2018 Wisconsin elections#State Supreme Court

{{main|2018 United States Senate election in Wisconsin}}

Incumbent Democrat Tammy Baldwin, first elected in 2012, won re-election to a second term by an 11 percentage point margin against Republican challenger Leah Vukmir. This was the widest margin of victory won by a statewide candidate in Wisconsin's 2018 elections, and marked the widest margin won by a U.S. Senate candidate in Wisconsin since Herb Kohl's landslide victory in the 2006 election.

{{Election box begin no change | title=United States Senate election in Wisconsin, 2018{{Cite web |url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/County%20by%20County%20Report-2018%20Gen%20Election-US%20Senator.pdf |title=United States Senate election |access-date=2018-12-09 |archive-date=2018-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209124136/https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/County%20by%20County%20Report-2018%20Gen%20Election-US%20Senator.pdf |url-status=dead }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Tammy Baldwin (incumbent)

| votes = 1,472,914

| percentage = 55.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Leah Vukmir

| votes = 1,184,885

| percentage = 44.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = n/a

| candidate = Write-ins

| votes = 2,964

| percentage = 0.1

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 2,660,763

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{main|2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin}}

All 8 of Wisconsin's congressional districts were up for election in November. Seven incumbents ran for re-election, while the 1st district saw an open race after incumbent and then-Speaker of the House Paul Ryan announced his retirement.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/11/paul-ryan-explains-why-he-decided-to-retire.html|title=Paul Ryan explains why he decided to retire|date=2018-04-11|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}} No seats flipped in the election, with Republicans continuing to hold five of the state's House seats to the Democrats' three.

All of Wisconsin's executive offices saw close election results, with the largest vote difference in any race being eight-term incumbent secretary of state Doug La Follette‘s 5.5 percent margin of victory. Every executive office was won by the Democratic candidate.

{{main|2018 Wisconsin gubernatorial election}}

Incumbent Republican governor Scott Walker, first elected in 2010, sought re-election to a third term. Despite having won two prior elections and a recall by fairly comfortable margins, Walker faced rising unpopularity due to his policies regarding infrastructure and education, among other issues, resulting in a close race.{{Cite web|url=https://dailyreporter.com/2018/07/27/scottholes-campaign-targets-voters-already-upset-over-wisconsin-roads/|title=‘Scott-Holes’ campaign targets voters already upset over state’s roads|date=2018-07-27|website=Daily Reporter|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2018/10/16/wisconsin-gov-scott-walkers-assault-public-education-could-be-coming-back-bite-him/|title=Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s assault on public education could be coming back to bite him|date=2018-10-18|website=New York Times|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}} Low approval in Wisconsin of incumbent Republican U.S. President Donald Trump also harmed Walker in the election.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/polls-trump-approval-sags-trio-midwest-states-n894556|title=Trump approval sags in trio of midwestern states|date=2018-07-25|website=NBC News|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}

Walker was ultimately defeated by Democrat Tony Evers by a narrow one percent margin, ending eight years of unified Republican control of the state.

Other candidates included Libertarian Phil Anderson and Independent Maggie Turnbull.

{{Election box begin no change

| title=Wisconsin gubernatorial election, 2018}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Tony Evers

|votes = 1,324,307

|percentage = 49.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Scott Walker (incumbent)

|votes = 1,295,080

|percentage = 48.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Phil Anderson

|votes = 20,255

|percentage = 0.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Independent (United States)

|candidate = Maggie Turnbull

|votes = 18,884

|percentage = 0.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Green Party (United States)

|candidate = Michael White

|votes = 11,087

|percentage = 0.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Independent (United States)

|candidate = Arnie Enz

|votes = 2,745

|percentage = 0.1

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

|votes = 980

|percentage = 0.1

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 2,673,308

|percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no change

|winner = Democratic Party of Wisconsin

|loser = Republican Party of Wisconsin

}}

{{Election box end}}

Former state representative Mandela Barnes defeated incumbent Republican lieutenant governor Rebecca Kleefisch, who had served since 2011, and Libertarian Patrick Baird.{{cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/06/wisconsin-governor-election-results-scott-walker-versus-tony-evers/1854447002/|title=Tony Evers denies Scott Walker a third term as Wisconsin's governor|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|last=Marley|first=Patrick|date=November 6, 2018|access-date=December 3, 2018}} Barnes became Wisconsin's first African-American lieutenant governor, and the second African-American ever elected to state office in Wisconsin.{{cite web|url=https://www.wpr.org/mandela-barnes-become-first-african-american-lieutenant-governor|title=Mandela Barnes To Become First African-American Lieutenant Governor|work=Wisconsin Public Radio|last=Marley|first=Patrick|date=November 7, 2018|access-date=December 3, 2018}}

{{main|2018 Wisconsin Attorney General election}}

Republican incumbent Brad Schimel, first elected in 2014, ran for re-election to a second term.{{cite news|url=http://journaltimes.com/news/state-and-regional/glenn-grothman-cites-transgender-bathroom-legal-battle-as-sign-of/article_62c843bd-9fd7-5bff-a6fe-3bae3b07f9fe.html|title=Glenn Grothman cites transgender bathroom legal battle as sign of 'moral decline'|work=Racine Journal Times|last=DeFour|first=Matthew|date=May 14, 2016|access-date=November 4, 2016}} Voting rights attorney and former federal prosecutor Josh Kaul, the Democratic nominee, defeated Schimel in the general election.{{cite news|last1=Beck|first1=Molly|title=Josh Kaul declares victory over Brad Schimel in attorney general's race|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/07/wisconsin-attorney-general-election-results-schimel-versus-kaul/1849068002/|agency=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=November 7, 2018}} Terry Larson, the Constitution Party nominee, also garnered around 2% of the vote, greater than the vote difference between Schimel and Kaul.

{{Election box begin no change

| title=Wisconsin Attorney General election, 2018}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Josh Kaul

|votes = 1,305,902

|percentage = 49.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Brad Schimel (incumbent)

|votes = 1,288,712

|percentage = 48.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Constitution Party (United States)

|candidate = Terry Larson

|votes = 47,038

|percentage = 1.8

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 1,199

| percentage = 0.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 2,642,851

|percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no change

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

|loser = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{main|2018 Wisconsin Secretary of State election}}

Incumbent Democrat Doug La Follette, first elected in 1982 (and also serving from 1975 to 1979), won re-election to a tenth non-consecutive term. Madison Alderwoman Arvina Martin challenged La Follette in the Democratic primary.

Jay Schroeder was nominated in the Republican primary to run against La Follette, pledging to abolish the position if elected.{{cite web|url=https://storage.googleapis.com/wzukusers/user-31869683/documents/5a8a051d309fe5HYoJrK/Press%20Release%20for%20Jay%20Schroeder.doc2,16,18-3%20copy.pdf|title=Schroeder Campaign:Eliminate Secretary of State Position|date=February 19, 2018|access-date=February 24, 2019}}

Libertarian sports announcer Rich Reynolds declared his candidacy for the position as well, joining the "TeamGuv" bill with Phil Anderson and Patrick Baird.

Governing magazine projected the race as "safe Democratic".{{cite web |last1=Jacobson |first1=Louis |title=Secretary of State Races Are More Competitive and Important Than Ever |url=https://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-secretary-state-races-2018.html |publisher=Governing |access-date=22 September 2019 |date=4 June 2018}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title=Wisconsin Secretary of State election, 2018}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Doug La Follette (incumbent)

|votes = 1,380,752

|percentage = 52.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Jay Schroeder

|votes = 1,235,034

|percentage = 47.2

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 2,162

| percentage = 0.1

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 2,617,948

|percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Main|2018 Wisconsin State Treasurer election}}

Earlier in the year, a referendum had been held on whether or not to abolish the State Treasurer office, a move that Wisconsin voters rejected by a margin of more than 20 percent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/03/wisconsin-voters-decide-whether-keep-nix-170-year-old-state-treasurers-office-voters-nix-wisconsins/477700002/|title=Voters by a wide margin keep Wisconsin’s 170 year old state treasurer’s office|date=2018-04-04|website=journal sentinel|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}

Incumbent Republican Matt Adamczyk, first elected in 2014, chose not to run for reelection. Sarah Godlewski, the Democratic nominee, defeated Republican Travis Hartwig in the general.

{{Election box begin no change

| title=Wisconsin Treasurer election, 2018}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Sarah Godlewski

|votes = 1,324,110

|percentage = 50.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Travis Hartwig

|votes = 1,216,811

|percentage = 46.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Constitution Party (United States)

|candidate = Andrew Zuelke

|votes = 59,570

|percentage = 2.2

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 1,471

| percentage = 0.1

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 2,601,962

|percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no change

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

|loser = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Clear}}

{{Main|2018 Wisconsin State Senate election}}

Two special elections had been held earlier in the year for the 1st and 10th districts. Both races were won by Democrats, despite the respective districts’ usual Republican leanings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/01/16/democrats-flip-state-senate-seat-in-wisconsin/|title=Democrats flip State Senate Seat In Wisconsin|date=2018-01-16|website=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2018/06/12/caleb-frostman-defeats-andre-jacque-1st-senate-district-special-election/686543002/|title=Caleb Frostman defeats André Jacque in 1st Senate District special election|date=2018-06-12|website=Green Bay Press Gazette|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}

The 17 odd-numbered districts out of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election in 2018, including the 1st district. In total, Republicans had 10 seats up for election, while Democrats had 7. André Jacque was able to win back the 1st district seat for Republicans from Democrat Caleb Frostman, who had defeated him in the June special election.{{Cite web|url=https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/news/2018/11/07/wisconsin-election-andre-jacque-wins-senate-district-1-seat/1905950002/|title=André Jacque wins Senate District 1 Seat|date=2018-11-07|website=Green Bay Press Gazette|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}

At the start of 2018, the senate had a composition of 18 Republicans and 13 Democrats with two vacancies. The net result of all 2018 state senate elections was a gain of one seat for both parties. When compared to the 2016 general election, however, the Republican majority was reduced from 20 to 13 (60.6%) to 19-14 (57.6%).

{{main|2018 Wisconsin State Assembly election}}

All 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly were up for election in 2018. There were also two special elections for three Assembly vacancies during the course of 2018. Republicans lost one seat to the Democrats in the 2018 general election, resulting a 63-36 seat Republican majority going into the 2019-2020 session.

{{Main|2018 Wisconsin Supreme Court election}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title = 2018 Wisconsin Supreme Court election{{cite web |title=2018 Spring Primary Results |url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Canvass%2520Results.spring%2520primary.2.20.18.pdf}}{{cite web |title=2018 Spring Election Results|url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Statewide%2520Percentage%2520Results-4.3.18%2520Spring%2520Election.pdf}}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Michael Screnock

| votes = 247,582

| percentage = 46.28%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Rebecca Dallet

| votes = 191,268

| percentage = 35.75%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Tim Burns

| votes = 95,508

| percentage = 17.85%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 662

| percentage = 0.12%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 534,980

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Rebecca Dallet

| votes = 555,848

| percentage = 55.72%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Michael Screnock

| votes = 440,808

| percentage = 44.19%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 829

| percentage = 0.08%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 997,485

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Clear}}

Two seats on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals were up for election in 2018, but both seats were uncontested.

• In District I, Judge Timothy Dugan was elected to his first full term after being appointed by Governor Scott Walker in 2016.
• In District IV, Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg was elected to her second six-year term.

Fifty three of the state's 249 circuit court seats were up for election in 2018. Eleven of those seats were contested. Only one incumbent was defeated seeking re-election, Shaughnessy Murphy—an appointee of Governor Scott Walker in the Eau Claire Circuit.

{{Infobox referendum|name=Question 1|title= Elimination of state treasurer. Shall sections 1 and 3 of article VI and sections 7 and 8 of article X of the constitution be amended, and section 17 of article XIV of the constitution be created, to eliminate the office of state treasurer from the constitution and to replace the state treasurer with the lieutenant governor as a member of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands?|date=April 3, 2018|location={{flag|Wisconsin}}|yes=365,120|no=582,117|total=947,237|invalid=|map=2018 WI constitutional amendment election.svg|map_size=|mapcaption=Yes: {{legend0|#B6C8D9|50–60%}}
No: {{legend0|#DEDEBD|50–60%}} {{legend0|#BCBC83|60–70%}} {{legend0|#8B8B54|70–80%}} |notes=}}

In the Spring election, Wisconsin voters strongly rejected an amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin which would have abolished the office of State Treasurer of Wisconsin.{{cite news|url= https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/03/wisconsin-voters-decide-whether-keep-nix-170-year-old-state-treasurers-office-voters-nix-wisconsins/477700002/ |title= Voters by a wide margin keep Wisconsin's 170-year-old state treasurer's office |last1= Glauber |first1= Bill |last2= Stein |first2= Jason |date= April 3, 2018 |newspaper= Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |access-date= April 18, 2020 }}

{{Election box begin no party no change | title=Elimination of State Treasurer}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = No

|votes = 582,117

|percentage = 61

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Yes

|votes = 365,120

|percentage = 39

}}

{{Election box total no party no change

| votes = 947,237

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Clear}}

Voters in eleven Wisconsin counties approved non-binding referendums expressing support for legalizing medical cannabis, and voters in six counties approved non-binding referendums expressing support for legalizing recreational cannabis.{{cite news|last1=Behm|first1=Don|date=November 6, 2018|title=Pro pot: Voters support all marijuana advisory referendums on Tuesday's ballots|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/06/marijuana-legalization-milwaukee-county-voters-favor-ending-ban/1811494002/|access-date=March 15, 2019}}{{cite news|last1=Anderson|first1=Scott|date=November 6, 2018|title=Who Voted For Marijuana In Wisconsin? We Have The Answer|work=Patch|url=https://patch.com/wisconsin/mountpleasant/2016-election-results-wisconsin-marijuana-ballot-measures|access-date=March 15, 2019}} The support for medical cannabis ranged from 67.1% in Clark County to 88.5% in Kenosha County, while support for recreational cannabis ranged from 60.2% in Racine county to 76.4% in Dane County.{{cite news|last1=Hubbuch|first1=Chris|date=November 8, 2018|title=Wisconsin voters embrace pot; nearly 1 million vote yes on medical, recreational use|work=Wisconsin State Journal|url=https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/wisconsin-voters-embrace-pot-nearly-million-vote-yes-on-medical/article_d92d07eb-c6d1-5a77-b083-667e92b3b27b.html|access-date=March 15, 2019}}{{Cite web|last=NorthernWINORML.org|date=2018-11-07|title=2018 Wisconsin Marijuana Referendum Results|url=https://www.northernwinorml.org/2018/11/07/2018-wisconsin-marijuana-referendum-results/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Northern Wisconsin NORML|language=en}} The 16 counties that weighed in accounted for over half the state's population.

In the weeks following the election, Wisconsin's legislative districts came under wide scrutiny as an example of gerrymandering due to the fact that while Republicans won a fairly wide majority in the Wisconsin State Assembly, the Democrats garnered nearly 9 percent more of the overall statewide vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2018/12/chart-of-the-day-wisconsin-gerrymandering-was-awesome/|title=Chart of the Day: Wisconsin gerrymandering was awesome|date=2018-12-04|website=Mother Jones|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/blogs/wisconsin-voter/2018/12/06/wisconsin-gerrymandering-data-shows-stark-impact-redistricting/2219092002/|title=Wisconsin gerrymandering: data shows stark impact of redistricting|date=2018-12-06|website=jsonline.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}} In addition, Wisconsin was notable for being the only state in the 2018 elections where Republicans won a majority of the state's seats in the U.S. House while Democrats won a majority of the overall votes.

Early in December 2018, a special legislative session was called by outgoing Governor Scott Walker to pass a series of bills to limit the powers of Governor-elect Tony Evers, whom Walker had lost to in the election, as well as incoming State attorney general Josh Kaul.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/02/wisconsin-republicans-democrats-lame-duck-session|title=Wisconsin Republicans seek to hobble Democrats in lame duck session|date=2018-12-02|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}

Other bills being considered included restrictions on early voting and the passage of Medicaid work requirements, which Walker had previously held off on due to the election.{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/16/scott-walker-wisconsin-medicaid-midterms-903154|title=Scott Walker, in fight for political life, slow walks Medicaid work rules|date=2018-10-16|website=Politico|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}} A similar law restricting early voting that was passed several years prior had been ruled as unconstitutional.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/30/judge-strikes-down-wisconsin-voter-id-early-voting-laws/87803408/|title=Judge strikes down Wisconsin voter ID, early voting laws|date=2016-08-01|website=journal sentinel|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}

The bills were widely denounced by Democrats and others as a “power grab.” Congresswoman Gwen Moore of Wisconsin's 4th district described the move as a “coup” that “hijacked the voters’ will.” {{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tony-evers-scott-walker-legislature_n_5c0d392be4b035a7bf5c239e|title=Tony Evers: calling Wisconsin GOP power grab a coup ‘seems strong’|date=2018-12-09|website=Huffpost|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}} Lawsuits were filed by Evers and various labor unions almost immediately after Walker signed the bills into law.{{Cite web|url=https://www.apnews.com/c750bf2aab9e4aea9d67a24e9188ee74|title=A look at lawsuits challenging Wisconsin’s lame duck laws|date=2019-02-04|website=AP News|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}

• 2018 United States elections
• 2016 Wisconsin elections
• 2018 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
• 2018 Wisconsin State Senate election
• 2018 Wisconsin State Assembly election

{{Reflist}}

• [http://elections.wi.gov Wisconsin Elections Commission] official information for and about voters, elections and candidates
• [https://votesmart.org/election/2018/S/WI/ Candidates] at Vote Smart
• [https://ballotpedia.org/Wisconsin_elections,_2018 Candidates] at Ballotpedia
• [https://www.followthemoney.org/tools/election-overview?s=WI&y=2018 Campaign finance] at OpenSecrets

Official Attorney General campaign websites

• [https://www.joshkaul.org/ Josh Kaul (D) for Attorney General]
• [http://www.terrylarson.org/ Terry Larson (C) for Attorney General]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20181006075702/https://bradschimel.com/ Brad Schimel (R) for Attorney General]

Official Secretary of State campaign websites

• [http://douglafollette.com/ Doug La Follette (D) for Secretary of State]
• [http://schroederforwi.com/ Jay Schroeder (R) for Secretary of State]

Official Treasurer campaign websites

• [https://www.sarahforwisconsin.com/ Sarah Godlewski (D) for Treasurer]
• [http://www.travishartwig.com/ Travis Hartwig (R) for Treasurer]

{{2018 United States elections}}

{{Wisconsin Supreme Court elections}}

Wisconsin

Category:Wisconsin State Legislature elections