2002 Wisconsin Senate election

none June 2026 ly 2002 Wisconsin State Senate election Wisconsin legislative no 2000 Wisconsin Senate election 2000 2004 Wisconsin Senate election 2004 17 of 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate 17 November 5, 2002 x150px Mary Panzer Republican Party of Wisconsin 20th–West Bend 7 seats, 45.81% 15 11 18 3 427,850 52.71% Sen. Risser (3523299334) (2).jpg 150 57 150 0 43 Sen. Decker (3346755689).jpg 113 57 150 0 15 x150px Russ Decker &Fred Risser Democratic Party of Wisconsin 26th–Madison29th–Weston 9 seats, 53.12% 18 6 15 3 372,808 45.93% President Democratic Party of Wisconsin Fred Risser Republican Party of Wisconsin Alan Lasee October 21, 2002 &October 21, 2002 January 25, 2000 260px#F48882 Republican hold #CA0120 Republican gain#92C5DE Democratic hold#CCCCCC No election Results by gains and holds 260px#e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #a80000 >90% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #0d0596 >90%#CCCCCC No election Results by winning party vote share 2006 2006 Wisconsin Senate election 1998 1998 Wisconsin Senate election 3x4.svg 6.90% 7.19% The 2002 Wisconsin Senate election was held on Tuesday November 5, 2002, at the Fall general election in Wisconsin, alongside the election to the State Assembly and other statewide and local offices. The Seventeen odd-numbered seats in Wisconsin Senate were up for election. Prior to the election 18 seats were held by Democrats and 15 were held by Republicans. The primary election was held on September 10, 2002. This was the first Wisconsin Senate election following the 2002 redistricting process, which saw federal courts draw the maps in the case Baumgart v. Wendelberger (2002). Republicans won four competitive senate races, flipping three seats held by Democratic incumbents. This election saw Democrats lose control of the Wisconsin Senate after having held control of the chamber since the 1998 election. After this election, Republicans entered the 96th Wisconsin Legislature with 18 of 33 seats. Summary SeatsParty(majority caucus shading)TotalRepublicanDemocraticLast election (2000)7916Total after last election (2000)151833Total before this election151833Up for election8917of which:Incumbent retiring112Vacated000Unopposed224This election11617Change from last election 3 3Total after this election181533Change in total 3 3 PartyCandidatesVotesNo. Number%Republican14427,85052.71%Democratic15372,80845.93%Green18,790 1.08%Write-in–2,245 0.27%Total1,521,649100.0% Popular vote #ddd 600px 410px Republican Republican Party (United States) 52.71 Democratic Democratic Party (United States) 45.93 Green Green Party (United States) 1.08 Scattering Independent 0.27Senate seats (up) #ddd 600px 410px Republican Republican Party (United States) 64.71 Democratic Democratic Party (United States) 35.29Senate seats (total) #ddd 600px 410px Republican Republican Party (United States) 54.55 Democratic Democratic Party (United States) 45.45 Close races Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%: red State Senate district 9, 0.08% (gain) red State Senate district 31, 0.99% (gain) red State Senate district 21, 1.54% (gain) red State Senate district 5, 6.12% Outgoing incumbents Retiring Brian Burke (D–Milwaukee), representing district 3 since 1989, retired.Broder David S. June 23, 2002 Scandals Rocking Wisconsin Politics https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2002/06/23/scandals-rocking-wisconsin-politics/d7b88039-c3b0-4822-b19d-220baa8fb0d2/ June 21, 2026 Washington Post Joanne Huelsman (R–Waukesha), representing district 11 since 1991, retired. Lost renomination Peggy Rosenzweig (R–Wauwatosa), representing district 5 since 1993, lost renomination to Thomas G. Reynolds (R–Wauwatosa).Georgia Pabst, "Rosenzweig loses longtime seat", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 11, 2002. Candidates and results Dist.IncumbentThis racehttps://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/prim02_fall_results.pdf Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/10/2002 September 24, 2002 Wisconsin State Elections Board June 21, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20201022123713/https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/prim02_fall_results.pdf 14-22 October 22, 2020 deadhttps://whs.access.preservica.com/download/file/IO_ae534b25-9fc6-4986-b261-7c785e581f09 Results of Fall General Election - 11/05/2002 December 2, 2002 Wisconsin State Elections Board June 21, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20241009043038/https://whs.access.preservica.com/download/file/IO_ae534b25-9fc6-4986-b261-7c785e581f09 6-11 October 9, 2024 deadMemberPartyFirst electedStatusGeneral01Alan LaseeRepublican 1977 (special)Incumbent re-elected*Republican Party (US) Alan Lasee (Rep.) 63.18% Democratic Party (US)Susan Hilsabeck (Dem.) 36.77%03Brian Burke Brian Burke (American politician)Democratic 1988 (special)Incumbent retired.New member elected.Democratic hold.* Democratic Party (US) Tim Carpenter (Dem.) 97.96%05Peggy RosenzweigRepublican 1993 (special)Incumbent lost re-nomination.New member elected.Republican hold.*Republican Party (US) Thomas G. Reynolds (Rep.) 52.85% Democratic Party (US) George L. Christenson (Dem.) 46.73%07Richard GrobschmidtDemocratic 1995 (special)Incumbent re-elected* Democratic Party (US) Richard Grobschmidt (Dem.) 79.13% Green Party (US)Jim Carpenter (Grn.) 20.27%09James BaumgartDemocratic 1998Incumbent lost re-election.New member elected.Republican gain.* Republican Party (US) Joe Leibham (Rep.) 50.01% Democratic Party (US)James Baumgart (Dem.) 49.93%11Joanne HuelsmanRepublican 1990Incumbent retired.New member elected.Republican hold.* Republican Party (US) Neal Kedzie (Rep.) 69.10% Democratic Party (US)Scott Woods (Dem.) 30.83 %13Scott L. Fitzgerald Scott Fitzgerald (politician)Republican 1994Incumbent re-elected* Republican Party (US) Scott L. Fitzgerald (Rep.) 68.72% Democratic Party (US)Walt Christensen (Dem.) 31.22 %15Judy RobsonDemocratic 1998Incumbent re-elected* Democratic Party (US) Judy Robson (Dem.) 64.66% Republican Party (US)Gregory A.Black (Rep.) 35.30%17Dale SchultzRepublican 1991 (special)Incumbent re-elected* Republican Party (US) Dale Schultz (Rep.) 66.92% Democratic Party (US)Emmett J. Reilly (Dem.) 33.04%19Michael Ellis Michael Ellis (American politician)Republican 1982Incumbent re-elected* Republican Party (US) Michael Ellis (Rep.) 99.23%21Kimberly PlacheDemocratic 1996 (recall)Incumbent lost re-election.New member elected.Republican gain.* Republican Party (US) Cathy Stepp (Rep.) 50.68% Democratic Party (US)Kimberly Plache (Dem.) 49.14%23David ZienRepublican 1993 (special) Incumbent re-elected* Republican Party (US) David Zien (Rep.) 63.25% Democratic Party (US)Earl A. Larson (Dem.) 36.70%25Bob JauchDemocratic 1986Incumbent re-elected* Democratic Party (US) Robert Jauch (Dem.) 62.08% Republican Party (US)Gregg Condon (Rep.) 37.89%27Jon ErpenbachDemocratic 1998Incumbent re-elected* Democratic Party (US) Jon Erpenbach (Dem.) 99.35%29Russ DeckerDemocratic 1990Incumbent re-elected* Democratic Party (US) Russ Decker (Dem.) 68.05% Republican Party (US)Jimmy Boy Edming (Rep.) 31.94%31Rodney C. MoenDemocratic 1982Incumbent lost re-election.New member elected.Republican gain.* Republican Party (US) Ron Brown (Rep.) 50.43% Democratic Party (US)Rodney C. Moen (Dem.) 49.44%33Theodore KanavasRepublican 2001 (special)Incumbent re-elected* Republican Party (US) Theodore Kanavas (Rep.) 99.52% Detailed results District 1 Incumbent Republican Alan Lasee ran for re-election. He defeated Democrat Susan Hilsabeck by a wide margin. District 1 general election Republican Party (United States) Alan Lasee (incumbent) 67,979 64.46 Democratic Party (United States) Susan Hilsabeck 37,430 35.49 50 0.05 105,459 100.0 District 3 Incumbent Democrat Brian Burke declined to seek re-election. Democratic state representative Tim Carpenter defeated fellow Democrat Pat Farley in the primary by a 19-point margin. He was elected unopposed in the general election. District 3 Democratic primary Democratic Party (United States) Tim Carpenter 8,491 52.92 Democratic Party (United States) Pat Farley 5,328 33.21 Democratic Party (United States) Roman R. Blenski (deceased) 2,187 13.63 25 0.07 33,063 100.0 District 3 general election Democratic Party (United States) Tim Carpenter 24,431 97.96 508 2.04 24,939 100.0 District 5 Incumbent Republican Peggy Rosenzweig ran for re-election. She faced businessman and perennial candidate Thomas G. Reynolds in the primary. During the campaign, the two candidates represented different sides to the Republican Party, with Rosenzweig being considered a liberal or moderate Republican, including on issues such as abortion, while Reynolds was considered the more conservative candidate.Rowan James August 17, 2004 Panzer attack: gender politics in action? https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/panzer WisPolitics OnMilwaukee She was ousted by now incumbent state Sen. Tom Reynolds, R-West Allis, who is farther to the right than was the moderate Rosenzweig, and, for that matter, farther to the right than just about everyone else in the Legislature. Due to her moderate positions, grassroots elements of the Republican Party such as Citizens for Responsible Government coalesced behind Reynolds, who ran on a staunch conservative platform emphasizing his pro-life stances, as well as opposition to tax increases and reducing restrictions on firearms.Millard Pete September 1, 2002 Redistricting sparks hot GOP primary https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2002/09/02/newscolumn1.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160509094526/https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2002/09/02/newscolumn1.html May 9, 2016 August 9, 2026 BizJournal Despite this, Rosenzweig gained the support of the Republican political establishment, including Milwaukee County executive Scott Walker. She was defeated in the primary election by Reynolds by a seven-point margin in an upset.Bice Daniel August 30, 2013 Former Sen. Tom Reynolds jailed for contempt of court https://archive.jsonline.com/newswatch/221783381.html August 9, 2026 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Reynolds went on to defeat Democrat George L. Christenson by a six-point margin. Following her defeat, it was speculated Rosenzweig's re-election bid had been hurt by the fact Democrats had a competitive gubernatorial primary that year, which had pulled away Democratic voters who had previously crossed over to vote for Rosenzweig in the Republican primary.Stein Jason Tolan Tom September 15, 2010 Democrats crossing over to GOP primary helped fuel Plale's loss https://archive.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/102979859.html August 9, 2026 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "They did a Rosenzweig on him," said Wasserman, referring to the 2002 GOP primary in which conservative Tom Reynolds knocked off long-serving Sen. Peggy Rosenzweig when her more liberal voters deserted her to vote in a hard-fought Democratic governor's primary. District 5 Republican primary Republican Party (United States) Tom Reynolds 5,673 53.73 Republican Party (United States) Peggy Rosenzweig (incumbent) 4,882 46.24 4 0.04 10,559 100.0 District 5 general election Republican Party (United States) Tom Reynolds 31,693 52.85 Democratic Party (United States) George L. Christenson 28,021 46.73 256 0.43 59,970 100.0 District 7 Incumbent Democrat Richard Grobschmidt ran for re-election. He faced Green Party candidate Jim Carpenter, defeating him by a wide margin. District 7 general election Democratic Party (United States) Richard Grobschmidt (incumbent) 34,319 79.13 Green Party (United States) Jim Carpenter 8,790 20.27 261 0.60 43,370 100.0 District 9 Incumbent Democrat James Baumgart ran for re-election. He was defeated by Republican state legislator Joe Leibham by a narrow 46-vote margin. District 9 general election Republican Party (United States) Joe Leibham 27,858 50.01 Democratic Party (United States) James Baumgart (incumbent) 27,812 49.93 34 0.06 43,370 100.0 District 11 Incumbent Republican Joanne Huelsman declined to seek re-election due to redistricting. In the Republican primary, State legislator Neal Kedzie defeated Delafield mayor Jim Behrend and first-time candidate Jack Riley. Kedzie defeated Democrat Scott Woods by a wide margin in the general election. District 11 Republican primary Republican Party (United States) Neal Kedzie 5,534 56.70 Republican Party (United States) Jim Behrend 5,328 27.68 Republican Party (United States) Jack Riley 1,518 15.55 6 0.06 9760 100.0 District 11 general election Republican Party (United States) Neal Kedzie 36,603 69.10 Democratic Party (United States) Scott Woods 16,329 30.83 36 0.07 52,968 100.0 District 13 Incumbent Republican Scott Fitzgerald ran for re-election. He defeated Democrat Walt Christensen by a wide margin. District 13 general election Republican Party (United States) Scott Fitzgerald (incumbent) 36,359 68.72 Democratic Party (United States) Walt Christensen 16,516 31.22 35 0.07 52,910 100.0 District 15 Incumbent Democrat Judy Robson ran for re-election. She defeated Democrat Gregory A. Black by a wide margin. District 13 general election Democratic Party (United States) Judy Robson (incumbent) 33,491 64.66 Republican Party (United States) Gregory A. Black 18,281 35.30 20 0.04 51,792 100.0 District 17 thumb|282x282px|County results:#D75D5D Schultz—60–70%#D72F30 Schultz—70–80% Incumbent Republican Dale Schultz ran for re-election. He defeated Democrat Emmett J. Reilly by a wide margin. District 17 general election Republican Party (United States) Dale Schultz (incumbent) 31,462 66.92 Democratic Party (United States) Emmett J. Reilly 15,534 33.04 16 0.03 47,012 100.0 District 19 Incumbent Republican Michael Ellis ran for re-election unopposed. District 19 general election Republican Party (United States) Michael Ellis (incumbent) 40,737 99.23 317 0.77 41,054 100.0 District 21 Incumbent Democrat Kimberly Plache ran for re-election. She was defeated by Republican business owner Cathy Stepp by a 773-vote margin. The Plache-Stepp race was described by some as a proxy battle between Republican leadership and the failing leadership of Chuck Chvala, with Plache having been the protege of the former majority leader.Snow Dick November 7, 2002 Ins and outs of the morning after https://dailyreporter.com/2002/11/08/constructive-comments-63/ June 28, 2026 The Daily Reporter District 21 Republican primary Republican Party (United States) Cathy Stepp 5,462 77.17 Republican Party (United States) Jim Behrend 1,613 22.79 3 0.04 7,078 100.0 District 21 general election Republican Party (United States) Cathy Stepp 25,367 50.68 Democratic Party (United States) Kimberly Plache (incumbent) 24,594 49.14 89 0.18 50,050 100.0 District 23 thumb|County results:#E27F7F Zien—50–60%#D75D5D Zien—60–70%#D72F30 Zien—70–80% Incumbent Republican David Zien ran for re-election. He defeated Democrat Earl A. Larson by a wide margin. District 23 general election Republican Party (United States) David Zien (incumbent) 33,526 63.25 Democratic Party (United States) Earl A. Larson 19,452 36.70 30 0.06 53,008 100.0 District 25 thumb|County results:#7996E2 Jauch—50–60%#6674DE Jauch—60–70%#584CDE Jauch—70–80%#E27F7F Condon—50–60% Incumbent Democrat Robert Jauch ran for re-election. He defeated Republican Gregg Condon by a wide margin. District 25 general election Democratic Party (United States) Robert Jauch (incumbent) 33,993 62.08 Republican Party (United States) Gregg Condon 20,751 37.89 16 0.03 54,760 100.0 District 27 Incumbent Democrat Jon Erpenbach ran for re-election unopposed. District 27 general election Democratic Party (United States) Jon Erpenbach (incumbent) 46,571 99.35 307 0.65 46,878 100.0 District 29 thumb|County results:#7996E2 Decker—50–60%#6674DE Decker—60–70%#584CDE Decker—70–80%#E27F7F Edming—50–60% Incumbent Democrat Russ Decker ran for re-election. He defeated Republican "Jimmy Boy" Edming by a wide margin. District 29 general election Democratic Party (United States) Russ Decker (incumbent) 38,779 68.05 Republican Party (United States) Jimmy Boy Edming 18,201 31.94 9 0.02 56,989 100.0 District 31 thumb|County results:#E27F7F Brown—50–60%#7996E2 Moen—50–60% Incumbent Democrat Rodney C. Moen ran for re-election. He was defeated by business owner Ron Brown. District 31 general election Republican Party (United States) Ron Brown 27,402 50.43 Democratic Party (United States) Rodney C. Moen (incumbent) 26,864 49.44 68 0.13 54,334 100.0 District 33 Incumbent Republican Theodore Kanavas ran for re-election unopposed. District 33 general election Republican Party (United States) Theodore Kanavas (incumbent) 44,527 99.52 215 0.48 44,742 100.0 See also Redistricting in Wisconsin 2002 Wisconsin elections 2002 Wisconsin State Assembly election 2002 United States elections Elections in Wisconsin Wisconsin Senate References Category:2002 state legislature elections in the United States Category:2002 Wisconsin elections Category:Wisconsin Senate elections Category:November 2002 in the United States