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Turnout | 54.5% ( 3.3%) | |||||||||||||||||||
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County results Walker: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Burke: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Wisconsin |
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The 2014 Wisconsin gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to determine the governor and lieutenant governor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It occurred concurrently with elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Incumbent Republican governor Scott Walker won re-election to a second term in office, defeating Democratic businesswoman and Madison school board member Mary Burke and two minor party candidates in the general election.
Walker, who was elected in 2010, survived an attempted recall in 2012, the first governor in United States history to do so, defeating Democrat Tom Barrett both times. Wisconsin voters have elected a governor from a different political party than the sitting president in 27 of the last 31 elections since 1932; only once has a Democratic candidate been elected governor in Wisconsin in the last 18 contests when a Democrat was in the White House.[1] Eleven of the last twelve Wisconsin governors, dating back to Republican Vernon Wallace Thomson in the late 1950s, had, unlike Burke, previously won an election to state government, the exception being Republican Lee S. Dreyfus in 1978.[2]
The polling leading up to the election was very close, with no candidate clearly in the lead. The consensus among most analysts was that the race was either a tossup or leaning Republican. As of 2024, this is the last time a Republican was elected governor of Wisconsin, and the last time that a candidate was elected Governor of Wisconsin by winning a majority of counties.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Scott Walker (incumbent) | 238,715 | 99.42% | |
Republican | Steve R. Evans (write-in) | 94 | 0.04% | |
Republican | Scattering | 1,293 | 0.54% | |
Total votes | 240,102 | 100.00% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rebecca Kleefisch (incumbent) | 228,864 | 99.69% | |
Republican | Scattering | 704 | 0.31% | |
Total votes | 229,568 | 100.00% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Mary Burke |
Brett Hulsey |
Marcia Mercedes Perkins |
Hari Trivedi |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marquette University[26] | May 15–18, 2014 | ? | ± ? | 66% | 3% | 1% | 1% | — | 24% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Mary Burke | 259,926 | 83.28% | |
Democratic | Brett Hulsey | 51,830 | 16.61% | |
Democratic | Scattering | 350 | 0.11% | |
Total votes | 312,106 | 100.00% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Lehman | 144,591 | 55.24% | |
Democratic | Mary Jo Walters | 116,518 | 44.52% | |
Democratic | Scattering | 631 | 0.24% | |
Total votes | 261,740 | 100.00% |
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report[31] | Tossup | November 3, 2014 |
Sabato's Crystal Ball[32] | Lean R | November 3, 2014 |
Rothenberg Political Report[33] | Tilt R | November 3, 2014 |
Real Clear Politics[34] | Tossup | November 3, 2014 |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Mary Burke (D) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
YouGov[35] | October 25–31, 2014 | 1,494 | ± 3.4% | 45% | 43% | 1% | 11% |
Public Policy Polling[36] | October 28–30, 2014 | 1,814 | ± 3% | 48% | 47% | — | 5% |
Marquette University[37] | October 23–26, 2014 | 1,164 LV | ± 3% | 50% | 43% | 1% | 7% |
1,409 RV | ± 2.7% | 46% | 45% | 1% | 9% | ||
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[38] | October 16–23, 2014 | 3,308 | ± 3% | 46% | 45% | 0% | 10% |
Rasmussen Reports[39] | October 20–21, 2014 | 973 | ± 3% | 48% | 49% | 1% | 2% |
WPR/St. Norbert College[40] | October 18–21, 2014 | 525 | ± 4.4% | 47% | 46% | — | 6% |
Public Policy Polling[41] | October 17–18, 2014 | 860 | ± ? | 47% | 46% | — | 7% |
Marquette University[42] | October 9–12, 2014 | 803 LV | ± 3.5% | 47% | 47% | 0% | 5% |
1,004 RV | ± 3.2% | 48% | 45% | 1% | 6% | ||
Gravis Marketing[43] | October 3–4, 2014 | 837 | ± 3% | 50% | 46% | — | 4% |
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[44] | September 20–October 1, 2014 | 1,444 | ± 3% | 48% | 49% | 0% | 3% |
Marquette University[45] | September 25–28, 2014 | 585 LV | ± 4.1% | 51% | 45% | 1% | 4% |
801 RV | ± 3.5% | 46% | 45% | 1% | 8% | ||
Gravis Marketing[46] | September 22–23, 2014 | 908 | ± 3% | 45% | 50% | — | 4% |
Rasmussen Reports[39] | September 15–16, 2014 | 650 | ± 4% | 48% | 46% | 3% | 3% |
Marquette University[47] | September 11–14, 2014 | 589 LV | ± 4.1% | 49% | 46% | 1% | 4% |
800 RV | ± 3.5% | 46% | 46% | 1% | 7% | ||
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[48] | August 18–September 2, 2014 | 1,473 | ± 4% | 49% | 45% | 0% | 5% |
We Ask America[49] | September 3, 2014 | 1,170 LV | ± 3% | 44% | 48% | 2% | 6% |
Marquette University[50] | August 21–24, 2014 | 609 LV | ± 4.1% | 47% | 49% | 1% | 4% |
815 RV | ± 3.5% | 48% | 44% | 1% | 8% | ||
Rasmussen Reports[39] | August 13–14, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 48% | 47% | — | 5% |
Gravis Marketing[51] | July 31–August 2, 2014 | 1,346 | ± 3% | 47% | 47% | — | 6% |
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[52] | July 5–24, 2014 | 1,968 | ± ? | 47% | 46% | 1% | 5% |
Marquette University[53] | July 17–20, 2014 | 549 LV | ± 4.3% | 46% | 47% | 1% | 8% |
804 RV | ± 3.5% | 46% | 45% | 1% | 8% | ||
Marquette University[26] | May 15–18, 2014 | 805 | ± 3.5% | 46% | 46% | — | 6% |
Public Policy Polling[54] | April 17–20, 2014 | 1,144 | ± 2.9% | 48% | 45% | — | 7% |
Magellan Strategies[55] | April 14–15, 2014 | 851 | ± 3.36% | 47% | 47% | 2% | 4% |
St. Norbert College[56] | March 24–April 3, 2014 | 401 | ± 5% | 55% | 40% | — | 5% |
Marquette University[57] | March 20–23, 2014 | 801 | ± 3.5% | 48% | 41% | — | 11% |
Gravis Marketing[58] | March 17, 2014 | 988 | ± 4% | 49% | 44% | — | 7% |
Rasmussen Reports[39] | March 10–11, 2014 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 45% | 45% | 5% | 5% |
Marquette University[59] | January 20–23, 2014 | 802 | ± 3.5% | 47% | 41% | — | 8% |
Marquette University[60] | October 21–24, 2013 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 47% | 45% | — | 8% |
Public Policy Polling[61] | September 13–16, 2013 | 1,180 | ± 2.9% | 48% | 42% | — | 10% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Jon Erpenbach (D) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[62] | February 21–24, 2013 | 1,799 | ± 2.3% | 48% | 42% | — | 9% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Russ Feingold (D) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[62] | February 21–24, 2013 | 1,799 | ± 2.3% | 47% | 49% | — | 4% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Mahlon Mitchell (D) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[62] | February 21–24, 2013 | 1,799 | ± 2.3% | 48% | 39% | — | 13% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Brett Hulsey (D) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marquette University[26] | May 15–18, 2014 | 805 | ± 3.5% | 48% | 39% | — | 13% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Steve Kagen (D) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[62] | February 21–24, 2013 | 1,799 | ± 2.3% | 48% | 41% | — | 11% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Tom Nelson (D) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[61] | September 13–16, 2013 | 1,180 | ± 2.9% | 47% | 40% | — | 12% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Ron Kind (D) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[62] | February 21–24, 2013 | 1,799 | ± 2.3% | 46% | 42% | — | 11% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Kathleen Vinehout (D) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marquette University[60] | October 21–24, 2013 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 47% | 44% | — | 9% |
Public Policy Polling[61] | September 13–16, 2013 | 1,180 | ± 2.9% | 47% | 41% | — | 10% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Peter W. Barca (D) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marquette University[60] | October 21–24, 2013 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 48% | 42% | — | 10% |
Public Policy Polling[61] | September 13–16, 2013 | 1,180 | ± 2.9% | 47% | 43% | — | 10% |
Public Policy Polling[62] | February 21–24, 2013 | 1,799 | ± 2.3% | 48% | 43% | — | 9% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Scott Walker (incumbent) | 1,259,706 | 52.26% | −0.82% | |
Democratic | Mary Burke | 1,122,913 | 46.59% | +0.31% | |
Independent | Robert Burke | 18,720 | 0.78% | ||
Independent | Dennis Fehr | 7,530 | 0.31% | ||
Independent | Mary Jo Walters (write-in) | 108 | 0.00% | ||
Independent | Brett D. Hulsey (write-in) | 52 | 0.00% | ||
Constitution | Jumoka A. Johnson (write-in) | 15 | 0.00% | ||
Republican | Steve R. Evans (write-in) | 9 | 0.00% | ||
Republican | Susan P. Resch (write-in) | 8 | 0.00% | ||
Independent | Jessica Nicole Perry (write-in) | 5 | 0.00% | ||
Scattering | 1,248 | 0.05% | |||
Majority | 136,793 | 5.68% | |||
Total votes | 2,410,314 | 100.00% | |||
Republican hold | Swing | -1.13% |
County[63] | Scott Walker Republican |
Mary Burke Democratic |
All Others Various |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
Adams | 4,297 | 52.50% | 3,762 | 45.96% | 126 | 1.54% | 535 | 6.54% | 8,185 |
Ashland | 2,333 | 35.53% | 4,150 | 63.20% | 83 | 1.26% | -1,817 | -27.67% | 6,566 |
Barron | 9,696 | 57.89% | 6,832 | 40.79% | 221 | 1.32% | 2,864 | 17.10% | 16,749 |
Bayfield | 3,075 | 38.33% | 4,888 | 60.92% | 60 | 0.75% | -1,813 | -22.60% | 8,023 |
Brown | 58,408 | 58.24% | 40,751 | 40.63% | 1,132 | 1.13% | 17,657 | 17.61% | 100,291 |
Buffalo | 3,169 | 57.58% | 2,267 | 41.19% | 68 | 1.24% | 902 | 16.39% | 5,504 |
Burnett | 3,868 | 59.17% | 2,615 | 40.00% | 54 | 0.83% | 1,253 | 19.17% | 6,537 |
Calumet | 14,086 | 65.17% | 7,285 | 33.71% | 243 | 1.12% | 6,801 | 31.47% | 21,614 |
Chippewa | 13,765 | 56.17% | 10,402 | 42.45% | 339 | 1.38% | 3,363 | 13.72% | 24,506 |
Clark | 7,409 | 65.04% | 3,848 | 33.78% | 134 | 1.18% | 3,561 | 31.26% | 11,391 |
Columbia | 11,837 | 47.92% | 12,527 | 50.72% | 336 | 1.36% | -690 | -2.79% | 24,700 |
Crawford | 2,974 | 47.41% | 3,225 | 51.41% | 74 | 1.18% | -251 | -4.00% | 6,273 |
Dane | 73,676 | 29.18% | 175,937 | 69.69% | 2,856 | 1.13% | -102,261 | -40.50% | 252,469 |
Dodge | 23,715 | 64.38% | 12,732 | 34.56% | 391 | 1.06% | 10,983 | 29.81% | 36,838 |
Door | 8,160 | 53.79% | 6,842 | 45.10% | 168 | 1.11% | 1,318 | 8.69% | 15,170 |
Douglas | 6,001 | 38.11% | 9,590 | 60.91% | 154 | 0.98% | -3,589 | -22.79% | 15,745 |
Dunn | 8,229 | 53.02% | 7,066 | 45.53% | 225 | 1.45% | 1,163 | 7.49% | 15,520 |
Eau Claire | 20,304 | 48.22% | 21,239 | 50.44% | 562 | 1.33% | -935 | -2.22% | 42,105 |
Florence | 1,349 | 67.42% | 629 | 31.43% | 23 | 1.15% | 720 | 35.98% | 2,001 |
Fond du Lac | 27,485 | 64.02% | 15,014 | 34.97% | 430 | 1.00% | 12,471 | 29.05% | 42,929 |
Forest | 2,032 | 56.57% | 1,511 | 42.07% | 49 | 1.36% | 521 | 14.50% | 3,592 |
Grant | 9,149 | 50.36% | 8,704 | 47.91% | 313 | 1.72% | 445 | 2.45% | 18,166 |
Green | 7,193 | 46.90% | 7,948 | 51.82% | 197 | 1.28% | -755 | -4.92% | 15,338 |
Green Lake | 5,336 | 67.77% | 2,464 | 31.29% | 74 | 0.94% | 2,872 | 36.47% | 7,874 |
Iowa | 4,480 | 42.34% | 5,937 | 56.12% | 163 | 1.54% | -1,457 | -13.77% | 10,580 |
Iron | 1,755 | 61.06% | 1,085 | 37.75% | 34 | 1.18% | 670 | 23.31% | 2,874 |
Jackson | 3,812 | 50.52% | 3,631 | 48.12% | 102 | 1.35% | 181 | 2.40% | 7,545 |
Jefferson | 21,443 | 59.96% | 13,876 | 38.80% | 443 | 1.24% | 7,567 | 21.16% | 35,762 |
Juneau | 4,817 | 53.33% | 4,080 | 45.17% | 135 | 1.49% | 737 | 8.16% | 9,032 |
Kenosha | 28,398 | 50.28% | 27,367 | 48.45% | 717 | 1.27% | 1,031 | 1.83% | 56,482 |
Kewaunee | 5,676 | 62.14% | 3,379 | 36.99% | 79 | 0.86% | 2,297 | 25.15% | 9,134 |
La Crosse | 22,321 | 46.10% | 25,429 | 52.52% | 672 | 1.39% | -3,108 | -6.42% | 48,422 |
Lafayette | 3,191 | 51.05% | 2,982 | 47.70% | 78 | 1.25% | 209 | 3.34% | 6,251 |
Langlade | 5,476 | 64.59% | 2,921 | 34.45% | 81 | 0.96% | 2,555 | 30.14% | 8,478 |
Lincoln | 6,866 | 56.52% | 5,104 | 42.02% | 178 | 1.47% | 1,762 | 14.50% | 12,148 |
Manitowoc | 21,044 | 61.83% | 12,563 | 36.91% | 426 | 1.25% | 8,481 | 24.92% | 34,033 |
Marathon | 34,583 | 61.19% | 21,305 | 37.70% | 625 | 1.11% | 13,278 | 23.50% | 56,513 |
Marinette | 9,610 | 60.87% | 6,023 | 38.15% | 155 | 0.98% | 3,587 | 22.72% | 15,788 |
Marquette | 3,611 | 57.08% | 2,629 | 41.56% | 86 | 1.36% | 982 | 15.52% | 6,326 |
Menominee | 215 | 21.52% | 753 | 75.38% | 31 | 3.10% | -538 | -53.85% | 999 |
Milwaukee | 132,706 | 36.05% | 231,316 | 62.84% | 4,071 | 1.11% | -98,610 | -26.79% | 368,093 |
Monroe | 8,446 | 55.98% | 6,399 | 42.41% | 243 | 1.61% | 2,047 | 13.57% | 15,088 |
Oconto | 10,300 | 63.84% | 5,657 | 35.06% | 178 | 1.10% | 4,643 | 28.78% | 16,135 |
Oneida | 9,852 | 56.90% | 7,190 | 41.53% | 272 | 1.57% | 2,662 | 15.37% | 17,314 |
Outagamie | 44,543 | 59.43% | 29,503 | 39.37% | 899 | 1.20% | 15,040 | 20.07% | 74,945 |
Ozaukee | 32,696 | 69.95% | 13,696 | 29.30% | 349 | 0.75% | 19,000 | 40.65% | 46,741 |
Pepin | 1,791 | 56.62% | 1,333 | 42.14% | 39 | 1.23% | 458 | 14.48% | 3,163 |
Pierce | 7,760 | 53.02% | 6,666 | 45.54% | 211 | 1.44% | 1,094 | 7.47% | 14,637 |
Polk | 9,345 | 58.16% | 6,516 | 40.55% | 207 | 1.29% | 2,829 | 17.61% | 16,068 |
Portage | 14,650 | 48.26% | 15,283 | 50.34% | 425 | 1.40% | -633 | -2.09% | 30,358 |
Price | 3,725 | 57.29% | 2,700 | 41.53% | 77 | 1.18% | 1,025 | 15.76% | 6,502 |
Racine | 42,944 | 53.96% | 35,769 | 44.95% | 868 | 1.09% | 7,175 | 9.02% | 79,581 |
Richland | 3,435 | 50.25% | 3,315 | 48.49% | 86 | 1.26% | 120 | 1.76% | 6,836 |
Rock | 24,993 | 42.76% | 32,523 | 55.64% | 932 | 1.59% | -7,530 | -12.88% | 58,448 |
Rusk | 3,502 | 59.48% | 2,286 | 38.82% | 100 | 1.70% | 1,216 | 20.65% | 5,888 |
Sauk | 12,222 | 47.73% | 13,041 | 50.92% | 346 | 1.35% | -819 | -3.20% | 25,609 |
Sawyer | 3,721 | 54.51% | 3,029 | 44.37% | 76 | 1.11% | 692 | 10.14% | 6,826 |
Shawano | 10,937 | 64.95% | 5,730 | 34.03% | 171 | 1.02% | 5,207 | 30.92% | 16,838 |
Sheboygan | 31,728 | 63.16% | 17,955 | 35.74% | 549 | 1.09% | 13,773 | 27.42% | 50,232 |
St. Croix | 20,066 | 59.44% | 13,231 | 39.19% | 463 | 1.37% | 6,835 | 20.25% | 33,760 |
Taylor | 5,406 | 69.81% | 2,248 | 29.03% | 90 | 1.16% | 3,158 | 40.78% | 7,744 |
Trempealeau | 5,617 | 52.34% | 4,974 | 46.35% | 140 | 1.30% | 643 | 5.99% | 10,731 |
Vernon | 5,687 | 48.31% | 5,932 | 50.40% | 152 | 1.29% | -245 | -2.08% | 11,771 |
Vilas | 6,942 | 61.34% | 4,240 | 37.47% | 135 | 1.19% | 2,702 | 23.88% | 11,317 |
Walworth | 25,415 | 64.00% | 13,809 | 34.77% | 488 | 1.23% | 11,606 | 29.23% | 39,712 |
Washburn | 3,945 | 55.63% | 3,074 | 43.34% | 73 | 1.03% | 871 | 12.28% | 7,092 |
Washington | 50,278 | 75.88% | 15,507 | 23.40% | 478 | 0.72% | 34,771 | 52.47% | 66,263 |
Waukesha | 147,266 | 72.46% | 54,500 | 26.81% | 1,482 | 0.73% | 92,766 | 45.64% | 203,248 |
Waupaca | 13,130 | 63.13% | 7,471 | 35.92% | 197 | 0.95% | 5,659 | 27.21% | 20,798 |
Waushara | 6,100 | 62.19% | 3,609 | 36.79% | 100 | 1.02% | 2,491 | 25.40% | 9,809 |
Winnebago | 37,894 | 54.75% | 30,258 | 43.72% | 1,061 | 1.53% | 7,636 | 11.03% | 69,213 |
Wood | 17,820 | 57.30% | 12,861 | 41.35% | 420 | 1.35% | 4,959 | 15.94% | 31,101 |
Total | 1,259,706 | 52.26% | 1,122,913 | 46.59% | 27,695 | 1.15% | 136,793 | 5.68% | 2,410,314 |
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
Walker won 6 of 8 congressional districts, including one that elected a Democrat.[64]
District | Walker | Burke | Representative |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 58.25% | 40.73% | Paul Ryan |
2nd | 33.35% | 65.51% | Mark Pocan |
3rd | 50.1% | 48.52% | Ron Kind |
4th | 27.35% | 71.65% | Gwen Moore |
5th | 67.64% | 31.53% | Jim Sensenbrenner |
6th | 60.71% | 38.17% | Glenn Grothman |
7th | 57.84% | 40.98% | Sean Duffy |
8th | 60.16% | 38.76% | Reid Ribble |
Official campaign websites (archived)