2016 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

In 2010, then-incumbent Democratic senator Russ Feingold ran for re-election to a fourth term in 2010 but was defeated by Republican nominee Ron Johnson.{{cite news|url=http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/wisconsin|title=Election 2010 Wisconsin Results|work=The New York Times|date=November 3, 2011|access-date=February 27, 2011}}

In March 2013, Johnson announced that he had begun fundraising for his campaign. At that time, he had just $1,529 remaining in his campaign account after raising $16.1 million for the 2010 election, over half of which he self-funded.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/03/11/johnson-senate-re-election-wisconsin/1979603|title=Wis. Sen. Johnson begins re-election bid|date=March 11, 2013|access-date=September 20, 2013|work=USA Today|first=Larry|last=Bivins}} Johnson said in November 2014 that he would not self-finance another campaign, saying: "I made my $9 million investment in this country. I gave it once, I don't think I should do it again."{{cite web|url=http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/politics/2014/11/19/wisconsin-sen-johnson-wont-self-finance-2016-race/19278435|title=Johnson won't self-finance 2016 Senate race|date=November 19, 2014|access-date=November 21, 2014|work=Green Bay Press Gazette|author=Catalina Camia}} On May 14, 2015, Feingold announced he would run to win back his former Senate seat.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/apnewsbreak-wisconsins-feingold-run-us-senate-31039529|title=Wisconsin's Feingold to Run for US Senate|date=May 14, 2015|agency=Associated Press|last=Bauer|first=Scott|website=ABC News }} Ultimately, Feingold spent over $24 million on the campaign and ended up with more remaining cash than Johnson, who spent only $20 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary?cycle=2016&id=WIS2|title=Wisconsin 2016 Senate Race|publisher=OpenSecrets|access-date=July 15, 2018}}

After the Republicans took control of the Senate following the 2014 Senate elections, the election in Wisconsin was seen by many as a top target for the Democrats, who hoped to retake their majority in the traditionally blue state.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/11/07/why-republicans-senate-majority-could-be-very-short-lived|title=Why Republicans' Senate majority could be very short-lived|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 7, 2014|access-date=November 8, 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/06/senate-2016_n_6109472.html|title=Here's The Democratic Route Back To Senate Control In 2016|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=November 6, 2014|access-date=November 13, 2014}}{{cite journal|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2014/07/03/the_seven_senate_races_democrats_should_be_optimistic_about_in_2016.html|title=The Seven Senate Races Democrats Should Be Optimistic About in 2016|journal=Slate|date=July 3, 2014|access-date=November 8, 2014|last1=Weigel|first1=David}}{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/2016-elections-key-states-112801.html|title=The 10 states that could decide the next Senate|newspaper=Politico|date=November 12, 2014|access-date=November 13, 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/12/us/politics/2016-headwinds-raise-stakes-for-gop-in-this-years-midterms.html|title=Tough Tests Looming in 2016 Raise Stakes for G.O.P. in Midterm Elections|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 12, 2014|access-date=November 13, 2014}} Politico pointed to Johnson's "worrisome" favorability ratings as one of the main reasons for his vulnerability. A March 2014 Marquette University Law School poll found that just 29% of voters had a favorable opinion of him.{{cite news|url=http://law.marquette.edu/poll/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/MLSP20Toplines.pdf|title=Marquette Law School Poll, March 20-23, 2014|publisher=Marquette University Law School|date=March 2014|access-date=November 19, 2014}}

{{Update|part=Section|date=February 2023|reason=We need the 2016 Republican primary results here}}

• Ron Johnson, incumbent U.S. Senator{{cite web | url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/sen-ron-johnson-says-hell-seek-reelection-in-2016-56940ru-197017231.html | title=Sen. Ron Johnson says he'll seek re-election in 2016 | date=March 11, 2013 | access-date=September 20, 2013 | work=JS Online | first=Lydia | last=Mulvany}}

• Russ Feingold, former U.S. Senator, and former U.S. Special Envoy for the African Great Lakes and the Congo-Kinshasa
• Scott Harbach, perennial candidate

• Mary Burke, businesswoman, member of the Madison school district board, former Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce and nominee for Governor of Wisconsin in 2014{{cite web | url=http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/mary-burke-says-she-won-t-run-for-statewide-office/article_7eeb8cc5-7219-5e5f-a54c-ac77806ba762.html | title=Mary Burke says she won't run for statewide office again | date=November 10, 2014 | access-date=November 10, 2014 | work=Wisconsin State Journal}}
• Chris Larson, state senator{{cite web | url=https://www.facebook.com/VoteChrisLarson?fref=ts | title=Russ Feingold for Wisconsin - count me in! |date=May 14, 2015 | access-date=May 14, 2015 | last=Larson | first=Chris | publisher=Facebook}}
• Ron Kind, U.S. Representative{{cite web | url=http://atr.rollcall.com/elections-2016-russ-feingold-gwen-moore-expects | title=Wisconsin Democrat: Russ Feingold Would Clear Primary | work=Roll Call | last=Levinson | first=Alexis | date=December 12, 2014 | access-date=June 2, 2015 | archive-date=June 1, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601140627/http://atr.rollcall.com/elections-2016-russ-feingold-gwen-moore-expects/ | url-status=dead }}
• Gwen Moore, U.S. Representative
• Mark Pocan, U.S. Representative{{cite web | url=https://www.facebook.com/MarkPocan/posts/836171686453749 | title=Did you see the big news today? | date=May 14, 2015 | access-date=May 14, 2015 | last=Pocan | first=Mark | publisher=Facebook}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Democratic primary results

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Russ Feingold

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 303,282

| percentage = 90.14%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Scott Harbach

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 33,185

| percentage = 9.86%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 336,467

| percentage= 100.00%

}}

{{Election box end}}

• Phil Anderson, chair of the Dane County, Wisconsin Libertarian Party and nominee for the State Assembly in 2014{{cite web | url=https://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/phil-anderson-declares-2016-candidacy-for-us-senate-in-wisconsin | title=Phil Anderson declares 2016 candidacy for US Senate in Wisconsin | date=November 19, 2015 | access-date=February 2, 2016 | work=Libertarian Party}}

• Ron Johnson (R), incumbent U.S. Senator
• Russ Feingold (D), former U.S. Senator, and former U.S. Special Envoy for the African Great Lakes and the Congo-Kinshasa
• Phil Anderson (L), chair of the Dane County, Wisconsin Libertarian Party and nominee for the State Assembly in 2014

{{Endorsements box

| title = Ron Johnson (R)

| list =

Presidents

• George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States{{cite news | url=http://www.nationalmemo.com/gop-calls-big-gun-george-w-bush-campaign-trail | title=GOP Calls In The Big Gun: George W. Bush is on the campaign trail | work=The National Memo | last=Tokars | first=Mike | date=June 20, 2016 | access-date=June 21, 2016}}

State Governors

• Scott Walker, Governor of Wisconsin and 2016 presidential candidate{{cite news | url=https://mobile.twitter.com/ScottWalker/status/787348515345301504 | title=If you think Obamacare is a success, then vote for Sen. Feingold. If not, vote for Ron Johnson. #WISen | work=Twitter | last=Walker | first=Scott | date=October 15, 2016 | access-date=October 15, 2016}}

U.S. Senators

• Lindsey Graham, South Carolina and 2016 presidential candidate{{Cite web|url=http://www.wpr.org/lindsey-graham-campaigns-ron-johnson-wisconsin|title = Lindsey Graham Campaigns for Ron Johnson in Wisconsin|date = October 27, 2016}}
• John McCain, Arizona, 2000 presidential candidate and 2008 presidential nominee{{cite news | url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/11/05/mccain-backs-johnson-web-ad/93359888 | title=McCain backs Johnson in web ad | work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | last=Crowe | first=Kevin | date=November 5, 2016 | access-date=November 6, 2016}}

U.S. Representatives

• Paul Ryan, Wisconsin and 54th Speaker of the House of Representatives{{cite news | url=https://www.ronjohnsonforsenate.com/2016/05/05/paul-ryan-endorses-ron-johnson-burlington-grassroots-rally | title=Paul Ryan endorses Ron Johnson at Burlington Grassroots rally | work=ronjohnsonforsenate.com | date=May 5, 2016 | access-date=September 23, 2016}}

Individuals

• John R. Bolton, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations{{cite news | url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/01/08/bolton_endorses_16_for_re-election_to_congress.html | title=Bolton Endorses 16 for Re-Election to Congress | work=RealClearPolitics | last=Arkin | first=James | date=January 8, 2016 | access-date=January 10, 2016}}

Organizations

• Associated Builders and Contractors{{cite news | url=http://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/11/20/johnson-rips-obama-lack-leadership/76106706 | title=Johnson rips Obama for 'lack of leadership' | newspaper=The Post-Crescent | last=Behr | first=Madeleine | date=December 7, 2015 | access-date=February 10, 2016}}
• Club for Growth{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/nov/12/club-for-growth-endorses-six-gop-senators-for-re-e | title=Club for Growth endorses six GOP senators for re-election in 2016 | newspaper=The Washington Times | last=Sherfinski | first=David | date=November 12, 2014 | access-date=November 12, 2014}}
• National Federation of Independent Business{{cite news | url=https://www.ronjohnsonforsenate.com/2016/04/23/national-federation-independent-business-endorses-ron-johnson | title=National Federation of Independent Business endorses Ron Johnson | work=ronjohnsonforsenate.com | date=April 23, 2016 | access-date=September 21, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610194909/https://www.ronjohnsonforsenate.com/2016/04/23/national-federation-independent-business-endorses-ron-johnson | archive-date=June 10, 2016 | url-status=live}}
• NRA Political Victory Fund{{cite news | url=https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/Wisconsin | title=Vote Ron Johnson for U.S. Senate: A Rated and Endorsed by NRA-PVF | website=nrapvf.org | access-date=October 14, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018200021/https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/Wisconsin |archive-date=October 18, 2016 | url-status=usurped}}
• United States Chamber of Commerce{{cite news | url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/us-chamber-of-commerce-backs-johnson-in-senate-race-b99692511z1-373218841.html | title=U.S. Chamber of Commerce backs Johnson in Senate race | newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | last=Glauber | first=Bill | date=March 23, 2016 | access-date=March 27, 2016}}
• American Conservative Union{{cite web|url=https://conservative.org/article/acu-endorses-ron-johnson|title=ACU Endorses Ron Johnson|work=American Conservative Union}}

}}

{{Endorsements box

| title = Russ Feingold (D)

| list =

Presidents

• Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States{{cite news | url=http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/barack-obama-joe-biden-endorse-russ-feingold/article_0c0eb3a5-a7be-55d2-8e08-ad9d749524f2.html | title=Barack Obama, Joe Biden endorse Russ Feingold | work=Wisconsin State Journal | last=Sommerhauser | first=Mark | date=March 18, 2016 | access-date=March 20, 2016}}

Vice Presidents

• Joe Biden, 47th Vice President of the United States

U.S. Cabinet members and Cabinet-level officials

• Chuck Hagel, 24th Secretary of Defense (Republican){{cite news | url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/267248-ex-pentagon-chief-donates-to-feingold-campaign/ | title=Ex-Pentagon chief donates to Feingold | newspaper=The Hill | last=Carney | first=Jordain | date=January 27, 2016 | access-date=February 2, 2016}}

U.S. Senators

• Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin{{cite web | url=https://www.facebook.com/TammyBaldwin/posts/10153808378546102 | title=Have you heard? My good friend Russ Feingold is running for Senate! He's a champion of Wisconsin's progressive values, and was a friend to me in my race in 2012. Let's help him get off to a running start -- contribute to his campaign today! - TB | date=May 18, 2015 | access-date=May 18, 2015 | author=Tammy Baldwin | publisher=Facebook}}
• Bernie Sanders, Vermont (Independent){{cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-russ-feingold_us_5746fbbae4b03ede4413ede0 | title=Bernie Sanders fundraising for Russ Feingold | newspaper=The Huffington Post | last=Terkel | first=Amanda | date=May 26, 2016 | access-date=May 26, 2016}}
• Jon Tester, Montana{{cite news | url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/242053-russ-feingold-running-for-senate/ | title=Russ Feingold running for Senate | newspaper=The Hill | last=Easley | first=Jonathan | date=May 14, 2015 | access-date=May 14, 2015}}
• Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts{{cite news | url=http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/elizabeth-warren-russ-feingold-talk-student-debt-at-uw-madison/article_5253f326-6490-11e5-94ae-672cec2b3849.html | title=Elizabeth Warren, Russ Feingold talk student debt at UW-Madison | newspaper=The Capital Times | last=Opoien | first=Jessie | date=September 27, 2015 | access-date=February 2, 2016}}

U.S. Representatives

• Mark Pocan, Wisconsin{{cite web | url=https://www.facebook.com/MarkPocan/posts/836171686453749 | title=Did you see the big news today? | date=May 14, 2015 | access-date=May 14, 2015 | author=Mark Pocan | publisher=Facebook}}
• Alan Grayson, Florida

Wisconsin State Senators

• Chris Larson

Labor unions

• AFSCME - American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees{{cite news | url=http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/368965501.html | title=Fire fighter union endorses Russ Feingold | newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | last=Glauber | first=Bill | date=February 16, 2016 | access-date=March 4, 2016}}
• AFT - American Federation of Teachers{{cite news | url=http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/368051111.html | title=WEAC, AFT-Wisconsin endorse Russ Feingold | newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | last=Glauber | first=Bill | date=February 8, 2016 | access-date=February 10, 2016}}
• IBEW - International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers{{cite news | url=http://fox6now.com/2016/10/05/russ-feingold-endorsed-by-ibew-ron-johnson-calls-him-a-career-politician-with-little-to-show-for-it | title=Russ Feingold endorsed by IBEW; Ron Johnson calls him a "career politician with little to show for it" | newspaper=WITI | last=Delong | first=Katie | date=October 5, 2016 | access-date=October 14, 2016}}
• LIUNA - Laborers' International Union of North America
• PFFW - Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin
• SEIU - Service Employees International Union
• USW - United Steelworkers{{cite news | url=http://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/local/2015/08/28/steelworkers-endorse-feingold/71295110 | title=Steelworkers endorse Feingold | newspaper=The Post-Crescent | last=Behr | first=Madeleine | date=August 28, 2015 | access-date=February 2, 2016}}
• WEAC - Wisconsin Education Association Council

Organizations

• Blue America{{Cite web|url=http://crooksandliars.com/2015/05/blue-america-endorses-russ-feingold|title=Blue America Endorses Russ Feingold}}
• Daily Kos{{cite news | url=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/9/16/1420381/-Let-s-take-Wisconsin-and-the-Senate-back-Daily-Kos-endorses-Russ-Feingold | title=Let's take Wisconsin and the Senate back: Daily Kos endorses Russ Feingold | newspaper=Daily Kos | last=McCarter | first=Joan | date=September 16, 2015 | access-date=February 2, 2016}}
• Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
• Every Voice{{cite news | url=http://everyvoice.org/press-release/russ-feingold-endorsement | title=Every Voice Endorses Russ Feingold for Senate | newspaper=Every Voice | last=Friedenbach | first=Laura | date=October 7, 2016 | access-date=October 14, 2016 | archive-date=October 18, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018201707/http://everyvoice.org/press-release/russ-feingold-endorsement | url-status=dead }}
• Human Rights Campaign{{cite news | url=http://www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-endorses-russ-feingold-of-wisconsin-for-u.s.-senate | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001155748/http://www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-endorses-russ-feingold-of-wisconsin-for-u.s.-senate | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 1, 2016 | title=HRC Endorses Russ Feingold of Wisconsin for U.S. Senate | newspaper=Human Rights Campaign | last=Staff | first=HRC | date=September 30, 2016 | access-date=October 14, 2016}}
• League of Conservation Voters{{cite news | url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/268996-two-green-groups-back-feingold-in-wisconsin-senate-race/ | title=Two green groups back Feingold in Wisconsin Senate race | newspaper=The Hill | last=Cama | first=Timothy | date=February 10, 2016 | access-date=March 4, 2016}}
• MoveOn.org{{cite news | url=http://front.moveon.org/moveon-members-first-2016-endorsement-russ-feingold/#.WABjGclS0UI | title=MoveOn Members' First 2016 Endorsement: Russ Feingold | newspaper=MoveOn.org | last=Stewart | first=Brian | date=May 15, 2015 | access-date=October 14, 2016}}
• National Organization for Women{{cite news | url=http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/planned-parenthood-now-endorse-russ-feingold-in-senate-race/article_d35d6c59-d3f7-51e2-a9eb-b94c0419cc44.html | title=Planned Parenthood, NOW endorse Russ Feingold in Senate race | newspaper=The Capital Times | last=Opoien | first=Jessie | date=February 9, 2016 | access-date=February 10, 2016}}
• Our Revolution{{cite news | url=https://morningconsult.com/alert/bernie-sanders-group-endorses-deborah-ross | title=Bernie Sanders' Group Endorses Deborah Ross | newspaper=Morning Consult | last=Easley | first=Cameron | date=September 20, 2016 | access-date=October 14, 2016 | archive-date=October 18, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018195431/https://morningconsult.com/alert/bernie-sanders-group-endorses-deborah-ross/ | url-status=dead }}
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund
• Sierra Club

}}

^ Internal poll taken for Ron Johnson.

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=Hypothetical polling|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

with Mary Burke

with Mark Pocan

with Gwen Moore

with Ron Kind

{{hidden end}}

{{Election box begin | title=2016 United States Senate election in Wisconsin{{cite web | url=http://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/County%20by%20County%20Report-US%20Senate.pdf | title=2016 General Election | publisher=State of Wisconsin | date=November 8, 2016 | access-date=December 20, 2016 | archive-date=December 14, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214185527/http://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/County%20by%20County%20Report-US%20Senate.pdf | url-status=dead }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Ron Johnson (incumbent)

|votes = 1,479,471

|percentage = 50.17%

|change = -1.69%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Russ Feingold

|votes = 1,380,335

|percentage = 46.81%

|change = -0.21%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Phil Anderson

|votes = 87,531

|percentage = 2.97%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link

| votes = 1,404

| percentage = 0.05%

| change = +0.01%

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 2,948,741

|percentage = 100.00%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

• Columbia (largest municipality: Portage)
• Lafayette (largest municipality: Darlington)
• Richland (largest municipality: Richland Center)

Johnson won 6 of 8 congressional districts, including one that elected a Democrat.{{Cite web|url=http://elections.wi.gov/elections-voting/results|title=Wisconsin Elections Results | Wisconsin Elections Commission|access-date=April 29, 2018|archive-date=April 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425185224/http://elections.wi.gov/elections-voting/results|url-status=dead}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

Official campaign websites (Archived)

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20161031080020/https://www.ronjohnsonforsenate.com/ Ron Johnson (R) for Senate]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20161031080019/http://www.russfeingold.com/ Russ Feingold (D) for Senate]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20161025095239/http://4philanderson.org/ Phil Anderson (L) for Senate]

{{2016 United States elections}}

Wisconsin

2016

Category:2016 Wisconsin elections