Summary
The 2014 Wisconsin Fall General Election was held in the U.S. state of Wisconsin on November 4, 2014. Wisconsin's Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer were all up for election, as well as Wisconsin's eight seats in the United States House of Representatives. The November general election in 2014 also featured a statewide referendum on an amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin. The 2014 Wisconsin Fall Primary Election was held on August 12, 2014.
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The Republican Party of Wisconsin held onto all statewide offices up for election in 2014, except for secretary of state, where Democrat Doug La Follette won his tenth term. Republicans also retained control of the Wisconsin State Senate and Wisconsin State Assembly. The partisan breakdown of Wisconsin's delegation to the United States House of Representatives was unchanged, remaining five Republicans and three Democrats.
For nonpartisan local and judicial seats, the 2014 Wisconsin Spring General Election was held April 1, 2014. No Wisconsin Supreme Court seats were up in 2014, but three seats on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and 41 Wisconsin Circuit Court seats were up. The 2014 Wisconsin Spring Primary Election was held on February 18.
Federal edit
Senate edit
Neither of Wisconsin's United States Senate seats were up for election in 2014.
House of Representatives edit
All 8 of Wisconsin's congressional districts were up for election at the Fall general election. Seven of eight incumbent representatives ran for reelection, with Tom Petri retiring from District 6. Party composition remained unchanged after the general election.
| District | Incumbent | Elected | Defeated | Democratic | Republican | Others | Total | Result | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | |||||||
| District 1 | Paul Ryan | Paul Ryan | Rob Zerban (D) Keith R. Deschler (Ind) |
105,552 | 36.63% | 182,316 | 63.27% | 302 | 0.10% | 288,170 | 12.23% | Republican Hold | ||
| District 2 | Mark Pocan | Mark Pocan | Peter Theron (R) | 224,920 | 68.40% | 103,619 | 31.51% | 308 | 0.09% | 328,847 | 13.96% | Democratic Hold | ||
| District 3 | Ron Kind | Ron Kind | Tony Kurtz (R) Ken Van Doren (Ind) |
155,368 | 56.46% | 119,540 | 43.44% | 253 | 0.09% | 275,161 | 11.68% | Democratic Hold | ||
| District 4 | Gwen Moore | Gwen Moore | Dan Sebring (R) Robert R. Raymond (Ind) |
179,045 | 70.24% | 68,490 | 26.87% | 7,357 | 2.89% | 254,892 | 10.82% | Democratic Hold | ||
| District 5 | Jim Sensenbrenner | Jim Sensenbrenner | Chris Rockwood (D) | 101,190 | 30.40% | 231,160 | 69.45% | 476 | 0.14% | 332,826 | 14.13% | Republican Hold | ||
| District 6 | Tom Petri | Glenn Grothman | Mark L. Harris (D) Gus Fahrendorf (Ind) |
122,212 | 40.87% | 169,767 | 56.77% | 7,054 | 2.36% | 299,033 | 12.69% | Republican Hold | ||
| District 7 | Sean Duffy | Sean Duffy | Kelly Westlund (D) Lawrence Dale (Ind) |
112,949 | 39.41% | 169,891 | 59.28% | 3,763 | 1.31% | 286,603 | 12.17% | Republican Hold | ||
| District 8 | Reid Ribble | Reid Ribble | Ron Gruett (D) | 101,345 | 34.94% | 188,553 | 65.01% | 150 | 0.05% | 290,048 | 12.31% | Republican Hold | ||
| Total | 1,102,581 | 46.81% | 1,233,336 | 52.36% | 19,663 | 0.83% | 2,355,580 | 100.00% | ||||||
State edit
Executive edit
Governor and Lieutenant Governor edit
Incumbent Republican Governor Scott Walker and Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, first elected in 2010, sought re-election to a second term after surviving a recall election in 2012.
The Democratic Party nominated business executive Mary Burke and state senator John Lehman for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively. Burke was a member of the Madison school board and former Secretary of Wisconsin's Department of Commerce. Lehman was a state senator and former teacher from Racine, who had just won back his senate seat in a recall election.
Walker and Kleefisch won the November election with 52% of the vote.[1]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Scott Walker (incumbent) / Rebecca Kleefisch (incumbent) |
1,259,706 | 52.26% | -0.79% | |
| Democratic | Mary Burke / John Lehman |
1,122,913 | 46.59% | +0.31% | |
| Libertarian | Robert Burke / Joseph M. Brost |
18,720 | 0.78% | ||
| Independent | Dennis Fehr | 7,530 | 0.31% | ||
| Scattering | 1,445 | 0.06% | |||
| Plurality | 136,793 | 5.68% | |||
| Total votes | 2,410,314 | 100.0% | -4.20% | ||
Attorney General edit
Republican incumbent attorney general J. B. Van Hollen, first elected in 2006, did not seek re-election to a third term. Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel defeated Jefferson County District Attorney Susan Happ in the November general election.
Happ defeated state representative Jon Richards and Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne in the Democratic primary.
Secretary of State edit
Incumbent Democratic secretary of state Doug La Follette, first elected in 1974 and regaining his seat in 1982, narrowly won his 10th four-year term, defeating the Republican candidate, telecommunications manager Julian Bradley.
La Follette was unopposed in the Democratic primary.
In the Republican primary, Bradley defeated State Representative Garey Bies.
Treasurer edit
Republican incumbent state treasurer Kurt W. Schuller, first elected in 2011, did not seek re-election to a second term. In the November general election, Republican Wisconsin legislative staffer Matt Adamczyk defeated Democrat Dave Sartori, a former Greenfield alderman.
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
- Matt Adamczyk, legislative staffer
- Randall Melchert, attorney
Results edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Adamczyk | 132,596 | 61.8 | |
| Republican | Randall Melchert | 82,108 | 38.2 | |
| Total votes | 214,074 | 100 | ||
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
- Dave Leeper, former Green County District Attorney
- Dave Sartori, former Greenfield alderman
Results edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dave Sartori | 119,504 | 51.6 | |
| Democratic | Dave Leeper | 112,225 | 48.4 | |
| Total votes | 231,729 | 100 | ||
General election edit
Candidates edit
- Matt Adamczyk, legislative staffer (R)
- Dave Sartori, former Greenfield alderman (D)
- Jerry Shidell, former Rhinelander mayor (L)
- Andrew Zuelke, businessman (C)
- Ron Hardy, Winnebago County Supervisor (G)
Polling edit
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Randall Melchert (R) |
Dave Leeper (D) |
Ron Hardy (G) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravis Marketing | September 22–23, 2014[4] | 908 | ± 3% | 38% | 35% | 10% | 17% |
| Gravis Marketing | July 31–August 2, 2014 | 1,346 | ± 3% | 39% | 31% | 12% | 18% |
Results edit
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 County results Adamczyk: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Sartori: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | ||||||||||||||||
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| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 4, 2014[2] | |||||
| Republican | Matt Adamczyk | 1,120,140 | 48.80% | -4.59% | |
| Democratic | Dave Sartori | 1,026,548 | 44.73% | -1.74% | |
| Independent | Ron Hardy | 66,120 | 2.88% | ||
| Independent | Jerry Shidell | 53,113 | 2.31% | ||
| Constitution | Andrew Zuelke | 28,053 | 1.22% | ||
| Scattering | 1,244 | 0.05% | |||
| Plurality | 93,592 | 4.08% | -2.85% | ||
| Total votes | 2,295,218 | 100.0% | +11.27% | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
Legislature edit
State Senate edit
17 of the Wisconsin State Senate's 33 seats were up for election in the November general election. Republicans added one seat to their majority, retaking the 21st senate district which had been lost in the 2012 recall elections.
| Seats | Party (majority caucus shading)
|
Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | |||
| Last election (2012) | 8 | 8 | 16 | |
| Total after last election (2012) | 15 | 18 | 33 | |
| Total before this election | 15 | 17 | 32 | |
| Up for election | 7 | 10 | 17 | |
| of which: | Incumbent retiring | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Vacated | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Unopposed | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| This election | 6 | 11 | 17 | |
| Change from last election |  1
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| Total after this election | 14 | 19 | 33 | |
| Change in total | 1
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| Dist. | Incumbent | This race[2] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | First elect | Status | Candidates | Results | ||
| 01 | Frank Lasee | Republican | 2010 | Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected | |
| 03 | Tim Carpenter | Democratic | 2002 | Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected | |
| 05 | Leah Vukmir | Republican | 2010 | Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected | |
| 07 | Chris Larson | Democratic | 2010 | Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected | |
| 09 | Joe Leibham | Republican | 2010 | Ran for U.S. House of Representatives |
|
Incumbent retired to run for U.S. House New member elected Republican hold | |
| 11 | --Vacant-- |
|
Incumbent resigned New member elected Republican hold | ||||
| 13 | Scott Fitzgerald | Republican | 1994 | Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected | |
| 15 | Timothy Cullen | Democratic | 1974 (2010) |
Did not run |
|
Incumbent retired New member elected Democratic hold | |
| 17 | Dale Schultz | Republican | 1991 | Did not run |
|
Incumbent retired New member elected Republican hold | |
| 19 | Michael Ellis | Republican | 1982 | Did not run |
|
Incumbent retired New member elected Republican hold | |
| 21 | John Lehman | Democratic | 2006 (2012) |
Ran for lieutenant governor |
|
Incumbent retired to run for lieutenant governor New member elected Republican gain | |
| 23 | Terry Moulton | Republican | 2010 | Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected | |
| 25 | Robert Jauch | Democratic | 1986 | Did not run |
|
Incumbent retired New member elected Democratic hold | |
| 27 | Jon Erpenbach | Democratic | 1986 | Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected | |
| 29 | Jerry Petrowski | Republican | 2012 | Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected | |
| 31 | Kathleen Vinehout | Democratic | 2006 | Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected | |
| 33 | Paul Farrow | Republican | 2012 | Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected | |
State Assembly edit
All 99 seats of the Wisconsin State Assembly were up for election in November. 21 Assembly incumbents (14 Republicans, 7 Democrats) did not seek re-election.
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Democratic | Vacant | ||
| Before 2014 elections | 60 | 39 | 99 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 61% | 39% | ||
| After 2014 elections | 63 | 36 | 99 | 0 |
| Voting share | 64% | 36% | ||
Judiciary edit
State Court of Appeals edit
Three seats on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals were up for election in 2014. None of the three elections was contested.
- In District I, Judge Patricia S. Curley was re-elected to her fourth term.
- In District II, Judge Lisa Neubauer was re-elected to her second full term.
- In District IV, Judge Gary Sherman was elected to his first full term. Judge Sherman had been appointed to the court in 2010 by Governor Jim Doyle.
State Circuit Courts edit
Forty one of the state's 249 circuit court seats were up for election in 2014. Four of those elections were contested.
Constitutional Amendments edit
Transportation Fund edit
In the November election, Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin to establish a dedicated transportation fund administered by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The amendment also specified that none of the money which flowed into the fund, collected by transportation fees or taxes, could be appropriated to any other program. Critics argued that purpose of the amendment was to create budget inflexibility that would force legislators to raid education funds to balance the budget.[5][6]
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 1,733,101 | 79.94 | |
| No | 434,806 | 20.06 | |
| Total votes | 2,167,907 | 100 | |
Personhood Amendment edit
There was an attempt to amend the Constitution of Wisconsin to establish a right to life. This amendment did not ultimately make it onto the ballot in 2014, as it did not obtain a necessary vote in the 101st Wisconsin Legislature.
Local edit
References edit
- ^ Stein, Jason (November 5, 2014). "Walker defeats Burke for 3rd victory in 4 years". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ a b c Canvass Results for 2014 General Election - 11/4/2014 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. November 26, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Wisconsin Elections Commission.
- ^ a b "Wisconsin 2014 fall primary election results". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
- ^ "Should error disqualify Gravis poll from Wisconsin governor's race poll averaging model?". The Cap Times. October 3, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ "Referendum on Creation of a Transportation Fund". Wisconsin Elections Commission. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ "Wisconsin voters approve transportation amendment". Wisconsin State Journal. November 5, 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2020.