2008 Wisconsin elections

* * *

| <- 2007 | April 1, 2008
November 4, 2008 | 2009 ->

|
|

Elections in Wisconsin

Federal government

|  Presidential elections

* 1848
* 1852
* 1856
* 1860
* 1864
* 1868
* 1872
* 1876
* 1880
* 1884
* 1888
* 1892
* 1896
* 1900
* 1904
* 1908
* 1912
* 1916
* 1920
* 1924
* 1928
* 1932
* 1936
* 1940
* 1944
* 1948
* 1952
* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

Presidential primaries

Democratic
2000
2004
2008
2016
2020
2024

Republican
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate elections

Class 1

* 1848
* 1851
* 1857
* 1863
* 1869
* 1875
* 1881
* 1887
* 1893
* 1899
* 1905
* 1911
* 1916
* 1922
* 1925 sp
* 1928
* 1934
* 1940
* 1946
* 1952
* 1957 sp
* 1958
* 1964
* 1970
* 1976
* 1982
* 1988
* 1994
* 2000
* 2006
* 2012
* 2018
* 2024

Class 3

* 1848
* 1849
* 1855
* 1861
* 1867
* 1872
* 1879
* 1881 sp
* 1885
* 1890
* 1891
* 1897
* 1903
* 1907 sp
* 1909
* 1914
* 1918 sp
* 1920
* 1926
* 1932
* 1938
* 1944
* 1950
* 1956
* 1962
* 1968
* 1974
* 1980
* 1982
* 1986
* 1992
* 1998
* 2004
* 2010
* 2016
* 2022
* 2028

U.S. House of Representatives elections

* 1848
* 1850
* 1852
* 1854
* 1856
* 1858
* 1860
* 1862
* 1863
* 2nd sp
* 1864
* 1866
* 1868
* 1870
* 2nd sp
* 1872
* 1874
* 1876
* 1878
* 1880
* 1882
* 1884
* 1886
* 5th sp
* 1887
* 8th sp
* 1888
* 1890
* 1892
* 1893
* 4th sp
* 1894
* 7th sp
* 1896
* 1898
* 1900
* 1902
* 1904
* 1906
* 2nd sp
* 1908
* 1910
* 1912
* 1914
* 1916
* 1918
* 6th sp
* 11th sp
* 1920
* 1922
* 1924
* 1926
* 1928
* 1930
* 6th sp
* 1931
* 1st sp
* 1932
* 1934
* 1936
* 1938
* 1940
* 1941
* 1st sp
* 1942
* 1944
* 1946
* 1947
* 2nd sp
* 1948
* 1950
* 1952
* 1953
* 9th sp
* 1954
* 1956
* 1958
* 1960
* 1962
* 1964
* 1966
* 1968
* 1969
* 7th sp
* 1970
* 1972
* 1974
* 1976
* 1978
* 1979
* 6th sp
* 1980
* 1982
* 1984
* 4th sp
* 1986
* 1988
* 1990
* 1992
* 1993
* 1st sp
* 1994
* 1996
* 1998
* 2000
* 2002
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 7th sp
* 2022
* 2024
* 8th sp
* 2026

State government

|  General elections

* 1925
* 1995
* 2000
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025
* 2026

Gubernatorial elections

* 1848
* 1849
* 1851
* 1853
* 1855
* 1857
* 1859
* 1861
* 1863
* 1865
* 1867
* 1869
* 1871
* 1873
* 1875
* 1877
* 1879
* 1881
* 1884
* 1886
* 1888
* 1890
* 1892
* 1894
* 1896
* 1898
* 1900
* 1902
* 1904
* 1906
* 1908
* 1910
* 1912
* 1914
* 1916
* 1918
* 1920
* 1922
* 1924
* 1926
* 1928
* 1930
* 1932
* 1934
* 1936
* 1938
* 1940
* 1942
* 1944
* 1946
* 1948
* 1950
* 1952
* 1954
* 1956
* 1958
* 1960
* 1962
* 1964
* 1966
* 1968
* 1970
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2012 (recall)
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2026

Lieutenant Gubernatorial elections

* 1942
* 1968
* 2012 (recall)

Secretary of State elections

* 1978
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2026

Attorney General elections

* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2026

Treasurer elections

* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2026

Superintendent elections

* 1925
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2021
* 2025

State Senate elections

* 1934
* 1996
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011 (recall)
* 2012 (recall)
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024
* 2026

State Assembly elections

* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024
* 2026

Supreme Court elections

* 1852 (3)
* 1855
* 1859
* 1860 sp.
* 1861
* 1863
* 1865
* 1867
* 1868 sp. (2)
* 1869
* 1871
* 1873
* 1875
* 1877 (2)
* 1878
* 1879
* 1881 (2)
* 1883
* 1885
* 1887
* 1889
* 1891
* 1892 sp.
* 1893
* 1895
* 1896 sp.
* 1897
* 1898 sp.
* 1899 (2)
* 1901
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908 sp.
* 1909
* 1911
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918 sp.
* 1919
* 1921
* 1922 sp.
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1929
* 1930 sp.
* 1931
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1939
* 1941
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1949
* 1950 sp.
* 1951
* 1952 sp.
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1961
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1989
* 1990
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2003
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2011
* 2013
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2023
* 2025
* 2026
* 2027
* 2028
* 2029
* 2030
* 2033

Ballot measures

2006
Referendum 1
2025
Question 1

Brown County

|  County Executive elections

* 1995
* 1995 (special)
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Green Bay Mayoral elections

* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Dane County

|  County Executive elections

* 2001
* 2005
* 2009
* 2011 (special)
* 2013
* 2017
* 2021
* 2024 (special)
* 2025

Madison Mayoral elections

* 1874
* 1875
* 1876
* 1973
* 1997 sp.
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Kenosha

|  County Executive elections

* 2022

Mayoral elections

* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

Milwaukee

|  County Executive elections

* 2000
* 2002 (special)
* 2004
* 2008
* 2011 (special)
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

Milwaukee Mayoral elections

* 1898
* 1900
* 1902
* 1904
* 1906
* 1908
* 1910
* 1912
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2022 sp
* 2024

Outagamie County

|  County Executive elections

* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Winnebago County

|  County Executive elections

* 2021
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

The 2008 Wisconsin fall general election was held on November 4, 2008. All of Wisconsin's eight seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election. Within the state government, sixteen seats in the Wisconsin State Senate, and all 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly were up for election. At the presidential level, voters chose ten electors to represent them in the Electoral College, which then helped select the president of the United States. The 2008 fall partisan primary was held on September 9, 2008.

In the fall general election, the Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, won Wisconsin's ten electoral votes, defeating Senator John McCain. There was no change to the partisan makeup of Wisconsin's congressional delegation. The state senate saw no change in partisan composition, as all incumbents were re-elected, and vacancies in seats held by both parties were filled with no change to the party that held the seat. In the state assembly, Democrats gained five seats while one Independent was re-elected after having previously served as a Republican.

The 2008 Wisconsin spring election was held on April 1, 2008. This election saw a contested race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, a constitutional amendment referendum, as well as various nonpartisan local and judicial offices. The 2008 spring primary election was held on February 19, 2008. In an unusual move, the presidential preference primary was held at the Spring primary election rather than the Spring general election; it was part of a national movement in which half the states rushed to hold their presidential primaries in February.

## Federal offices

[edit]

### President

[edit]

Incumbent president George W. Bush was term limited and could not run for another term. With no incumbent on the ballot, both party nominating contests featured a wide array of candidates. Both nominating contests were still unresolved when Wisconsin voted in their presidential preference primaries. In the general election, Wisconsin voters chose electors for the Democratic nominee, U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL).

#### Democratic primary

[edit]

Main article: 2008 Wisconsin Democratic presidential primary

For its part in the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Wisconsin's presidential preference primary was on the ballot for Wisconsin's Spring primary election, held on Tuesday, February 19, 2008. At the time of the Wisconsin primary, three candidates were still in the race for the nomination, U.S. senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and former U.S. senator Mike Gravel (D-AK), though Gravel did not have a viable path to the nomination at this point. The candidate field originally also included U.S. senators Joe Biden (D-DE), Evan Bayh (D-IN), and Chris Dodd (D-CT), former U.S. senator John Edwards (D-NC), governors Bill Richardson (D-NM) and Tom Vilsack (D-IA), and U.S. representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), all of their names still appeared on the Wisconsin ballot, except Bayh and Vilsack.

Barack Obama won the Wisconsin primary, receiving 58% of the popular vote and earning 42 of 74 pledged delegates from the state. At the time, it was his eleventh consecutive victory in a primary or caucus, building a delegate lead that he would have to fight to retain through another three months of primary contests.

#### Republican primary

[edit]

Main article: 2008 Wisconsin Republican presidential primary

In the 2008 Republican Party presidential primaries, the Wisconsin Republican presidential preference primary was also held at the Spring primary, February 19, 2008. At the time of the Wisconsin primary, three candidates were still in the race for the nomination, U.S. senator John McCain (R-AZ), former governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR), and U.S. representative Ron Paul (R-TX). The candidate field originally included Wisconsin's incumbent governor Tommy Thompson, but he dropped out before the Iowa caucuses. The field also previously included U.S. senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), actor and former U.S. senator Fred Thompson (R-TN), U.S. representatives Duncan L. Hunter (R-CA) and Tom Tancredo (R-CO), governors Mitt Romney (R-MA) and Jim Gilmore (R-VA), mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY), businessman John H. Cox, and perennial candidate Alan Keyes. In addition to the three remaining candidates, Romney, Giuliani, Thompson, Hunter, and Tacredo were also on the ballot in Wisconsin.

John McCain won the Wisconsin primary, receiving 55% of the popular vote and earning 34 of 40 pledged delegates from the state. Huckabee would with draw from the race less than a month later.

#### General election

[edit]

Main article: 2008 United States presidential election in Wisconsin

The presidential election was held at the Fall general election, November 4, 2008. Barack Obama won the state with 56% of the vote, it was the largest majority the state had given to a presidential candidate since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

### U.S. House

[edit]

Main article: 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin

The 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin were held on November 4, 2008, to elect Wisconsin's delegation to the United States House of Representatives for the 111th United States Congress. At the time of the 2008 election, Wisconsin had eight congressional districts. All eight of Wisconsin's incumbent U.S. representatives won re-election in 2008. At the time the delegation was composed of five Democrats and three Republicans.

District  | Incumbent  | This race

|
|

Representative  | Party  | First
elected  | Results  | Candidates
Wisconsin 1 | Paul Ryan | Republican  | 1998 | Incumbent re-elected.  |

* ▌Y Paul Ryan (Rep.) 64.0%
* ▌Marge Krupp (Dem.) 34.7%
* ▌Joseph Kexel (Lib.) 1.3%

Wisconsin 2 | Tammy Baldwin | Democratic  | 1998 | Incumbent re-elected.  |

* ▌Y Tammy Baldwin (Dem.) 69.3%
* ▌Peter Theron (Rep.) 30.6%

Wisconsin 3 | Ron Kind | Democratic  | 1996 | Incumbent re-elected.  |

* ▌Y Ron Kind (Dem. 63.2%
* ▌Paul Stark (Rep.) 34.4%
* ▌Kevin Barrett (Lib.) 2.3%

Wisconsin 4 | Gwen Moore | Democratic  | 2004 | Incumbent re-elected.  |

* ▌Y Gwen Moore (Dem.) 87.6%
* ▌Michael LaForest (Ind.) 11.5%

Wisconsin 5 | Jim Sensenbrenner | Republican  | 1978 | Incumbent re-elected.  |

* ▌Y Jim Sensenbrenner (Rep.) 79.6%
* ▌Robert R. Raymond (Ind.) 20.2%

Wisconsin 6 | Tom Petri | Republican  | 1979 | Incumbent re-elected.  |

* ▌Y Tom Petri (Rep.) 63.7%
* ▌Roger Kittelson (Dem.) 36.2%

Wisconsin 7 | Dave Obey | Democratic  | 1969 | Incumbent re-elected.  |

* ▌Y Dave Obey (Dem.) 60.8%
* ▌Dan Mielke (Rep.) 39.1%

Wisconsin 8 | Steve Kagen | Democratic  | 2006 | Incumbent re-elected.  |

* ▌Y Steve Kagen (Dem.) 54.0%
* ▌John Gard (Rep.) 45.9%

## State offices

[edit]

### Legislative

[edit]

#### State Senate

[edit]

Main article: 2008 Wisconsin Senate election

The 16 even-numbered districts out of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin State Senate were up for re-election in 2008. Prior to the election Democrats held the majority with 17 seats, Republicans held 14 seats, and two seats were vacant. In the election, both parties regained their vacant seats and returned to the 18 seats held by Democrats and 15 seats held by Republicans which was seen after the prior election.

Seats  | Party

(majority caucus shading)

| Total

|
|

Democratic | Republican
Total after last election (2006)  | 18  | 15  | 33
Total before this election  | 18  | 15  | 33
Up for election  | 8  | 8  | 16
This election  | 8  | 8  | 16
Total after this election  | 18  | 15  | 33
Change in total  |  |  |

#### State Assembly

[edit]

Main article: 2008 Wisconsin State Assembly election

All of the 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly were on the ballot for the Fall general election, November 4, 2008. Prior to the election, 52 seats were held by Republicans, 47 seats were held by Democrats, and one seat was held by an Independent. In the election, Republicans failed to defend their majority and Democrats took a majority of seats for the first time in 14 years.

Seats  | Party

(majority caucus shading)

| Total  | Vacant

|
|
|

|  |
Democratic | Ind. | Republican
Total after last election (2006)  | 47  | 0  | 52  | 99  | 0
Total before this election  | 47  | 1  | 51  | 99  | 0
Up for election  | 47  | 1  | 51  | 99  |
This election  | 52  | 1  | 46  | 99  |
Total after this election  | 52  | 1  | 46  | 99  | 0
Change in total  |  3  |  |  3  |

### Judicial

[edit]

#### State Supreme Court

[edit]

Main article: 2008 Wisconsin Supreme Court election

Judge Michael Gableman was elected with 51% of the vote, defeating incumbent Justice Louis Butler with 49% of the vote.[1] The heavy spending of outside interest groups in this race, including Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce,[2] inspired some to call for reforms to Wisconsin election law and the selection of judges.[3] Gableman's victory also shifted the Court in a more conservative direction, establishing a conservative majority that would persist for 15 years.[4]

Wisconsin Supreme Court Election, 2008[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

General Election, April 1, 2008
| Nonpartisan | Michael Gableman | 425,101  | 51.19%  |
| Nonpartisan | Louis B. Butler (incumbent)  | 402,798  | 48.50%  | +14.14pp
|  | Scattering | 2,551  | 0.31%  |
Plurality | 22,303  | 2.69%  |
Total votes  | 830,450  | 100.0%  |

#### State Court of Appeals

[edit]

Three seats on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals were up for election on April 1, 2008.

* In District I, incumbent judge Patricia S. Curley was elected to her third six-year term without opposition.
* In District II, incumbent judge Lisa Neubauer, appointed by Governor Jim Doyle in 2007, won her first six-year term, defeating attorney William Gleisner.
* In District IV, incumbent judge Burnie Bridge, appointed by Governor Jim Doyle in 2007, won her first six-year term without opposition.

Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II Election, 2008[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

General Election, April 1, 2008
| Nonpartisan | Lisa S. Neubauer (incumbent)  | 138,241  | 62.60%  |
| Nonpartisan | William C. Gleisner III  | 82,302  | 37.27%  |
|  | Scattering | 286  | 0.13%  |
Plurality | 55,939  | 25.36%  |
Total votes  | 220,543  | 100.0%  |

#### State Circuit Courts

[edit]

Thirty nine of the state's 247 circuit court seats were on the ballot for the Spring general election, April 1, 2008. Of those seats, six were newly created. Only 9 seats were contested. One incumbent justice faced a challenger and was defeated.

Circuit  | Branch  | Incumbent  | Elected[5] | Defeated  | Defeated in Primary

|
|
|
|
|

Name  | Votes  | %  | Name  | Votes  | %  | Name(s)
Barron  | 2  | Timothy M. Doyle  | Timothy M. Doyle | 8,423  | 99.67%  | \--Unopposed--
3  | \--New Seat-- | James D. Babbitt | 6,857  | 67.92%  | Jim McLaughlin  | 3,231  | 32.01%  |
Chippewa  | 1  | Roderick A. Cameron  | Roderick A. Cameron | 6,736  | 99.56%  | \--Unopposed--
3  | \--New Seat-- | Steven R. Cray | 4,496  | 52.96%  | Julie Anderl  | 3,994  | 47.04%  | Robert A. Ferg
Dane  | 1  | John W. Markson  | John W. Markson | 45,929  | 99.46%  | \--Unopposed--
7  | William E. Hanrahan  | William E. Hanrahan | 45,847  | 99.52%
Dodge  | 1  | Daniel W. Klossner  | Brian A. Pfitzinger | 8,380  | 53.63%  | William H. Gergen  | 7,236  | 46.31%  |
4  | \--New Seat-- | Steven Bauer | 12,803  | 99.63%  | \--Unopposed--
Eau Claire  | 2  | Michael Schumacher  | Michael Schumacher | 7,969  | 99.20%
Florence-Forest  | Robert A. Kennedy Jr.  | Leon D. Stenz | 1,629  | 51.16%  | Robert A. Kennedy Jr.  | 1,555  | 48.84%  | Douglas J. Drexler
Fond du Lac  | 1  | Dale L. English  | Dale L. English | 10,925  | 99.73%  | \--Unopposed--
Jackson  | Gerald W. Laabs  | Eric F. Stutz | 1,943  | 99.03%
Juneau  | 2  | \--New Seat-- | Paul S. Curran | 2,364  | 57.16%  | Stacy A. Smith  | 1,770  | 42.79%  |
Kenosha  | 3  | Bruce E. Schroeder | Bruce E. Schroeder | 16,926  | 99.01%  | \--Unopposed--
Marathon  | 3  | Vincent K. Howard  | Vincent K. Howard | 14,763  | 99.43%
Marinette  | 1  | David G. Miron  | David G. Miron | 4,253  | 99.74%
2  | Tim A. Duket  | Tim A. Duket | 4,198  | 99.81%
Menominee-Shawano  | 1  | James R. Habeck  | James R. Habeck | 5,045  | 99.39%
Milwaukee  | 17  | Francis T. Wasielewski  | Francis T. Wasielewski | 107,208  | 98.75%
21  | Bill Brash | Bill Brash | 104,299  | 98.76%
27  | Kevin E. Martens  | Kevin E. Martens | 105,520  | 98.95%
31  | Daniel A. Noonan  | Daniel A. Noonan | 105,413  | 98.95%
31  | Michael D. Guolee  | Michael D. Guolee | 105,561  | 98.89%
40  | \--Vacant-- | Rebecca Dallet | 90,029  | 66.88%  | Jeffrey Norman  | 44,034  | 32.71%  |
41  | John J. DiMotto  | John J. DiMotto | 106,359  | 99.00%  | \--Unopposed--
Oneida  | 1  | Patrick F. O'Melia  | Patrick F. O'Melia | 7,926  | 98.99%
Outagamie  | 2  | Nancy J. Krueger  | Nancy J. Krueger | 16,464  | 66.97%  | Dan Hoff  | 8,106  | 32.97%  | Maureen Roberts Budiac
3  | Mitchell J. Metropulos  | Mitchell J. Metropulos | 12,888  | 52.20%  | Carrie Schneider  | 11,790  | 47.75%  |
Polk  | 1  | Molly E. GaleWyrick  | Molly E. GaleWyrick | 4,896  | 99.39%  | \--Unopposed--
Price  | Douglas T. Fox  | Douglas T. Fox | 2,408  | 99.50%
Racine  | 7  | Charles H. Constantine  | Charles H. Constantine | 21,678  | 99.57%
Rock  | 1  | James P. Daley  | James P. Daley | 14,227  | 99.61%
St. Croix  | 1  | Eric J. Lundell  | Eric J. Lundell | 8,306  | 99.37%
4  | \--New Seat-- | Howard Cameron | 4,949  | 50.95%  | Mark J. Gherty  | 4,751  | 48.91%  | Carol L. Law
Charles B. Harris
Ken Sortedahl
Washington  | 2  | James K. Muehlbauer  | James K. Muehlbauer | 16,265  | 99.69%  | \--Unopposed--
Waukesha  | 2  | Mark S. Gempeler  | Mark S. Gempeler | 47,839  | 99.69%
5  | Lee S. Dreyfus Jr.  | Lee S. Dreyfus Jr. | 49,635  | 99.76%
5  | Patrick C. Haughney  | Patrick C. Haughney | 46,690  | 99.78%
Wood  | 1  | Gregory J. Potter  | Gregory J. Potter | 12,607  | 99.64%

### Ballot measures

[edit]

Prohibit Partial Veto Authority |  | April 1, 2008 |

|
|

Partial Veto. Shall section 10(1)(c) of article V of the constitution be amended to prohibit the governor, in exercising his or her partial veto authority, from creating a new sentence by combining parts of two or more sentences of the enrolled bill?

Results

Choice

| Votes  | %

|
|

Yes | 575,582 | 70.61%
No | 239,613  | 29.39%
Total votes | 815,195 | 100.00%

#### Prohibit Partial Veto Authority

[edit]

By a margin of 335,969 votes, the Wisconsin voters chose to amend the state's Constitution to implement restrictions on the governor's ability to partially veto legislation.[6] The purpose of the amendment was to reduce the veto power of the Governor, sometimes known as the "Frankenstein veto", which has been historically used by governors of irrespective of their party to rework legislation.[7][8]

The line-item veto, also known as a Frankenstein veto is a historic fixture of Wisconsin politics and acted as a way for the governor to bypass the state legislature regarding legislation as the veto gave the governor the ability to strike out words, numbers, and even entire sentences from different bills, though this ability was reduced over time. The veto was used by governors of both parties, such as Patrick Lucey (D), Tony Earl (D), and Tommy Thompson (R) and Jim Doyle (D) during their terms. During all their terms, the veto was also restricted via judicial action, such as in State ex. rel. Wisconsin Telephone Co. v. Henry, which recognized the ability of the governor to use such a veto, and Risser v. Klauser, which prohibited the governor from using a write-in veto to alter monetary amounts which were not appropriated by the legislature. The veto has also been restricted in prior constitutional amendments, such as in 1990, when voters approved an amendment to end the "pick-a-letter" veto, which was the selective vetoing of letters or numerical characters to form a new word.[9]

## Local elections

[edit]

### Milwaukee County

[edit]

#### Milwaukee Mayor

[edit]

Main article: 2008 Milwaukee mayoral election

A regularly scheduled mayoral election was held in Milwaukee, concurrent with the Spring general election, April 1, 2008. Incumbent mayor Tom Barrett defeated challenger Andrew J. Shaw and was re-elected to a second four-year term.[10]

## External links

[edit]

* [1] Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Registered Candidates
* Project Vote Smart - Wisconsin
* Wisconsin Senate districts map
* Wisconsin Assembly districts map
* Search Wisconsin candidate Statements of Economic Interest

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel \- Gableman victorious
2. ^ Wausau Daily Herald[permanent dead link] \- Report shows special interests dominate Wis. Supreme Court race
3. ^ CBS 3 WISC Archived 2008-08-03 at the Wayback Machine \- Some Call For Changes In Supreme Court Races
4. ^ The Capital Times \- Gableman's victory shifts court to right
5. ^ a b c Results of Spring General Election - 04/01/2008 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. April 21, 2008. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2024 - via Wisconsin Historical Society.
6. ^ "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2009-2010". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
7. ^ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel \- Voters drive stake into 'Frankenstein veto'
8. ^ Wisconsin State Journal \- Good riddance to monster veto
9. ^ Radatz, Clark G. (January 2004). "The Partial Veto in Wisconsin". Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
10. ^ Schultze, Steve; Sandler, Larry (January 3, 2012). "Abele, Barrett see little opposition in spring races". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 29, 2012.

* v
* t
* e

(2007 ←)  2008 United States elections (→ 2009)

U.S.
President|

* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* District of Columbia
* Florida
* Georgia
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming
* Guam (straw poll)

U.S. Senate|

* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arkansas
* Colorado
* Delaware
* District of Columbia (shadow)
* Georgia
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Mississippi (special)
* Montana
* Nebraska
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* North Carolina
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Virginia
* West Virginia
* Wyoming
* Wyoming (special)

U.S. House
(election
ratings)|

* Alabama
* Alaska
* American Samoa
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* 12th sp
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* District of Columbia
* delegate
* shadow
* Florida
* Georgia
* Guam
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* 14th sp
* Indiana
* 7th sp
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* 1st sp
* 6th sp
* Maine
* Maryland
* 4th sp
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* 1st sp
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Ohio
* 11th sp
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Puerto Rico
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

Governors|

* American Samoa
* Delaware
* Lt. Gov
* Indiana
* Missouri
* Lt. Gov
* Montana
* New Hampshire
* North Carolina
* Lt. Gov
* North Dakota
* Puerto Rico
* Utah
* Vermont
* Washington
* West Virginia

Attorneys
General|

* North Carolina
* Pennsylvania
* Washington
* Ohio (special)

Other
statewide
elections|

* Pennsylvania
* Auditor General
* Treasurer
* Washington
* Secretary of State
* Wisconsin
* Supreme Court

State
legislatures|

* Arizona Senate
* California
* Assembly
* Senate
* Connecticut Senate
* Delaware
* House
* Senate
* Iowa
* House
* Senate
* Massachusetts
* House
* Senate
* Michigan House
* Minnesota House
* Montana House
* New Mexico
* House
* Senate
* New York Assembly
* North Carolina
* House
* Senate
* Pennsylvania
* House
* Senate
* Senate
* Texas
* House
* Senate
* Washington (state)
* House
* Senate
* West Virginia Senate
* Wisconsin
* Assembly
* Senate
* Wyoming
* Senate

Mayors|

* Augusta, GA
* Bakersfield, CA
* Baton Rouge, LA
* Fresno, CA
* Honolulu, HI
* Irvine, CA
* Mesa, AZ
* Milwaukee, WI
* Orlando, FL
* Portland, OR
* Sacramento, CA
* San Diego, CA
* San Juan, PR
* Santa Ana, CA
* Stockton, CA
* Virginia Beach, VA

Local|

* Bay County, MI
* Executive
* DeKalb County, GA
* Chief Executive Officer
* Miami Dade County, FL
* Mayor
* New Castle County, DE
* Executive
* Oakland County, MI
* Executive
* Summit County, OH
* Executive
* Will County, IL
* Executive

States|

* Alabama
* Alaska
* American Samoa
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Guam
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Puerto Rico
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[GA]: Georgia
*[CA]: California
*[LA]: Louisiana
*[HI]: Hawaii
*[AZ]: Arizona
*[WI]: Wisconsin
*[FL]: Florida
*[OR]: Oregon
*[PR]: Puerto Rico
*[VA]: Virginia
*[MI]: Michigan
*[DE]: Delaware
*[OH]: Ohio
*[IL]: Illinois