVOUSNPG8T/pages/A3RR5GW54YV2CO9B |access-date=March 24, 2024 |website=University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries |page=888}}

!General{{Cite web |title=State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998 |url=https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AV57G6QVOUSNPG8T/pages/A3RR5GW54YV2CO9B |access-date=March 24, 2024 |website=University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries |page=889}}

!Result

21

|{{sortname|George|Petak}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

| align="center" |1990

| nowrap="" |{{Plainlist|*George Petak (Rep.)

| nowrap="" |{{Plainlist|* {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{Aye}} Kimberly Plache (Dem.) 51.22%

  • {{Party stripe|Republican Party (US)}}George Petak (Rep.) 47.02%
  • {{Party stripe|Libertarian Party (US)}}Todd Mascaretti (Lib.) 1.76%}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Incumbent recalled.
Democratic gain.

Results summary

class="wikitable sortable"

! colspan="1" rowspan="2" |Dist.

! colspan="4" |Incumbent

! colspan="2" |This race{{Efn|Scattered votes omitted|group=lower-alpha}}{{Cite web |title=State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998 |url=https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AV57G6QVOUSNPG8T/pages/A3RR5GW54YV2CO9B |access-date=March 24, 2024 |website=University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries |pages=889–890}}

valign="bottom"

!Member

!Party

!First

elected

!Status

!Candidates

!Results

02

|{{sortname|Robert|Cowles}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} |Rep.

| align="center" |1987

{{Small|(special)}}

|Incumbent Running

|{{plainlist}}

  • {{Party stripe|Republican Party (US)}}{{aye}}Robert Cowles (Rep.) 62.92%
  • {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}Patricia Buss (Dem.) 37.08%

{{endplainlist}}

|Incumbent re-elected

04

|{{sortname|Gwen|Moore}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem.

| align="center" |1988

|Incumbent Running

|{{plainlist}}

  • {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{aye}}Gwen Moore (Dem.) 100%

{{endplainlist}}

|Incumbent re-elected

06

|{{sortname|Gary|George|link=Gary George (Wisconsin politician)}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem.

| align="center" |1980

|Incumbent Running

|{{plainlist}}

  • {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{aye}}Gary George (Dem.) 100%

{{endplainlist}}

|Incumbent re-elected

08

|{{sortname|Alberta|Darling}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} |Rep.

| align="center" |1992

|Incumbent Running

|{{Plainlist|* {{Party stripe|Republican Party (US)}}{{Aye}} Alberta Darling (Rep.) 58.78%

  • {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}Randy Nash (Dem.) 38.62%
  • {{Party stripe|Constitution Party (US)}}Tim Gallert (Tax.) 2.60%}}

|Incumbent re-elected

10

|{{sortname|Alice|Clausing}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem.

| align="center" |1992

|Incumbent Running

|{{plainlist}}

  • {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{aye}}Alice Clausing (Dem.) 54.12%
  • {{Party stripe|Republican Party (US)}}Jay Griggs (Rep.) 45.88%

{{endplainlist}}

|Incumbent re-elected

12

|{{sortname|Roger|Breske}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem.

| align="center" |1990

|Incumbent Running

|{{plainlist}}

  • {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{aye}}Roger Breske (Dem.) 57.39%
  • {{Party stripe|Republican Party (US)}}Nancy Levanetz (Rep.) 42.57%

{{endplainlist}}

|Incumbent re-elected

14

|{{sortname|Robert|Welch|link=Robert Welch (Wisconsin politician)}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} |Rep.

| align="center" |1995

{{Small|(special)}}

|Incumbent Running

|{{plainlist}}

  • {{Party stripe|Republican Party (US)}}{{aye}}Robert Welch (Rep.) 100%

{{endplainlist}}

|Incumbent re-elected

16

|{{sortname|Charles|Chvala}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem.

| align="center" |1984

|Incumbent Running

|{{Plainlist|* {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{Aye}} Charles Chvala (Dem.) 53.67%

  • {{Party stripe|Republican Party (US)}}Tom Metcalfe (Rep.) 44.70%
  • {{Party stripe|Libertarian Party (US)}}Mike Oprish (Lib.) 1.63%}}

|Incumbent re-elected

18

|{{sortname|Carol|Buettner|link=Carol Roessler}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} |Rep.

| align="center" |1987

{{Small|(special)}}

|Incumbent Running

|{{plainlist}}

  • {{Party stripe|Republican Party (US)}}{{aye}}Carol Buettner (Rep.) 73.77%
  • {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}Fred Frederickson (Dem.) 26.23%

{{endplainlist}}

|Incumbent re-elected

20

|{{sortname|Mary|Panzer}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} |Rep.

| align="center" |1993

{{Small|(special)}}

|Incumbent Running

|{{Plainlist|* {{Party stripe|Republican Party (US)}}{{Aye}} Mary Panzer (Rep.) 84.83%

  • {{Party stripe|Libertarian Party (US)}}Kevin Scheunemann (Lib.) 8.18%
  • {{Party stripe|Constitution Party (US)}}Barry Moder (Tax.) 6.98%}}

|Incumbent re-elected

22

|{{sortname|Joseph F.|Andrea}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem.

| align="center" |1984

| {{Party shading/Hold}} |Incumbent Retiring

|{{plainlist}}

  • {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{aye}}Robert Wirch (Dem.) 56.81%
  • {{Party stripe|Republican Party (US)}}Bruno Rizzo (Rep.) 43.19%

{{endplainlist}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic/Hold}} |New member elected. Democratic hold

24

|{{sortname|Kevin|Shibilski}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem.

| align="center" |1995

{{Small|(special)}}

|Incumbent Running

|{{Plainlist|* {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{Aye}} Kevin Shibilski (Dem.) 84.08%

  • {{Party stripe|Constitution Party (US)}}Wayne Wiedeman (Tax.) 15.92%}}

|Incumbent re-elected

26

|{{sortname|Fred|Risser}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem.

| align="center" |1962

{{Small|(special)}}

|Incumbent Running

|{{plainlist}}

  • {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{aye}}Fred Risser (Rep.) 100%

{{endplainlist}}

|Incumbent re-elected

28

|{{sortname|Lynn|Adelman}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem.

| align="center" |1976

|Incumbent Running

|{{plainlist}}

  • {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}{{aye}}Lynn Adelman (Dem.) 52.04%
  • {{Party stripe|Republican Party (US)}}Lisa Soik (Rep.) 47.96%

{{endplainlist}}

|Incumbent re-elected

30

|{{sortname|Gary|Drzewiecki}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} |Rep.

| align="center" |1992

|Incumbent Running

|{{plainlist}}

{{endplainlist}}

|Incumbent re-elected

32

|{{sortname|Brian|Rude}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} |Rep.

| align="center" |1984

{{Small|(special)}}

|Incumbent Running

|{{plainlist}}

  • {{Party stripe|Republican Party (US)}}{{aye}}Brian Rude (Rep.) 75.10%
  • {{Party stripe|Democratic Party (US)}}David Wulf (Dem.) 24.90%

{{endplainlist}}

|Incumbent re-elected

Notes

References

Category:1996 state legislature elections in the United States

Category:1996 Wisconsin elections

Category:Wisconsin Senate elections

Category:November 1996 in the United States