Wisconsin Secretary of State

General information
Office Type: | Partisan
Office website: | Official Link
Compensation: | $72,551
2022 FY Budget: | $281,400
Term limits: | None
Structure
Length of term: |  4 years
Authority: | Wisconsin State Code, Chapter 14.36
Selection Method: | Elected
Current Officeholder

Wisconsin Secretary of State Douglas J. La Follette
Democratic Party
Assumed office: 1983

Elections
Next election: | November 8, 2022
Last election: | November 6, 2018
Other Wisconsin Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission

## Contents

* 1 Current officeholder
* 2 Authority
* 3 Qualifications
* 4 Vacancies
* 5 Duties
* 6 Elections
* 6.1 2018
* 6.2 Full history
* 6.2.1 2014
* 7 Divisions
* 8 State budget
* 8.1 Budget reduction (2015)
* 9 Compensation
* 9.1 2020
* 9.2 2019
* 9.3 2018
* 9.4 2017
* 9.5 2016
* 9.6 2015
* 9.7 2014
* 9.8 2013
* 9.9 2012
* 10 Historical officeholders
* 11 State profile
* 11.1 Presidential voting pattern
* 11.1.1 Pivot Counties (2016)
* 11.1.2 Pivot Counties (2020)
* 12 Recent news
* 13 Contact information
* 14 See also
* 15 External links
* 16 Footnotes

The Wisconsin Secretary of State is an elected executive official in the Wisconsin state government. The secretary keeps a record of all official acts of the legislature and executive department of the state.[1]

Wisconsin has a Democratic triplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

## Current officeholder[edit]

The current secretary of state is Democrat Douglas La Follette.[1]

## Authority[edit]

The secretary of state's office is authorized by Chapter 14.36 of the Wisconsin state code.[2]

Chapter 14.36:

Office of secretary of state; creation. There is created an office of the secretary of state under the direction and supervision of the secretary of state.

## Qualifications[edit]

While the Wisconsin Constitution does not specify the qualification for the Office of Secretary of State, the secretary is second in line of succession to the governorship. Under Article 5 of the state constitution, the governor must be a United States citizen and qualified elector in Wisconsin.[3]

## Vacancies[edit]

Chapter 17.19(4) of the Wisconsin state code addresses vacancies in the office of secretary of state. In the event of a vacancy for any reason, the governor shall appoint a successor to serve until a special election can be held. If no such election is held, the appointee holds office for the remainder of the unexpired term.[4]

## Duties[edit]

Article 6 of the state constitution requires the secretary of state to keep a fair record of the official acts of the legislature and executive department of the state.[3]

The specific duties of the attorney general are outlined in Chapter 14.38 of the Wisconsin state code.[5]

Chapter 14.38 - Duties. The secretary of state shall:

1. Record executive acts.
2. Affix great seal; register commissions.
3. Have custody of books, records, etc.
4. Biennial report.
5. Keep enrolled laws, etc.
6. Compile original laws and resolutions.
7. Record fees.
8. Furnish certified copies; fees.
9. Notices of proposed constitutional amendments and enactments.

## Elections[edit]

Wisconsin state government organizational chart

According to Article 6 of the state constitution, the secretary of state is elected every four years, in mid-term election years, to a four-year term.

### 2018[edit]

See also: Wisconsin Secretary of State election, 2018

General election

##### General election for Wisconsin Secretary of State

Incumbent Douglas J. La Follette defeated Jay Schroeder in the general election for Wisconsin Secretary of State on November 6, 2018.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Douglas J. La Follette (D) |

52.7

| 1,380,752

| Jay Schroeder (R)  |

47.2

| 1,235,034
|  | Other/Write-in votes |

0.1

| 2,162

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 2,617,948

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

#####  Democratic primary for Wisconsin Secretary of State

Incumbent Douglas J. La Follette defeated Arvina Martin in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin Secretary of State on August 14, 2018.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Douglas J. La Follette |

65.9

| 327,020

| Arvina Martin |

34.1

| 169,130

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 496,150

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

#####  Republican primary for Wisconsin Secretary of State

Jay Schroeder defeated Spencer Zimmerman in the Republican primary for Wisconsin Secretary of State on August 14, 2018.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Jay Schroeder |

71.4

| 254,424

| Spencer Zimmerman |

28.6

| 101,818

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 356,242

|
|

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

### Full history[edit]

#### 2014[edit]

See also: Wisconsin secretary of state election, 2014

Democratic incumbent Doug La Follette won re-election on November 4, 2014.

Secretary of State of Wisconsin, 2014

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democratic  | Doug La Follette Incumbent | 50% | 1,161,113
| Republican  |  Julian Bradley | 46.3% | 1,074,835
| Libertarian  |  Andy Craig | 2.5% | 58,996
| Constitution  |  Jerry Broitzman | 1.1% | 25,744
| Nonpartisan  |  Scattering  | 0.1% | 1,347
Total Votes | 2,322,035
Election results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board

To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of Wisconsin Secretary of State, Click [show] to expand the section.

|

2010

On November 2, 2010, Douglas La Follette won re-election to the office of Wisconsin Secretary of State. He defeated David D. King in the general election.

| Wisconsin Secretary of State, 2010

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democratic  | Douglas La Follette Incumbent | 51.6% | 1,074,118
| Republican  |  David D. King | 48.3% | 1,005,217
| \-  |  Scattering | 0.1% | 1,863
Total Votes | 2,081,198
Election results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.

2006

On November 7, 2006, Douglas La Follette won re-election to the office of Wisconsin Secretary of State. He defeated Sandy Sullivan (R) and Michael LaForest (G) in the general election.

Wisconsin Secretary of State, 2010

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democratic  | Douglas La Follette Incumbent | 57.1% | 1,184,720
| Democratic  |  Sandy Sullivan  | 38.4% | 796,686
| Green  |  Michael LaForest  | 4.5% | 92,587
| \-  |  Scattering | 0.1% | 1,412
Total Votes | 2,075,405
Election results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.

2002

On November 5, 2002, Douglas La Follette won re-election to the office of Wisconsin Secretary of State. He defeated Robert Gerald Lorge (R) and Edward J. Frami (C) in the general election.

Wisconsin Secretary of State, 2010

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democratic  | Douglas La Follette Incumbent | 56.6% | 950,929
| Republican  |  Robert Gerald Lorge  | 41.3% | 693,476
| Constitution  |  Edward J. Frami  | 2.1% | 34,750
| \-  |  Scattering | 0.1% | 1,009
Total Votes | 1,680,164
Election results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.

## Divisions[edit]

As of January 2021, there are two divisions within the Office of the Secretary of State:

* Government Records Division
* Administrative Services Division

## State budget[edit]

See also: Wisconsin state budget and finances

The budget for the Secretary of State's Office in Fiscal Year 2022 was $281,400.[6]

### Budget reduction (2015)[edit]

In the 2015/2017 state budget, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker proposed a 50 percent staff reduction to the Office of the Secretary of State. The governor intended to cut the office's full-time aides from three to one, as well as to move the secretary's office to the basement of the capital, saving a total of $490,000 dollars over the two-year proposed budget.[7] Secretary La Follette wrote an open letter to Governor Walker expressing his concern for the proposed budget cuts, saying the cuts would render it “impossible to maintain quality service to the public, especially in the event of employee illness, vacation or other leave."[8]

## Compensation[edit]

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

See statutes: Chapter 20, Section 923 of the Wisconsin Statutes

The secretary of state's annual salary is fixed by law, pursuant to Article IV, Section 26 of the Wisconsin Constitution, which states that "the compensation of a public officer may not be increased or diminished during the term of office."[3]

Since the 2003 approval of Wisconsin Act 33, the secretary of state's compensation has been set by the Wisconsin Office of State Employment Relations (OSER), in accordance with Section 20.923 of the Wisconsin Statutes.[9] Under the amended version of §20.923, the director of OSER submits biennial proposals for adjustments to compensation plan to the Wisconsin Legislature. Changes are subject to approval by the legislature's joint committee on employment relations and, if passed by the committee, the governor, although his or her veto power is limited. Effective for the four-year term beginning January 2015, the secretary of state's salary was raised 2 percent over the prior term.[10]

### 2020[edit]

In 2020, the secretary of state received a salary of $72,551, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]

### 2019[edit]

In 2019, the secretary of state received a salary of $72,551, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]

### 2018[edit]

In 2018, the secretary of state received a salary of $69,936, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]

### 2017[edit]

In 2017, the secretary of state received a salary of $69,936, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]

### 2016[edit]

In 2016, the secretary of state received a salary of $69,936, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]

### 2015[edit]

In 2015, the secretary of state received a salary of $69,936, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]

### 2014[edit]

In 2014, the secretary received a salary of $68,566, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]

### 2013[edit]

In 2013, the secretary's salary remained at $68,566.[18]

### 2012[edit]

In 2012, the secretary received a salary of $68,566, according to the Council of State Governments.[19]

## Historical officeholders[edit]

There have been 31 Wisconsin Secretaries of State since 1848. Of the 31 officeholders, 20 were Republican, 10 were Democrat and one was Progressive.[20]

List of officeholders from 1848-present

#  |  Name  |  Tenure  |  Party
1 |  Thomas McHugh  |  1848-1850  |  Democratic
2 |  William A. Barstow  |  1850-1852  |  Democratic
3 |  Charles D. Robinson  |  1852-1854  |  Democratic
4 |  Alexander T. Gray  |  1854-1856  |  Democratic
5 |  David W. Jones  |  1856-1860  |  Democratic
6 |  Lewis P. Harvey  |  1860-1862  |  Republican
7 |  James T. Lewis  |  1862-1864  |  Republican
8 |  Lucius Fairchild  |  1864-1866  |  Republican
9 |  Thomas S. Allen  |  1866-1870  |  Republican
10 |  Llywelyn Breese  |  1870-1874  |  Republican
11 |  Peter Doyle  |  1874-1878  |  Democratic
12 |  Hans B. Warner  |  1878-1882  |  Republican
13 |  Ernst G. Timme  |  1882-1891  |  Republican
14 |  Thomas J. Cunningham  |  1891-1895  |  Democratic
15 |  Henry Casson  |  1895-1899  |  Republican
16 |  William H. Froehlich  |  1899-1903  |  Republican
17 |  Walter L. Houser  |  1903-1907  |  Republican
18 |  James A. Frear  |  1907-1913  |  Republican
19 |  John S. Donald  |  1913-1917  |  Republican
20 |  Merlin Hull  |  1917-1921  |  Republican
21 |  Elmer S. Hall  |  1921-1923  |  Republican
22 |  Fred R. Zimmerman  |  1923-1927  |  Republican
23 |  Theodore Dammann  |  1927-1935  |  Republican
24 |  Theodore Dammann  |  1935-1939  | Progressive
25 |  Fred R. Zimmerman  | 1939-1954  |  Republican
26 |  Louis Allis  | 1954-1955  |  Republican
27 |  Mrs. Glenn M. Wise  | 1955-1957  |  Republican
28 |  Robert C. Zimmerman  |  1957-1975  |  Republican
29 |  Douglas J. La Follette  |  1975-1979  |  Democratic
30 |  Mrs. Vel R. Phillips  |  1979-1983  |  Democratic
31 |  Douglas La Follette | 1983-present |  Democratic

## State profile[edit]

Demographic data for Wisconsin

| Wisconsin| U.S.
Total population:| 5,767,891| 316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):| 54,158| 3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:| 86.5%| 73.6%
Black/African American:| 6.3%| 12.6%
Asian:| 2.5%| 5.1%
Native American:| 0.9%| 0.8%
Pacific Islander:| 0%| 0.2%
Two or more:| 2.1%| 3%
Hispanic/Latino:| 6.3%| 17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:| 91%| 86.7%
College graduation rate:| 27.8%| 29.8%
Income
Median household income:| $53,357| $53,889
Persons below poverty level:| 15%| 11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Wisconsin.

* * *

**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

### Presidential voting pattern[edit]

See also: Presidential voting trends in Wisconsin

Wisconsin voted for the Democratic candidate in four out of the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016.

#### Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, 23 are located in Wisconsin, accounting for 11.17 percent of the total pivot counties.[21]

#### Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Wisconsin had 21 Retained Pivot Counties and two Boomerang Pivot Counties, accounting for 11.60 and 8.00 percent of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respectively.

More Wisconsin coverage on Ballotpedia

* Elections in Wisconsin
* United States congressional delegations from Wisconsin
* Public policy in Wisconsin
* Influencers in Wisconsin
* Wisconsin fact checks
* More...

## Recent news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Wisconsin Secretary of State. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Wisconsin Secretary of State - Google News

## Contact information[edit]

Wisconsin Secretary of State
B41 West, State Capitol
Madison WI 53702

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 7848
Madison, WI 53707-7848

Phone: (608) 266-8888 (ext 2)
Fax: (608) 266-3159
E-mail: statesec@wi.gov

## See also[edit]

Wisconsin | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis

|
|

Wisconsin State Executive Offices Wisconsin State Legislature Wisconsin Courts |  2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 Wisconsin elections: 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 |  Party control of state government State government trifectas State of the state addresses Partisan composition of governors

## External links[edit]

|  Suggest a link

|

* Office of the Wisconsin Secretary of State

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wisconsin Secretary of State, "Home," accessed January 28, 2021
2. ↑ Wisconsin state code, "Chapter 14: Constitutional Offices and Interstate Bodies (page 6)," accessed January 28, 2021
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Wisconsin.gov, "Wisconsin Constitution," accessed January 28, 2021
4. ↑ Wisconsin state code, "Chapter 17: Resignations, vacancies, and removals from office (page 7)," accessed January 28, 2021
5. ↑ Wisconsin state code, "Chapter 14: Constitutional Offices and Interstate Bodies (page 6)," accessed January 28, 2021
6. ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "2021-2022 Appropriations." accessed September 29, 2021
7. ↑ Fox 11 Online, "Longtime Secretary of State opposes proposed budget cut to his office," February 17, 2015
8. ↑ MacIver Institute, "As responsibilities dwindle, does Wisconsin need a Secretary of State?" February 27, 2015
9. ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes: 20.923(2)(a)," accessed January 28, 2021
10. ↑ Wisconsin Legislature, "Wisconsin Briefs from the Legislative Reference Bureau: SALARIES OF STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 2015," updated January 2015
11. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 28, 2021
12. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 28, 2021
13. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 28, 2021
14. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 28, 2021
15. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 28, 2021
16. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 28, 2021
17. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 28, 2021
18. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 28, 2021
19. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 28, 2021
20. ↑ Wisconsin Blue Book 2007-2008, "Statistical Information on Wisconsin: History," accessed January 28, 2021
21. ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.

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