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16 of 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate 17 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Map of the incumbents: Republican incumbent Republican-incumbent retiring Democratic incumbent No incumbent No election | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Wisconsin |
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The 2024 Wisconsin Senate election is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Sixteen of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate are up for election—the even-numbered districts. Currently, 22 Senate seats are held by Republicans, 10 seats are held by Democrats, one seat is vacant.
The primary election was held on August 13, 2024. The filing deadline to appear on the ballot was June 3, 2024.[1]
This election will be significantly affected by the legislative maps drawn as a result of the Wisconsin Supreme Court decision in Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, which declared the current legislative district map to be unconstitutional on December 22, 2023. [2] The court was in the process of selecting a remedial plan, when the legislature chose to embrace the remedial map proposal from Governor Tony Evers. Evers signed the plan into law on February 19, 2024. [3]
Under the new maps, Democrats are expected to gain seats in the Senate, but they are not expected to be able to win a majority because only even-numbered seats are up for election in 2024.[4][5] Five of the sixteen seats up for election have no incumbents.[6] Both parties are expected to spend heavily on the competitive races this cycle.[7]
Democrats last won a majority of seats in the state senate in the 2012 recall elections, but they last seated a majority of seats in a session after the 2008 elections.
To combat the threat of PFAS contamination, the Wisconsin legislature included $125 million in the state budget. Despite this, Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) have refused to release the funds to be used by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). On April 9, Evers vetoed a piece of legislation which would have created grants to fight pollution due to PFAS chemicals, in explaining his veto, Evers cited the restrictions the legislation would have placed on the DNR to prosecute polluters. In vetoing the legislation, Evers also continued calling for the release of the $125 million which was set aside in the budget for combatting PFAS contamination.[8] In response to Evers' veto, JFC members said they would hold the funds hostage.
On April 16, Evers called the JFC to session, but its Republican members refused to attend, denying the committee a quorum to do business.[9] In response to this inaction, Wisconsin Democrats launched a six-figures campaign called "No More Games" which served the purpose to pressure and target members of the Committee from competitive districts. Among their targets were Senate Republicans Joan Ballweg, Howard Marklein, Duey Stroebel, and Eric Wimberger, from the 14th, 17th, 20th and 30th districts respectively.[10]
Party (majority caucus shading)
|
Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Republican | |||
Last election (2022) | 5 | 12 | 17 | |
Total after last election (2022) | 11 | 22 | 33 | |
Total before this election | 11 | 22 | 33 | |
Up for election | 6 | 10 | 16 | |
of which: | Incumbent retiring | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Vacated | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
Open | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
Unopposed | 5 | 0 |
5 |
There was one special election scheduled in 2024 for the Wisconsin state Senate.
Dist. | 2020 Pres.[13] |
Previous Incumbent | This Election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | First elected |
Status | Candidate(s) | Results | ||
04 | D+69.2 | Lena Taylor | Dem. | 2004 | Incumbent resigned on January 26, 2024. New member elected on July 30, 2024. |
|
New member elected Democratic hold |
Dist. | 2020 Pres.[14] |
Incumbent | This race | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First elected |
Status | Approved candidate(s)[15][16] | ||||
02 | R+26.5 | None (open seat) | New member to be elected |
| ||||
04 | D+68.4 | Dora Drake | Dem. | 2024 (special) |
Incumbent running |
| ||
06 | D+71.2 | La Tonya Johnson | Dem. | 2016 | Incumbent Running |
| ||
08 | D+0.6 | Dan Knodl | Rep. | 2023 (special) |
Running for the 24th state assembly district |
| ||
Duey Stroebel (Redistricted from the 20th district) |
Rep. | 2015 (special) |
Incumbent Running | |||||
10 | R+17.1 | Rob Stafsholt | Rep. | 2020 | Incumbent Running |
| ||
12 | R+25.6 | Mary Felzkowski | Rep. | 2020 | Incumbent Running |
| ||
14 | D+4 | Howard Marklein[a] (Redistricted from the 17th district) |
Rep. | 2014 | Serving as Senator until January 4, 2027 |
| ||
16 | D+35.3 | None (open seat) | New member to be elected |
| ||||
18 | D+8.5 | None (open seat) | New member to be elected | |||||
20 | R+34.8 | Dan Feyen (Redistricted from the 18th district) |
Rep. | 2016 | Incumbent Running | |||
22 | D+10.3 | Robert Wirch | Dem. | 1996 | Incumbent Running |
| ||
24 | R+11.6 | Patrick Testin | Rep. | 2016 | Incumbent Running |
| ||
26 | D+71.8 | Kelda Roys | Dem. | 2020 | Incumbent Running |
| ||
Melissa Agard (Redistricted from the 16th district) |
Dem. | 2020 | Running for Dane County executive | |||||
28 | R+22.2 | None (open seat) | New member to be elected |
| ||||
30 | D+3.2 | Eric Wimberger | Rep. | 2020 | Running for the 2nd district | |||
Robert Cowles (Redistricted from the 2nd district) |
Rep. | 1987 (special) |
Incumbent retiring. | |||||
André Jacque[b] (Redistricted from the 1st district) |
Rep. | 2018 | Serving as Senator until January 4, 2027 | |||||
32 | D+10.7 | Brad Pfaff | Dem. | 2020 | Incumbent Running |
|
Incumbent Republican Robert Cowles declined to seek re-election. Fellow Republican Eric Wimberger decided to move to this district and will face Democrat Kelly Peterson in the general election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Eric Wimberger | |||
Democratic | Kelly Peterson | |||
Total votes |
Incumbent Democrat Dora Drake is running for re-election unopposed. In the primary she defeated state representative LaKeshia Myers in a rematch from the prior special election primary.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dora Drake (incumbent) | 12,630 | 62.35 | |
Democratic | LaKeshia Myers | 7,605 | 37.54 | |
Write-in | 23 | 0.11 | ||
Total votes | 20,258 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dora Drake (incumbent) | |||
Total votes |
Incumbent Democrat La Tonya Johnson is running for re-election unopposed.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | La Tonya Johnson (incumbent) | |||
Total votes |
Incumbent Republican Dan Knodl declined to seek re-election after redistricting put fellow incumbent Duey Stroebel into his district. Stroebel is set to face Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin, who was a candidate for this district in 2023.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Duey Stroebel (incumbent) | |||
Democratic | Jodi Habush Sinykin | |||
Total votes |
Incmbent Republican Rob Stafsholt is running for re-election. He will face Democrat Paul Hambleton in the general election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rob Stafsholt (incumbent) | |||
Democratic | Paul Hambleton | |||
Total votes |
Incumbent Republican Mary Felzkowski is running for re-election. She will face Democrat Andi Rich in the general election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mary Felzkowski (incumbent) | |||
Democratic | Andi Rich | |||
Total votes |
Incumbent Republican Joan Ballweg is seeking re-election after being drawn out of this district due to redistricting. In the general election she will face Democrat Sarah Keyeski.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Joan Ballweg (incumbent) | |||
Democratic | Sarah Keyeski | |||
Total votes |
Incumbent Democrat Melissa Agard declined to seek re-election, leaving the seat open. In the primary, three Democrats faced off, being state representatives Jimmy Anderson, Samba Baldeh, and Melissa Ratcliff, from the 47th, 48th, and 46th districts respectively. Ratcliff defeated both Anderson and Baldeh by a wide margin and is unopposed in the general election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Melissa Ratcliff | 17,205 | 52.04 | |
Democratic | Jimmy Anderson | 10,258 | 31.03 | |
Democratic | Samba Baldeh | 5,575 | 16.86 | |
Write-in | 25 | 0.07 | ||
Total votes | 33,063 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Melissa Ratcliff | |||
Total votes |
Incumbent Republican Dan Feyen was moved into the 20th district due to redistricting, leaving the district open. Two Republicans filed to succeed Feyen, being Anthony Phillips and Blong Yang. Phillips defeated Yang by a wide margin and will face Democrat Kristin Alfheim in the general election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Anthony Phillips | 8,611 | 62.17 | |
Republican | Blong Yang | 5,226 | 37.73 | |
Write-in | 13 | 0.10 | ||
Total votes | 13,850 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Anthony Phillips | |||
Democratic | Kristin Alfheim | |||
Total votes |
Incumbent Repulican Duey Stroebel was drawn into the 8th district as a result of redistricting, while Dan Feyen was drawn into this district from the 18th due to redistricting. In the primary, Feyen faced former Republican representative and election denier Timothy Ramthun. Feyen advanced to the general election, where he will face Democrat Michael Rapp.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Dan Feyen (incumbent) | 17,243 | 64.29 | |
Republican | Timothy Ramthun | 9,543 | 35.59 | |
Write-in | 31 | 0.12 | ||
Total votes | 26,817 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Dan Feyen (incumbent) | |||
Democratic | Michael Rapp | |||
Total votes |
Incumbent Democrat Robert Wirch is running for re-election unopposed.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Robert Wirch (incumbent) | |||
Total votes |
Incumbent Republican Patrick Testin is seeking re-election. In the general election he will face Democrat Collin McNamara.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Patrick Testin (incumbent) | |||
Democratic | Collin McNamara | |||
Total votes |
Incumbent Democrat Kelda Roys is running for re-election unopposed.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Kelda Roys (incumbent) | |||
Total votes |
Incumbent Republican Julian Bradley is seeking re-election after being drawn out of this district due to redistricting. In the general election he will face Democrat Megan Lach.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Julian Bradley (incumbent) | |||
Democratic | Megan Lach | |||
Total votes |
Incumbent Republican Eric Wimberger declined to seek re-election in this district, instead opting to run for the neighboring 2nd district, leaving this district open.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jim Rafter | |||
Democratic | Jamie Wall | |||
Total votes |
Incumbent Democrat Brad Pfaff is running for re-election. In the general election he faces Republican and former candidate for U.S. Senate Stacey Klein.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Brad Pfaff (incumbent) | |||
Republican | Stacey Klein | |||
Total votes |
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
CNalysis[36] | Solid R | March 16, 2024 |
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