1996 Wisconsin Senate election

none December 2023 1996 Wisconsin State Senate election Wisconsin legislative no 1994 Wisconsin State Senate election 1994 1998 Wisconsin Senate election 1998 16 of 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate 17 November 5, 1996 Chuck Chvala.png x150px Charles Chvala Democratic Party of Wisconsin 16th–Madison 7 seats, TBD% 17 9 17 475,226 49.25% 3x4.svg x150px Michael Ellis Republican Party of Wisconsin 19th–Neenah 10 seats, TBD% 16 7 16 468,238 48.53% 260px#92C5DE Democratic hold#F48882 Republican hold#CCCCCC No election Results by gains and holds 260px#7996E2 50–60% #3933E5 80–90% #0d0596 >90%#e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #a80000 >90%#CCCCCC No election Results by winning party vote share Seats up President Fred Risser Democratic Party of Wisconsin Democratic Party of Wisconsin Fred Risser October 17, 1995 January 2, 1989 2000 2000 Wisconsin Senate election 1992 Wisconsin Senate election 1992 The 1996 Wisconsin Senate election were held on Tuesday, November 5, 1996. Sixteen of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election—the even-numbered districts. At the time, Democrats held 17 seats while the Republicans held 16, having lost their majority only months prior due to the recalling of Senator George Petak from office. Summary SeatsParty(majority caucus shading)TotalDemocraticRepublicanLast election (1994)71017Total after last election (1994)161733Total before this election171633Up for election9716of which:Incumbent retiring101Vacated000Unopposed314This election9716Change from last election 2 3Total after this election171633Change in total Popular vote #ddd 600px 410px Democratic Democratic Party (United States) 49.25 Republican Republican Party (United States) 48.53 Taxpayers Constitution Party (US) 1.55 Libertarian Libertarian Party (US) 0.67Senate seats won #ddd 600px 410px Democratic Democratic Party (United States) 56.25 Republican Republican Party (United States) 43.75 Close races red State Senate district 30, 3.58% blue State Senate district 28, 4.08% blue State Senate district 10, 8.24% blue State Senate district 16, 8.97% Outgoing incumbents Retiring Joseph F. Andrea (D–Kenosha), representing district 22 since 1984, decided to retire. Recall election Background In October 1995, Senator, George Petak, faced controversy when he changed his vote on a funding bill for the Miller Park stadium. Miller Park was being planned to replace the forty-year-old Milwaukee County Stadium and was being pushed by Republican Governor Tommy Thompson and Milwaukee Brewers owner and future-Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig. Petak had promised his constituents that he would vote against the bill, but changed his mind based on the belief that the Brewers would leave Wisconsin if a new stadium wasn't built.Sandomir Richard Richard Sandomir May 7, 1998 Stadiums Are Proposed, but Public Isn't Always Disposed to Pay Price https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/07/nyregion/stadiums-are-proposed-but-public-isn-t-always-disposed-to-pay-price.html February 15, 2019 The New York Times Petak's change in vote supported a 0.1% increase in sales tax for five counties in the vicinity of the proposed stadium, which included Petak's home county of Racine. His actions caused outrage and frustration in his home district, and local Democrats were energized to collect signatures for a recall petition. After collecting 15,050 signatures, or 130% of the required 11,577 signatures,Bowers Faye June 3, 1996 Wisconsin state senator faces recall over stadium vote https://lasvegassun.com/news/1996/jun/03/wisconsin-state-senator-faces-recall-over-stadium-/ March 24, 2024 Las Vegas Sun the recall was certified on March 26, 1996, and a recall election was ordered for June.March 27, 1996 Recall gets green light https://journaltimes.com/news/local/recall-gets-green-light/article_20c617d4-cba0-57de-9577-5da7c6992e6d.html February 15, 2019 Racine Journal Times Madison Petition Dist.IncumbentRecall petitionMemberPartyFirst electedSignatures requiredSignatures approved (%)Status21George PetakRep.199011,57715,050 (130%) GreenPetition certified on March 26, 1996.Recall held on June 4, 1996. Results Nine months after his vote on the stadium tax, Petak became the first Wisconsin state legislator to be removed from office in a recall election, when he was defeated by Democratic State Representative Kimberly Plache.June 14, 1996 Plache sworn in as state senator https://journaltimes.com/news/local/plache-sworn-in-as-state-senator/article_cedc9167-78dd-53cd-adb3-595b212c682e.html February 15, 2019 Racine Journal Times As a result of the recall, control of the state Senate flipped to Democratic control for the rest of the session. Dist.IncumbentThis raceMemberPartyFirst electedPrimaryState of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998 https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AV57G6QVOUSNPG8T/pages/A3RR5GW54YV2CO9B March 24, 2024 University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries 888GeneralState of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998 https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AV57G6QVOUSNPG8T/pages/A3RR5GW54YV2CO9B March 24, 2024 University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries 889Result21George PetakRepublican1990*George Petak (Rep.) William A. Pangman (Rep.) Kimberly Plache (Dem.)* Democratic Party (US) Kimberly Plache (Dem.) 51.22% Republican Party (US)George Petak (Rep.) 47.02% Libertarian Party (US)Todd Mascaretti (Lib.) 1.76%Incumbent recalled.Democratic gain. Results summary Dist.IncumbentThis raceScattered votes omitted lower-alphaState of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998 https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AV57G6QVOUSNPG8T/pages/A3RR5GW54YV2CO9B March 24, 2024 University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries 889–890MemberPartyFirst electedStatusCandidates02Robert CowlesRep.1987 (special)Incumbent re-electedRepublican Party (US)Robert Cowles (Rep.) 62.92% Democratic Party (US)Patricia Buss (Dem.) 37.08%04Gwen MooreDem.1988Incumbent re-electedDemocratic Party (US)Gwen Moore (Dem.) 100%06Gary George Gary George (Wisconsin politician)Dem.1980Incumbent re-electedDemocratic Party (US)Gary George (Dem.) 100%08Alberta DarlingRep.1992Incumbent re-elected* Republican Party (US) Alberta Darling (Rep.) 58.78% Democratic Party (US)Randy Nash (Dem.) 38.62% Constitution Party (US)Tim Gallert (Tax.) 2.60%10Alice ClausingDem.1992Incumbent re-electedDemocratic Party (US)Alice Clausing (Dem.) 54.12% Republican Party (US)Jay Griggs (Rep.) 45.88%12Roger BreskeDem.1990Incumbent re-electedDemocratic Party (US)Roger Breske (Dem.) 57.39% Republican Party (US)Nancy Levanetz (Rep.) 42.57%14Robert Welch Robert Welch (Wisconsin politician)Rep.1995 (special)Incumbent re-electedRepublican Party (US)Robert Welch (Rep.) 100%16Charles ChvalaDem.1984Incumbent re-elected* Democratic Party (US) Charles Chvala (Dem.) 53.67% Republican Party (US)Tom Metcalfe (Rep.) 44.70% Libertarian Party (US)Mike Oprish (Lib.) 1.63%18Carol Buettner Carol RoesslerRep.1987 (special)Incumbent re-electedRepublican Party (US)Carol Buettner (Rep.) 73.77% Democratic Party (US)Fred Frederickson (Dem.) 26.23%20Mary PanzerRep.1993 (special)Incumbent re-elected* Republican Party (US) Mary Panzer (Rep.) 84.83% Libertarian Party (US)Kevin Scheunemann (Lib.) 8.18% Constitution Party (US)Barry Moder (Tax.) 6.98%22Joseph F. AndreaDem.1984Incumbent Retiring.New member elected.Democratic holdDemocratic Party (US)Robert Wirch (Dem.) 56.81% Republican Party (US)Bruno Rizzo (Rep.) 43.19%24Kevin ShibilskiDem.1995 (special)Incumbent re-elected* Democratic Party (US) Kevin Shibilski (Dem.) 84.08% Constitution Party (US)Wayne Wiedeman (Tax.) 15.92%26Fred RisserDem.1962 (special)Incumbent re-electedDemocratic Party (US)Fred Risser (Rep.) 100%28Lynn AdelmanDem.1976Incumbent re-electedDemocratic Party (US)Lynn Adelman (Dem.) 52.04% Republican Party (US)Lisa Soik (Rep.) 47.96%30Gary DrzewieckiRep.1992Incumbent re-electedRepublican Party (US)Gary Drzewiecki (Rep.) 51.79% Democratic Party (US)Barbara Lawton (Dem.) 48.21%32Brian RudeRep.1984 (special)Incumbent re-electedRepublican Party (US)Brian Rude (Rep.) 75.10% Democratic Party (US)David Wulf (Dem.) 24.90% Notes References 1996 Wisconsin Senate election|Wisconsin Category:1996 Wisconsin elections Category:Wisconsin Senate elections Category:November 1996 in the United States Wisconsin Senate election