2004 Wisconsin Senate election

none June 2026 ly 2004 Wisconsin State Senate election Wisconsin legislative no 2002 Wisconsin Senate election 2002 2006 Wisconsin Senate election 2006 16 of 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate 17 November 2, 2004 x150px Mary Panzer(lost renomination) Republican Party of Wisconsin 20th–West Bend 11 seats, 52.71% 18 8 19 1 673,072 53.06% Jon Erpenbach (3x4).jpg x150px Jon Erpenbach Democratic Party of Wisconsin 27th–Middleton 6 seats, 45.93% 15 8 14 1 566,889 44.69% President Republican Party of Wisconsin Alan Lasee Republican Party of Wisconsin Alan Lasee January 6, 2003 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% #C21B18 80–90% #a80000 >90% #7996E2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #3933E5 80–90% #0d0596 >90%#CCCCCC No election Results by winning party vote share 2008 2008 Wisconsin Senate election 2000 2000 Wisconsin Senate election 3x4.svg 0.35% 1.24% The 2004 Wisconsin Senate election was held on Tuesday November 2, 2004, at the Fall general election in Wisconsin, alongside the election to the State Assembly and other statewide and local offices. The Sixteen even-numbered seats in Wisconsin Senate were up for election. Prior to the election 18 seats were held by Republicans and 15 were held by Democrats. The primary election was held on September 14, 2004. This was the first state Senate elections held in these seats under the 2002 redistricting plan. After the election, Republicans entered the 97th Wisconsin Legislature with 19 of 33 seats. Summary SeatsParty(majority caucus shading)TotalRepublicanDemocraticLast election (2002)11617Total after last election (2002)181533Total before this election181533Up for election7916of which:Incumbent retiring314Vacated000Unopposed325This election8816Change from last election 1 1Total after this election191433Change in total 1 1 PartyCandidatesVotesNo. Number%Republican13673,07253.06%Democratic11566,88944.69%Green116,8071.33%Libertarian17,2880.57%Write-in–4,3730.35%Total1,268,429100.0% Close races Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%: blue State Senate district 22, 4.27% red State Senate district 32, 5.07% (gain) blue State Senate district 12, 6.98% blue State Senate district 30, 9.20% Outgoing incumbent Retiring Chuck Chvala (D–Monona), representing district 16 since 1985, retired. Mark Meyer (D–La Crosse), representing district 32 since 2000, retired. Seeking other office Gwen Moore (D–Milwaukee), representing district 4 since 1992, ran successfully for U.S. House in the 4th district. Robert Welch (R–Marion), representing district 14 since 1995, ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate. Lost renomination Mary Panzer (R–West Bend), representing district 20 since 1993, lost renomination to Glenn Grothman (R–West Bend). Results summary Dist.IncumbentThis racehttps://whs.access.preservica.com/download/file/IO_de69763f-11cf-439e-a619-8080ffba4003 Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/14/2004 November 10, 2004 Wisconsin State Elections Board 11-20 June 22, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20230517004647/https://whs.access.preservica.com/download/file/IO_de69763f-11cf-439e-a619-8080ffba4003 May 17, 2023 deadhttps://whs.access.preservica.com/download/file/IO_dcaf3106-7971-45d7-9e8b-3b169afa2f9a Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 December 1, 2004 Wisconsin State Elections Board 6-11 June 22, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20221212220859/https://whs.access.preservica.com/download/file/IO_dcaf3106-7971-45d7-9e8b-3b169afa2f9a December 12, 2022 deadMemberPartyFirst electedStatusCandidates02Robert CowlesRepublican1987 (special)Incumbent re-electedRepublican Party (US) Robert Cowles (Rep.) 89.13% Libertarian Party (US)Roy Leyendecker (Rep.) 10.73%04Gwen MooreDemocratic1992Incumbent ran for U.S. HouseNew member elected. Democratic hold.Democratic Party (US) Lena Taylor (Dem.) 99.16%06Spencer CoggsDemocratic2003 (recall)Incumbent re-electedDemocratic Party (US) Spencer Coggs (Dem.) 99.15%08Alberta DarlingRepublican1992Incumbent re-electedRepublican Party (US) Alberta Darling (Rep.) 56.94% Democratic Party (US)Jennifer Morales (Dem.) 42.96%10Sheila HarsdorfRepublican2000Incumbent re-electedRepublican Party (US) Sheila Harsdorf (Rep.) 59.21% Democratic Party (US)Gary L. Bakke (Dem.) 40.73%12Roger BreskeDemocratic1992Incumbent re-electedDemocratic Party (US) Roger Breske (Dem.) 53.47% Republican Party (US)Tom Tiffany (Rep.) 46.49%14Robert Welch Robert Welch (Wisconsin politician)Republican1995 (special)Incumbent ran for U.S. SenateNew member elected. Republican hold.Republican Party (US) Luther Olsen (Rep.) 99.35%16Chuck Chvala Charles ChvalaDemocratic1984Incumbent retiredNew member elected. Democratic hold.Democratic Party (US) Mark Miller (Dem.) 60.04% Republican Party (US)Eric P. Peterson (Rep.) 39.90%18Carol RoesslerRepublican1987 (special)Incumbent re-electedRepublican Party (US) Carol Roessler (Rep.) 98.60%20Mary PanzerRepublican1993 (special)Incumbent lost renominationNew member elected. Republican hold.Republican Party (US) Glenn Grothman (Rep.) 99.15%22Robert WirchDemocratic1996Incumbent re-electedDemocratic Party (US) Robert Wirch (Dem.) 52.11% Republican Party (US)Reince Priebus (Rep.) 47.84%24Julie LassaDemocratic2003 (special)Incumbent re-electedDemocratic Party (US) Julie Lassa (Dem.) 67.57% Republican Party (US)Greg Swank (Rep.) 32.39%26Fred RisserDemocratic1962 (special)Incumbent re-electedDemocratic Party (US) Fred Risser (Rep.) 80.81% Green Party (US)Tony Schultz (Grn.) 18.93%28Mary LazichRepublican1998 (special)Incumbent re-electedRepublican Party (US) Mary Lazich (Rep.) 99.27%30Dave Hansen Dave Hansen (politician)Democratic2000Incumbent re-electedDemocratic Party (US) Dave Hansen (Dem.) 54.55% Republican Party (US)Gary Drzewiecki (Rep.) 45.35%32Mark Meyer Mark Meyer (politician)Democratic2000Incumbent retiredNew member elected. Republican gain.Republican Party (US) Dan Kapanke (Rep.) 52.46% Democratic Party (US)Brad Pfaff (Dem.) 47.39% Detailed results District 2 Incumbent Republican Robert Cowles ran for re-election. He defeated Libertarian Roy Leyendecker by a wide margin. District 2 general election Republican Party (United States) Robert Cowles (incumbent) 60,546 89.13 Libertarian Party (United States) Roy Leyendecker 7,288 10.73 95 0.14 67,929 100.0 District 4 Incumbent Democrat Gwen Moore declined to seek re-election, instead running successfully for congress. State legislator Lena Taylor defeated fellow legislator Johnnie E. Morris-Tatum with a plurality 10-point margin. Taylor was elected unopposed in the general election. District 4 Democratic primary Democratic Party (United States) Lena Taylor 10,042 46.80 Democratic Party (United States) Johnnie E. Morris-Tatum 7,735 36.05 Democratic Party (United States) James White 3,633 16.93 25 0.07 33,063 100.0 District 4 general election Democratic Party (United States) Lena Taylor 62,689 99.16 534 0.84 63,223 100.0 District 6 Incumbent Democrat Spencer Coggs ran for re-election unopposed. District 6 general election Democratic Party (United States) Spencer Coggs (incumbent) 59,463 99.15 509 0.85 24,939 100.0 District 8 Incumbent Republican Alberta Darling ran for re-election. She defeated Democrat Jennifer Morales by a 14-point margin. District 8 general election Republican Party (United States) Alberta Darling (incumbent) 55,731 56.94 Democratic Party (United States) Jennifer Morales 42,048 42.96 100 0.10 97,879 100.0 District 10 thumb|347x347px|County results:#A5B0FF Bakke—40–50%#7996E2 Bakke—50–60%#7DDDDD Clausing—40–50%#51C2C2 Clausing—50–60% Incumbent Republican Sheila Harsdorf ran for re-election. She defeated Democrat Gary L. Bakke by a 19-point margin. District 10 Democratic primary Democratic Party (United States) Gary L. Bakke 3,577 43.89 Democratic Party (United States) Alice Clausing 3,438 42.19 Democratic Party (United States) Elise O'Meara Nooney 718 8.81 Democratic Party (United States) Dennis Paulaha 411 5.04 5 0.06 8,149 100.0 District 10 general election Republican Party (United States) Sheila Harsdorf (incumbent) 56,704 59.21 Democratic Party (United States) Gary L. Bakke 39,001 40.73 55 0.06 95,760 100.0 District 12 thumb|County results:#7996E2 Breske—50–60%#6674DE Breske—60–70%#3933E5 Breske—80–90%#E27F7F Tiffany—50–60% Incumbent Democrat Roger Breske ran for re-election. He defeated Republican Tom Tiffany by a seven-point margin. District 12 Republican primary Republican Party (United States) Tom Tiffany 8,909 60.44 Republican Party (United States) Gary Baier 2,998 20.34 Republican Party (United States) William E. Raduege 2,828 19.19 5 0.03 14,740 100.0 District 12 general election Democratic Party (United States) Roger Breske (incumbent) 47,287 53.47 Republican Party (United States) Tom Tiffany 41,119 46.49 38 0.04 88,444 100.0 District 14 Incumbent Republican Robert Welch declined to seek re-election. Republican Luther Olsen ran unopposed in the general election. District 14 Republican primary Republican Party (United States) Luther Olsen 10,224 57.24 Republican Party (United States) Roger D. Cross 5,703 31.93 Republican Party (United States) John C. Spillner Sr. 1,613 9.03 323 1.81 14,740 100.0 District 14 general election Republican Party (United States) Luther Olsen 57,548 99.35 378 0.65 57,926 100.0 District 16 Incumbent Democrat and former Senate majority leader Chuck Chvala declined to seek re-election in the wake of the 2002 caucus scandal. Chvala, who had previously served as Democratic caucus leader until October 2002, was implicated in the wider caucus scandal that year, which saw legislative leaders in both parties charged with misusing state funds for campaign work.Cullen Eric January 22, 2002 Caucus scandal: past, present, future https://badgerherald.com/news/2002/01/22/caucus-scandal-past/ June 22, 2026 Badger HeraldBroder 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 22, 2026 Washington PostFreyberg Frederica February 5, 2003 Chvala Still Charged with Nineteen Felonies https://www.wpr.org/news/chvala-still-charged-nineteen-felonies June 22, 2026 Wisconsin Public Radio After facing calls to retire or resign during the last two years of his term, Chvala announced his retirement in March 2004, with Democratic representative Mark F. Miller announcing a campaign several days afterwards.Peterson Abby March 23, 2004 Chvala’s speech hints at retirement https://badgerherald.com/news/2004/03/23/chvalas-speech-hints/ June 22, 2026 Badger Herald He faced fellow Democratic legislator Tom Hebl, defeating him by a 17-point margin. Miller went on to face Republican Eric Peterson, who centered his campaign around Chvala's involvement in the caucus scandal, making numerous attempts to tie Miller to Chvala's misconduct in office.Masse Ryan October 14, 2004 Chvala center of senate race https://badgerherald.com/news/2004/10/14/chvala-center-of-sen/ June 22, 2026 Badger Herald Miller went on to defeat Petersonn by a 20-point margin. District 16 Democratic primary Democratic Party (United States) Mark F. Miller 8,582 58.16 Democratic Party (United States) Tom Hebl 6,170 41.81 4 0.03 14,756 100.0 District 16 general election Democratic Party (United States) Mark F. Miller 58,147 60.04 Republican Party (United States) Eric P. Peterson 38,643 39.90 51 0.05 96,841 100.0 District 18 Incumbent Republican Carol Roessler ran for re-election unopposed. District 18 general election Republican Party (United States) Carol Roessler (incumbent) 57,548 99.35 378 0.65 64,608 100.0 District 20 Incumbent Republican Mary Panzer ran for re-election. She lost renomination to state representative Glenn Grothman by a 57-point margin. The primary was described as an ideological battle between staunch conservative Speaker of the assembly John Gard and Panzer, who had frustrated Gard's push for conservative priorities such as a Taxpayer's Bill of Rights Amendment.Rowen James October 26, 2004 High-profile campaigns obscure important political matters https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/wispol102604 August 8, 2026 WisPolitics OnMilwaukee Grothman ran for election unopposed in the general election. District 20 Republican primary Republican Party (United States) Glenn Grothman 27,732 78.84 Republican Party (United States) Mary Panzer (incumbent) 7,430 21.12 13 0.04 35,175 100.0 District 20 general election Republican Party (United States) Glenn Grothman 75,424 99.15 649 0.85 76,073 100.0 District 22 Incumbent Democrat Robert Wirch ran for re-election. He defeated Republican attorney Reince Priebus by a five-point margin. At the time, the race gained attention for the high amounts of funds Priebus had amassed for the campaign.Johnson Shawn January 20, 2017 Kenosha’s Reince Priebus Takes The Reins As White House Chief Of Staff https://www.wpr.org/politics/kenoshas-reince-priebus-takes-reins-white-house-chief-staff August 8, 2026 Wisconsin Public Radio District 22 general election Democratic Party (United States) Robert Wirch (incumbent) 42,097 52.11 Republican Party (United States) Reince Priebus 38,644 47.84 38 0.05 80,779 100.0 District 24 Incumbent Democrat Julie Lassa ran for re-election. She defeated Republican Greg Swank by a wide margin. District 22 general election Democratic Party (United States) Julie Lassa (incumbent) 58,259 67.57 Republican Party (United States) Greg Swank 27,926 32.39 35 0.04 86,220 100.0 District 26 Incumbent Democrat Fred Risser ran for re-election. He defeated Green party candidate Tony Schultz by as wide margin. District 22 general election Democratic Party (United States) Fred Risser (incumbent) 71,745 80.81 Green Party (United States) Tony Schultz 16,807 18.93 225 0.25 88,777 100.0 District 28 Incumbent Republican Mary Lazich ran for re-election unopposed. District 28 general election Republican Party (United States) Mary Lazich (incumbent) 73,899 99.27 544 0.73 74,443 100.0 District 30 Incumbent Democrat Dave Hansen ran for re-election. In the Republican primary, former State senator Gary Drzewiecki defeated businessman David Steffen in a mild upset.Murray Patty October 26, 2004 Two Senators Go Head to Head Over the 30th https://www.wpr.org/news/two-senators-go-head-head-over-30th June 22, 2026 Wisconsin Public Radio Hansen defeated Drzewiecki in a rematch of the 2000 election by nine points. District 30 Republican primary Republican Party (United States) Gary Drzewiecki 6,404 52.69 Republican Party (United States) David Steffen 5,738 47.21 11 0.09 12,153 100.0 District 30 general election Democratic Party (United States) Dave Hansen (incumbent) 44,225 52.11 Republican Party (United States) Gary Drzewiecki 36,766 45.35 81 0.10 81,072 100.0 District 32 Incumbent Democrat Mark Meyer declined to seek re-election. business owner Dan Kapanke defeated Democrat Brad Pfaff by a five-point margin. District 32 Democratic primary Democratic Party (United States) Brad Pfaff 8,637 79.13 Democratic Party (United States) Monte L. Jacobson 2,258 20.69 20 0.18 10,915 100.0 District 32 general election Republican Party (United States) Dan Kapanke 46,416 52.46 Democratic Party (United States) Brad Pfaff 41,928 47.39 139 0.16 88,483 100.0 References Category:2004 state legislature elections in the United States Category:2004 Wisconsin elections Category:Wisconsin Senate elections Category:November 2004 in the United States