2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin

none February 2026 September 2023 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin Wisconsin legislative no 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin 2006 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin 2010 All 8 Wisconsin seats to the United States House of Representatives November 4, 2008 Democratic Party (United States) 5 5 1,383,536 49.85% 1.23% Republican Party (United States) 3 3 1,274,987 45.94% 4.47% 255px District results 255px County results 255px Democratic #86b6f2ff 50–60% #4389e3ff 60–70% #1666CB 70–80% #0645b4ff 80–90% Republican #E27F90 50–60% #CC2F4A 60–70% #d40000ff 70–80% #AA0000 80–90% The 2008 congressional elections in Wisconsin were held on November 4, 2008, to determine who would represent the state of Wisconsin in the United States House of Representatives. Representatives were elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 111th Congress from January 3, 2009, until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election and other Wisconsin elections. Wisconsin has eight seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Its 2007-2008 congressional delegation consisted of five Democrats and three Republicans. That remained unchanged after the 2008 congressional elections in Wisconsin as all incumbent candidates won re-election, although CQ Politics had forecasted Wisconsin's 8 district to be at some risk for the incumbent party.House: Races to Watch https://web.archive.org/web/20071213230328/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=11 2007-12-13 CQ Politics As of , this is the last time the Democrats won a majority of congressional districts from Wisconsin. However, they would still go on to win the popular vote in several subsequent House elections. yes 2 Results summary PartyCandi- datesVotesSeatsNo. Number %No. Number+/– %Democratic Party71,383,53649.85%562.50%Republican Party71,274,98745.94%337.50%Independent2103,8093.74%00%Libertarian Party212,8420.46%00%Total182,775,174100%8100% Popular vote #ddd 600px 410px Democratic Democratic Party (United States) 49.85 Republican Republican Party (United States) 45.94 Independent Independent 3.74 Libertarian Libertarian Party (United States) 0.46House seats #ddd 600px 410px Democratic Democratic Party (United States) 62.50 Republican Republican Party (United States) 37.50 District 1 2008 Wisconsin's 1st congressional district election Wisconsin presidential no 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 1 2006 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 1 2010 x150px File:Paul Ryan, Official Portrait, 113th Congress (cropped).png Paul Ryan Republican Party (US) 231,009 63.97% 3x4.svg Marge Krupp Democratic Party (US) 125,268 34.69% 250px Precinct resultsRyan: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% #A80000 >90%Krupp: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90%Tie: #ae8bb1 50% #808080 No votes U.S. Representative Paul Ryan Republican Party (US) Paul Ryan Republican Party (US) WI1 House 2008.svg thumb Wisconsin's 1st congressional district In this relatively moderate district in southeast Wisconsin, incumbent Republican Congressman Paul Ryan has enjoyed popularity and faced no serious challenge from Democratic nominee, Marge Krupp, a chemist. Despite Barack Obama's strong performance in Wisconsin that year in the presidential election, Ryan was re-elected overwhelmingly. Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report2008 Competitive House Race Chart http://www.cookpolitical.com/charts/house/competitive_2008-11-04_13-32-49.php House: Race Ratings The Cook Political Report 6 November 2006 20 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20081106112035/http://www.cookpolitical.com/charts/house/competitive_2008-11-04_13-32-49.php 6 November 2008Safe R November 6, 2008 Rothenberg2008 House Ratings http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2008/11/2008-house-ratings.html House Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report 2 November 2006 20 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20081106133426/http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2008/11/2008-house-ratings.html 6 November 2008Safe R November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal Ball2008 House http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2008/house/ Sabato's Crystal Ball 6 November 2008 20 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20081106144620/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2008/house/ 6 November 2008Safe R November 6, 2008 Real Clear PoliticsBattle for the House of Representatives http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/house/battle_for_the_house_of_representatives.html realclearpolitics.com Real Clear Politics 9 December 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20081217170047/http://www.realclearpolitics.com:80/epolls/2008/house/battle_for_the_house_of_representatives.html 17 December 2008 7 November 2008Safe R November 7, 2008 CQ PoliticsRace Ratings Chart: House http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-house cqpolitics.com Congressional Quarterly Inc 20 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20081106054801/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-house 6 November 2008Safe R November 6, 2008 Wisconsin's 1st congressional district election, 2008 Republican Party (United States) Paul Ryan (inc.) 231,009 63.97 Democratic Party (United States) Marge Krupp 125,268 34.69 Libertarian Party (United States) Joseph Kexel 4,606 1.28 Write-ins 224 0.06 361,107 100.00 Republican Party (United States) District 2 2008 Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election Wisconsin presidential no 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 2 2006 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 2 2010 x150px File:Tammy Baldwin, official photo portrait, color (cropped).jpg Tammy Baldwin Democratic Party (US) 277,914 69.33% 3x4.svg Peter Theron Republican Party (US) 122,513 30.56% 150px Precinct resultsBaldwin: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0D0596 >90%Theron: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90%Tie: #ae8bb1 50% #808080 No votes U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin Democratic Party (US) Tammy Baldwin Democratic Party (US) WI2 House 2008.svg thumb Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district In this very liberal district based in the Madison metropolitan area, incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, the first openly lesbian member of the House, turned away a challenge from Republican candidate Peter Theron and won her sixth term with nearly seventy percent of the vote. Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportSafe D November 6, 2008 RothenbergSafe D November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal BallSafe D November 6, 2008 Real Clear PoliticsSafe D November 7, 2008 CQ PoliticsSafe D November 6, 2008 Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 2008 Democratic Party (United States) Tammy Baldwin (inc.) 277,914 69.33 Republican Party (United States) Peter Theron 122,513 30.56 Write-ins 414 0.10 400,841 100.00 Democratic Party (United States) District 3 2008 Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district election Wisconsin presidential no 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 3 2006 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 3 2010 x150px File:Ron Kind portrait (cropped).jpg Ron Kind Democratic Party (US) 225,208 63.19% 3x4.svg Paul Stark Republican Party (US) 122,760 34.44% 200px Kind: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0D0596 >90%Stark: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70%Tie: #d2b1d9 40–50% #ae8bb1 50% #808080 No votes U.S. Representative Ron Kind Democratic Party (US) Ron Kind Democratic Party (US) 200px County results 200px Precinct results thumb Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district In this relatively liberal district based in western Wisconsin, incumbent Democratic Congressman Ron Kind easily won a seventh term over Republican challenger Paul Stark. Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportSafe D November 6, 2008 RothenbergSafe D November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal BallSafe D November 6, 2008 Real Clear PoliticsSafe D November 7, 2008 CQ PoliticsSafe D November 6, 2008 Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district election, 2008 Democratic Party (United States) Ron Kind (inc.) 225,208 63.19 Republican Party (United States) Paul Stark 122,760 34.44 Libertarian Party (United States) Kevin Barrett 8,236 2.31 Write-ins 196 0.05 356,400 100.00 Democratic Party (United States) District 4 2008 Wisconsin's 4th congressional district election Wisconsin presidential no 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 4 2006 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 4 2010 x150px File:Gwen Moore, official 109th Congress photo.jpg Gwen Moore Democratic Party (US) 222,728 87.63% 3x4.svg Michael D. LaForest Independent politician 29,282 11.52% 130px Precinct resultsMoore: #BDD3FF 30–40% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0D0596 >90%Tie: #d2b1d9 40–50% #ae8bb1 50% #808080 No votes U.S. Representative Gwen Moore Democratic Party (US) Gwen Moore Democratic Party (US) WI4 House 2008.svg thumb Wisconsin's 4th congressional district Incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Moore, running for her third term, faced easy re-election prospects in this highly liberal district based in Milwaukee; no Republican candidate filed to run against her. Moore defeated independent candidate Michael LaForest in a landslide. Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportSafe D November 6, 2008 RothenbergSafe D November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal BallSafe D November 6, 2008 Real Clear PoliticsSafe D November 7, 2008 CQ PoliticsSafe D November 6, 2008 Wisconsin's 4th congressional district election, 2008 Democratic Party (United States) Gwen Moore (inc.) 222,728 87.63 Independent (politician) Michael D. LaForest 29,282 11.52 Write-ins 2,169 0.85 254,179 100.00 Democratic Party (United States) District 5 2008 Wisconsin's 5th congressional district election Wisconsin presidential no 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 5 2006 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 5 2010 x150px File:Jim Sensenbrenner, official 109th Congress photo.jpg Jim Sensenbrenner Republican Party (US) 275,271 79.58% 3x4.svg Robert R. Raymond Independent politician 69,715 20.15% 200px Precinct resultsSensenbrenner: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% #A80000 >90%Raymond: #87DE87 40–50% #5FD35F 50–60%Tie: #d2b1d9 40–50% #808080 No votes U.S. Representative Jim Sensenbrenner Republican Party (US) Jim Sensenbrenner Republican Party (US) WI5 House 2008.svg thumb Wisconsin's 5th congressional district In the wealthiest and most conservative district in Wisconsin, based in the northern suburbs of Milwaukee, long-serving incumbent Republican Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner easily defeated his only challenger, independent candidate Robert R. Raymond, to win a sixteenth term in Congress. Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportSafe R November 6, 2008 RothenbergSafe R November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal BallSafe R November 6, 2008 Real Clear PoliticsSafe R November 7, 2008 CQ PoliticsSafe R November 6, 2008 Wisconsin's 5th congressional district election, 2008 Republican Party (United States) Jim Sensenbrenner (inc.) 275,271 79.58 Independent (politician) Robert R. Raymond 69,715 20.15 Write-ins 913 0.26 345,899 100.00 Republican Party (United States) District 6 2008 Wisconsin's 6th congressional district election Wisconsin presidential no 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 6 2006 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 6 2010 x150px File:Tom Petri, official portrait, 108th Congress (cropped).jpg Tom Petri Republican Party (US) 221,875 63.71% 3x4.svg Roger A. Kittelson Democratic Party (US) 126,090 36.21% 250px Precinct resultsPetri: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% #A80000 >90%Kittelson: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #0D0596 >90%Tie: #ae8bb1 50% #808080 No votes U.S. Representative Tom Petri Republican Party (US) Tom Petri Republican Party (US) WI6 House 2008.svg thumb Wisconsin's 6th congressional district This traditionally conservative district based in the Oshkosh-Neenah, Metropolitan Statistical Area was narrowly won by Democratic nominee Barack Obama in the 2008 election, but long-serving Republican incumbent Congressman Tom Petri held a tight grip on his seat. Petri sought and won a sixteenth term against Democratic candidate Roger Kittelson, winning handily. Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportSafe R November 6, 2008 RothenbergSafe R November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal BallSafe R November 6, 2008 Real Clear PoliticsSafe R November 7, 2008 CQ PoliticsSafe R November 6, 2008 Wisconsin's 6th congressional district election, 2008 Republican Party (United States) Tom Petri (inc.) 221,875 63.71 Democratic Party (United States) Roger A. Kittelson 126,090 36.21 Write-ins 299 0.09 348,264 100.00 Republican Party (United States) District 7 2008 Wisconsin's 7th congressional district election Wisconsin presidential no 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 7 2006 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 7 2010 x150px File:Dave Obey, official Congressional photo portrait.jpg Dave Obey Democratic Party (US) 212,666 60.79% 3x4.svg Dan Mielke Republican Party (US) 136,938 39.14% 200px Precinct resultsObey: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0D0596 >90%Mielke: #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70%Tie: #d2b1d9 40–50% #ae8bb1 50% #808080 No votes U.S. Representative Dave Obey Democratic Party (US) Dave Obey Democratic Party (US) WI7 House 2008.svg thumb Wisconsin's 7th congressional district Long-serving incumbent Democratic Congressman Dave Obey held an iron grip on this district based in northwestern Wisconsin for forty years. Seeking a twenty-first term in Congress, Obey was overwhelmingly re-elected again over Republican challenger Dan Mielke despite the centrist nature of the district. Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportSafe D November 6, 2008 RothenbergSafe D November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal BallSafe D November 6, 2008 Real Clear PoliticsSafe D November 7, 2008 CQ PoliticsSafe D November 6, 2008 Wisconsin's 7th congressional district election, 2008 Democratic Party (United States) Dave Obey (inc.) 212,666 60.79 Republican Party (United States) Dan Mielke 136,938 39.14 Write-ins 233 0.07 349,837 100.00 Democratic Party (United States) District 8 2008 Wisconsin's 8th congressional district election Wisconsin presidential no 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 8 2006 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 8 2010 x150px File:Steve Kagen, official 110th Congress photo portrait, color (cropped).JPG Steve Kagen Democratic Party (US) 193,662 54.00% 3x4.svg John Gard Republican Party (US) 164,621 45.90% 230px Precinct resultsKagen: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0D0596 >90%Gard: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90%Tie: #d2b1d9 40–50% #ae8bb1 50% #808080 No votes U.S. Representative Steve Kagen Democratic Party (US) Steve Kagen Democratic Party (US) WI8 House 2008.svg thumb Wisconsin's 8th congressional district Incumbent Congressman Steve Kagen faced off against former Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker John Gard for a second time in this Republican-leaning district that is based in northeastern Wisconsin and that includes the cities of Green Bay and Appleton. Seeking a second term, Kagen defeated Gard by a larger margin than he did in 2006, allowing him to keep this swing district under Democratic control. Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportLean D November 6, 2008 RothenbergLikely D November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal BallLean D November 6, 2008 Real Clear PoliticsTossup November 7, 2008 CQ PoliticsLean D November 6, 2008 Wisconsin's 8th congressional district election, 2008 Democratic Party (United States) Steve Kagen (inc.) 193,662 54.00 Republican Party (United States) John Gard 164,621 45.90 Write-ins 364 0.10 358,647 100.00 Democratic Party (United States) References 30em External links State of Wisconsin Congressional Districts Elections Division from the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Wisconsin U.S. House Races from 2008 Race Tracker Campaign contributions for Wisconsin congressional races from OpenSecrets Politics Plus State and Local Elections from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper 2006 elections United States House elections in Wisconsin2008 2010 elections 2008 Wisconsin United States House of Representatives