2012 Wisconsin elections

none February 2026 September 2023 2012 Wisconsin elections Wisconsin presidential no 2011 Wisconsin elections 2011 2013 Wisconsin elections 2013 April 3, 2012November 6, 2012 The 2012 Wisconsin elections was held in the U.S. state of Wisconsin in 2012. The fall general election occurred on November 6, 2012. One of Wisconsin's U.S. Senate seats and all of Wisconsin's eight seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election, as well as sixteen seats in the Wisconsin State Senate and all 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Voters also chose ten electors to represent them in the Electoral College, which then participated in selecting the president of the United States. The 2012 Fall Partisan Primary was held on August 14, 2012. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2013_2014/ State of Wisconsin 2013–2014 Blue Book Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau 2013 Lemanski Lynn Pohlman Julie 978-0-9752820-6-9 https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2013_2014/950_elections.pdf Elections April 8, 2024 In the presidential election, Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan was the Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States. 2012 also saw the culmination of the recall effort in Wisconsin which had been incited by Governor Scott Walker's 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, which stripped public employee unions of collective bargaining rights. During 2012, Walker faced a recall election along with four Republican state senators. These recall elections were all held on June 5, 2012, with a special primary on May 8. Walker survived the gubernatorial recall, but Democrats gained control of the state Senate. In the Fall general election, the Democratic presidential candidate, incumbent president Barack Obama, won Wisconsin's ten electoral votes and secured a second four-year term. U.S. Senator Herb Kohl retired and was succeeded by fellow Democrat Tammy Baldwin; there was no change to the partisan makeup of Wisconsin's congressional delegation, remaining at five Republicans and three Democrats. This was also the first legislative election after a dramatic Republican gerrymander was implemented in 2011; Republicans gained two seats in the Wisconsin Senate, regaining the majority, and maintained their majority in the Wisconsin State Assembly. The 2012 Wisconsin Spring Election was held April 3, 2012. This election featured a not-yet-settled Republican party presidential nominating contest, and various judicial and local elections, including county executive and mayoral elections in Wisconsin's largest city and county, Milwaukee. The 2012 Wisconsin Spring Primary was held February 21, 2012. Federal offices President 2012 United States presidential election in Wisconsin Incumbent president Barack Obama sought a second four-year term. In Wisconsin, voters elected Obama's electoral slate. Obama went on to win the majority of the electoral college. Democratic primary 2012 Democratic Party presidential primaries In the 2012 Democratic Party presidential primaries, the Wisconsin Democratic presidential preference primary was held concurrent with the Spring general election, April 3, 2012. The only candidate for the Democratic nomination was incumbent president Barack Obama, who received about 98% of the vote. Republican primary 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries In the 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries, the Wisconsin Republican presidential preference primary was held concurrent with the Spring general election, April 3, 2012. As the incumbent president was a Democrat, the Republican presidential nominating contest was open and saw nine candidates enter the race. By the time of Wisconsin's presidential preference primary, only four candidates remained in the race, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, former U.S. senator Rick Santorum (PA), former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich (GA), and U.S. Representative Ron Paul (TX). Other candidates whose names appeared on the ballot included former Ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr. (UT) and U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann (MN). Mitt Romney won the Wisconsin Republican presidential preference primary with 44%, Santorum received 37% of the votes, Paul received 11%, with 6% going to Gingrich. General election Barack Obama won the presidential election against Mitt Romney and was awarded Wisconsin's ten electoral votes. United States presidential election in Wisconsin, 2012 https://whs.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_a0b2e4eb-44f6-46bf-ae3e-4234013a588a/ Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election - 11/6/2012 December 26, 2012 Wisconsin Government Accountability Board April 8, 2024 Wisconsin Historical Society Democratic Party (United States) Barack Obama (incumbent) /Joe Biden (incumbent) 1,620,985 52.83% -3.39pp Republican Party (United States) Mitt Romney /Paul Ryan 1,407,966 45.89% +3.57pp Libertarian Party (United States) Gary Johnson /Jim Gray 20,439 0.67% +0.37pp Independent politician Jill Stein /Ben Manski 7,665 0.25% Constitution Party (United States) Virgil Goode /Jim Clymer 4,930 0.16% Independent politician Jerry White /Phyllis Scherrer 553 0.02% Independent politician Gloria La Riva /Filberto Ramirez Jr. 526 0.02% Independent politician Rocky Anderson (write-in) /Luis J. Rodriguez (write-in) 112 0.00% Independent (politician) Roseanne Barr (write-in) /Cindy Sheehan (write-in) 88 0.00% 5,170 0.17% -0.05pp 213,019 6.94% -6.96pp 3,068,434 100.0% +2.85% Democratic Party (United States) U.S. Senate 2012 United States Senate election in Wisconsin A regularly scheduled election was held for Wisconsin's Class 1 U.S. Senate seat at the Fall general election, November 6, 2012. The incumbent, Herb Kohl, first elected in 1988, retired after 24 years in the U.S. Senate. The election was won by Democrat Tammy Baldwin, who had previously served 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. Baldwin received 51% of the vote and defeated former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson in the general election. With her election, Baldwin became the first openly gay member of the U.S. Senate and Wisconsin's first female U.S. senator. U.S. House All 8 of Wisconsin's congressional districts were up for election at the Fall general election, November 6, 2012. Seven of the eight incumbent representatives ran for reelection, with Tammy Baldwin vacating District 2 to run for U.S. Senate. Party composition remained unchanged after the general election. District Incumbent This race Num. PVI Representative First elected Results Candidates WI 1 X 103 R+3 Paul Ryan 1998 Incumbent re-elected. Republican Party (US) Paul Ryan (Rep.) 54.9% Democratic Party (US)Rob Zerban (Dem.) 43.4% Independent (US)Keith Deschler (Ind.) 1.7% WI 2 X 084 D+16 Tammy Baldwin 1998 Incumbent retired to run for U.S. senator.New member elected.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Mark Pocan (Dem.) 68.0% Republican Party (US)Chad Lee (Rep.) 32.0% Independent (US)Joe Kopsick (Ind.) WI 3 X 094 D+6 Ron Kind 1996 Incumbent re-elected. Democratic Party (US) Ron Kind (Dem.) 64.1% Republican Party (US)Ray Boland (Rep.) 35.9% WI 4 X 079 D+21 Gwen Moore 2004 Incumbent re-elected. Democratic Party (US) Gwen Moore (Dem.) 72.3% Republican Party (US)Dan Sebring (Rep.) 23.8% Independent (US)Robert R. Raymond (Ind.) 2.8% WI 5 X 112 R+12 Jim Sensenbrenner 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Republican Party (US) Jim Sensenbrenner (Rep.) 67.9% Democratic Party (US)Dave Heaster (Dem.) 32.1% WI 6 X 105 R+5 Tom Petri 1979 (Special) Incumbent re-elected. Republican Party (US) Tom Petri (Rep.) 62.1% Democratic Party (US)Joe Kallas (Dem.) 37.9% WI 7 X 100 EVEN Sean Duffy 2010 Incumbent re-elected. Republican Party (US) Sean Duffy (Rep.) 56.1% Democratic Party (US)Pat Kreitlow (Dem.) 43.9% Independent (US)Dale Lehner (Ind.) WI 8 X 102 R+2 Reid Ribble 2010 Incumbent re-elected. Republican Party (US) Reid Ribble (Rep.) 55.9% Democratic Party (US)Jamie Wall (Dem.) 44.1% State offices Executive Gubernatorial recall 2012 Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election Wisconsin governor Scott Walker was subject to a recall petition in the Spring of 2012 and faced a recall election on June 5, 2012. He survived the recall election; Walker received 53% of the vote in a rematch with his 2010 opponent, Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett. Wisconsin Gubernatorial Recall Election, 2012Canvass Results for 2012 JUNE 5 RECALL ELECTION - 6/5/2012 https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/Statewide%20Percentage%20Results_6.5.12%20Recall%20Election_PRE%20SEN21%20RECOUNT.pdf G.A.B. Canvass Reporting System December 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20161015001413/https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/Statewide%20Percentage%20Results_6.5.12%20Recall%20Election_PRE%20SEN21%20RECOUNT.pdf 15 October 2016 dead Scott Walker (incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 1,335,585 53.08% +0.79pp Tom Barrett Democratic Party (United States) 1,164,480 46.28% -0.24pp Hariprasad Trivedi Independent (United States) 14,463 0.57% 1,537 0.06% +0.06pp 2,516,065 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Lieutenant gubernatorial recall 2012 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial recall election Alongside Walker, lieutenant governor Rebecca Kleefisch was subject to recall petitions in the Spring of 2012 and faced recall elections on June 5, 2012. She survived the recall election; Kleefisch defeated Fire Fighters union president Mahlon Mitchell with a slightly smaller margin than Walker had in defeating Barrett. Wisconsin Lieutenant Gubernatorial Recall Election, 2012http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/2012/wisconsin-recall-results Wisconsin Recall Election Results Map Elections.huffingtonpost.com 2012-07-23 "text-align:left;" 14px Rebecca Kleefisch (incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 1,301,739 52.9% Mahlon Mitchell Democratic Party (United States) 1,156,520 47.1% 2,458,259 100.0 Republican Party (United States) Legislative State Senate recall 2012 Wisconsin Senate recall elections Four Wisconsin state senators were subjects of a coordinated recall effort to remove them from office in the Spring of 2012. The four recall elections occurred on June 5, 2012. One incumbent, Van H. Wanggaard, was defeated in the recall. One other chose to resign and was replaced by another of the same party. The net result was that Democrats gained the majority of the state Senate. Dist.IncumbentThis raceMemberPartyFirst electedResultGeneralElections http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/145794945.html June 9, 201213Scott L. FitzgeraldRepublican1994Incumbent retained* Scott Fitzgerald (Rep.) 58.4% Lori Compas (Dem.) 40.7%21Van H. WanggaardRepublican2010Incumbent recalled.Democratic gain.* John Lehman (Dem.) 50.6% Van Wanggaard (Rep.) 49.4%23Terry MoultonRepublican2010Incumbent retained* Terry Moulton (Rep.) 56.7% Kristen Dexter (Dem.) 43.3%29Vacant (Incumbent resigned)New member elected. Republican hold* Jerry Petrowski (Rep.) 61.4% Donna J. Seidel (Dem.) 38.6% State Senate 33rd district special election A special election was held December 2, 2012, to fill the 33rd State Senate seat vacated by Rich Zipperer, who resigned to become deputy chief of staff to Governor Scott Walker. Republican state representative Paul Farrow won the seat without opposition. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-farrow-special-electio/145039025/ Republican to be sworn in to Senate The Post-Crescent December 7, 2012 A2 April 9, 2024 Newspapers.com State Senate 2012 Wisconsin Senate election The 16 even-numbered districts out of 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election at the Fall general election, November 6, 2012. Ten of these seats were held by Democrats and six were held by Republicans. Prior to the election, Democrats controlled the chamber with a 17 to 16 majority. Republicans flipped two seats in the general election, taking an 18–15 majority going into the 101st Wisconsin Legislature. Dist. IncumbentThis race Member Party First electedPrimary election candidates General election candidatesResult 2 Robert Cowles Republican 1987 (special)Robert Cowles (Rep.) Robert Cowles (Rep.) 98.54%Incumbent re-elected. 4 Lena Taylor Democratic 2004Lena Taylor (Dem.) Lena Taylor (Dem.) 86.62% David D. King (Ind.) 13.11%Incumbent re-elected. 6 Spencer Coggs Democratic 2003 (special) Nikiya Harris (Dem.) Michael Mayo (Dem.) Allyn Monroe Swan (Dem.) Elizabeth M. Coggs (Dem.) Delta L. Triplett (Dem.) Nikiya Harris (Dem.) 98.72% Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. 8 Alberta Darling Republican 1992 Alberta Darling (Rep.) Alberta Darling (Rep.) 95.58% Beth L. Lueck (Dem. write-in)Incumbent re-elected. 10 Sheila Harsdorf Republican 2000 Sheila Harsdorf (Rep.) Daniel C. Olson (Dem.) Sheila Harsdorf (Rep.) 59.17% Daniel C. Olson (Dem.) 40.72%Incumbent re-elected. 12 Jim Holperin Democratic 2008 Tom Tiffany (Rep.) Susan Sommer (Dem.) Lisa Theo (Dem.) Tom Tiffany (Rep.) 56.24% Susan Sommer (Dem.) 40.45% Paul O. Ehlers (Ind.) 3.26% Incumbent retired.New member elected.Republican gain. 14 Luther Olsen Republican 2004 Luther Olsen (Rep.) David Wayne Eiler (Rep.) Margarete Worthington (Dem.) Luther Olsen (Rep.) 57.53% Margarete Worthington (Dem.) 42.4%Incumbent re-elected. 16 Mark F. Miller Democratic 2004 Mark F. Miller (Dem.) Mark F. Miller (Dem.) 98.73%Incumbent re-elected. 18 Jessica King Democratic 2011(recall) Rick Gudex (Rep.) Jessica King (Dem.) Rick Gudex (Rep.) 50.3% Jessica King (Dem.) 49.6% Incumbent lost.New member elected.Republican gain. 20 Glenn Grothman Republican 2004 Glenn Grothman (Rep.) Tanya Lohr (Dem.) Glenn Grothman (Rep.) 68.63% Tanya Lohr (Dem.) 31.3%Incumbent re-elected. 22 Robert Wirch Democratic 1996 Robert Wirch (Dem.) Pam Stevens (Rep.) Robert Wirch (Dem.) 69.57% Pam Stevens (Rep.) 30.29%Incumbent re-elected. 24 Julie Lassa Democratic 2003 (special) Julie Lassa (Dem.) Scott Kenneth Noble (Rep.) Steve Abrahamson (Rep.) Julie Lassa (Dem.) 56.59% Scott Kenneth Noble (Rep.) 43.31%Incumbent re-elected. 26 Fred Risser Democratic 1962 Fred Risser (Dem.) Fred Risser (Dem.)Incumbent re-elected. 28 Mary Lazich Republican 1998 Mary Lazich (Rep.) Jim Ward (Dem.) Mary Lazich (Rep.) 63.38% Jim Ward (Dem.) 36.51%Incumbent re-elected. 30 Dave Hansen Democratic 2000 Dave Hansen (Dem.) John Macco (Rep.) Ray Suennen (Rep.) Dave Hansen (Dem.) 54.23% John Macco (Rep.) 45.68%Incumbent re-elected. 32 Jennifer Shilling Democratic 2011(recall) Jennifer Shilling (Dem.) Bill Feehan (Rep.) Jennifer Shilling (Dem.) 58.28% Bill Feehan (Rep.) 41.64%Incumbent re-elected. State Assembly 2012 Wisconsin State Assembly election All 99 seats of the Wisconsin State Assembly were up for election at the Fall general election, November 6, 2012. This was the first election after the redistricting of the legislature in 2011, and 21 seats had no incumbent on the ballot in this election. Republicans won 60 seats, matching their total from the 2010 election and maintaining their majority going into the 101st Wisconsin Legislature. Seats Party (majority caucus shading) Total Democratic Ind. Republican Last election (2010) 38 1 60 99 Total before this election 38 1 58 97 Up for election 39 1 59 99 of which: Incumbent retiring 8 1 615 Vacated 1 0 1 2 Unopposed 16 0 4 20 This election 39 0 60 99 Change from last election 1 1 Total after this election 39 0 60 99 Change in total 1 1 2 Judicial State Court of Appeals Four seats on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals were on the ballot at the Spring general election, April 3, 2012. None of the elections were contested, one new judge was elected. In District I, incumbent judge Ralph Adam Fine was elected to a fifth six-year term, running unopposed. He was first elected in 1988. In District II, incumbent chief judge Richard S. Brown was elected to a sixth six-year term, running unopposed. He was first elected in 1978 (to a four-year term). In District III, incumbent judge Mark Mangerson, appointed by Governor Scott Walker in 2011, was elected to his first six-year term, running unopposed. In District IV, assistant state attorney general JoAnne Kloppenburg was elected to a six-year term, running unopposed, to succeed retiring judge Margaret J. Vergeront. State Circuit Courts Fifty two of the state's 249 circuit court seats were on the ballot at the Spring general election, April 3, 2012. Twelve of those elections were contested, two incumbents were defeated. Local offices Clark County Clark County district attorney A regularly scheduled district attorney election was held in Clark County, Wisconsin, concurrent with the Fall general election, November 6, 2012. The incumbent, Darwin Zweig, retired after serving 32 years in the office. The Democratic candidate, Clark County corporation counsel Lyndsey Boon Brunette, was elected district attorney, defeating attorney Shari Post. https://www.newspapers.com/article/leader-telegram-local-elections/195751013/ Regional Vote Count Eau Claire Leader-Telegram November 8, 2012 B4 April 17, 2026 Newspapers.com Kenosha County Kenosha mayor A regularly scheduled mayoral election was held in Kenosha, Wisconsin, at the Spring general election, April 3, 2012. The incumbent Keith Bosman, first elected in 2008, was elected to a second four-year term, defeating city council president Jesse Downing. Two other candidates were eliminated in the February primary: video producer Jeff Baas and bar owner Nasser Museitif. Marathon County Wausau mayor A regularly scheduled mayoral election was held in Wausau, Wisconsin, at the Spring general election, April 3, 2012. The incumbent Jim Tipple, first elected in 2004, was elected to a third four-year term. Milwaukee County Milwaukee mayor 2012 Milwaukee mayoral election A regularly scheduled mayoral election was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the Spring general election, April 3, 2012. The incumbent Tom Barrett, first elected in 2004, was elected to a third four-year term, defeating University of Wisconsin faculty member Edward McDonald. One other candidate was eliminated in the February primary, Ieshuh Griffin. Milwaukee County executive A regularly scheduled county executive election was held in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, at the Spring general election, April 3, 2012. The incumbent Chris Abele, first elected in a 2011 special election, was elected to his first four-year term without opposition. Outagamie County Appleton mayor A regularly scheduled mayoral election was held in Appleton, Wisconsin, at the Spring general election, April 3, 2012. The incumbent Tim Hanna, first elected in 1996, was elected to a fifth four-year term, defeating city councilmember Thomas Konetzke. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-hanna-re-elected-mayor/145038866/ In votes and dollars, Mayor Hanna comes out on top Nick Penzenstadler The Post-Crescent April 8, 2012 3 April 9, 2024 Newspapers.com Sheboygan County Sheboygan mayor recall A mayoral recall election was held in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, concurrent with the Spring primary, February 21, 2012. A special recall primary was held on January 17, 2012. After incumbent mayor Bob Ryan ran into a series of controversies, Sheboygan residents collected over 4,700 signatures to trigger a recall election, submitting their petitions on November 1, 2011. In the recall election, Ryan was defeated by former state representative Terry Van Akkeren in a rematch of the 2009 mayoral election.Van Akkeren hopes 'to move (Sheboygan) forward' after beating Ryan http://www.jrn.com/tmj4/news/139931383.html WTMJ-TV December 17, 2014 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20141109193239/http://www.jrn.com/tmj4/news/139931383.html November 9, 2014 Six other candidates ran and were eliminated in the nonpartisan primary: city councilmember Jean Kittelson, retired executive Roberta Filicky-Peneski, businessman Randy Schwoerer, musician Erik Neave, high school student Asher Heimermann, and restaurant worker Mark Hermann. https://archive.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/sheboygan-mayor-survives-first-test-in-recall-move-t43rg52-137543563.html Sheboygan mayor advances to runoff in recall Steve Schultz Milwaukee Journal Sentinel January 17, 2012 May 21, 2024 References Category:2012 Wisconsin elections Wisconsin Category:Wisconsin elections by year