Wisconsin's 5th congressional district

Summary

Wisconsin's 5th congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in Wisconsin, covering most of Milwaukee's northern and western suburbs. It presently covers all of Washington and Jefferson counties, most of Waukesha County, and portions of Dodge, Milwaukee and Walworth counties. It is currently represented by Republican Scott Fitzgerald.

Wisconsin's 5th congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
  Scott Fitzgerald
RClyman
Area1,273.23 sq mi (3,297.7 km2)
Distribution
  • 84.79% urban
  • 15.21% rural
Population (2022)741,842
Median household
income
$89,947[1]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+14[2]

With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+14, it is the most Republican district in Wisconsin.[2] George W. Bush carried the district in 2004 with 63% of the vote. The 5th District was the only district in Wisconsin that John McCain won in 2008, giving 57.73% of the vote to McCain and 41.28% to Barack Obama.

For most of the 20th century, the 5th District was a Milwaukee-based district. It had vastly different boundaries from the current 5th, as well as a dramatically different political history, represented often by Democrats or even Socialists. From 1983 to 2003, it covered the northern half of Milwaukee, including downtown, as well as some suburbs to the north. Meanwhile, most of the territory now in the 5th was part of the 9th District from 1965 to 2003. After Wisconsin lost a district in the 2000 census, all of Milwaukee was merged into the 4th district, while the old 9th essentially became the new 5th.

Election results from recent statewide races edit

Year Results
2000 Gore 65 - 31%
2004 Bush 63 - 36%
2008 McCain 57 - 41%
2012 Romney 61 - 38%
2016 Trump 57 - 37%
2020 Trump 56 - 41%

Counties and municipalities within the district edit

# County Seat Population
27 Dodge Juneau 89,313
55 Jefferson Jefferson 84,943
79 Milwaukee Milwaukee 928,059
101 Walworth Elkhorn 106,799
131 Washington West Bend 137,175
133 Waukesha Waukesha 408,756

Dodge County

Clyman, Horicon, Hustisford, Iron Ridge, Juneau, Lowell, Neosho, Reeseville, and Watertown (Dodge County side).

Jefferson

Fort Atkinson, Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Palmyra, Sullivan, Waterloo, Watertown, and Whitewater (Jefferson County side).

Milwaukee

Greenfield and West Allis (half).

Walworth

East Troy.

Washington

Germantown, Hartford, Kewaskum, Newburg, Richfield, Slinger, and West Bend.

Waukesha

Big Bend, Brookfield, Butler, Delafield, Chenequa, Douesman, Eagle, Elm Grove, Hartland, Lac La Belle, Lannon, Menomonee Falls, Merton, Mukwonago, Nashotah, New Berlin, North Prairie, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, Summit, Sussex, Vernon, Wales, and Waukesha.

List of members representing the district edit

Member Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history District
District established March 4, 1863
 
Ezra Wheeler
(Berlin)
Democratic March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1865
38th Elected in 1862.
Retired.
 
Brown, Calumet, Door, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marquette, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, & Winnebago counties
 
Philetus Sawyer
(Oshkosh)
Republican March 4, 1865 –
March 3, 1873
39th
40th
41st
42nd
Elected in 1864.
Re-elected in 1866.
Re-elected in 1868.
Re-elected in 1870.
Redistricted to the 6th district.
 
Charles A. Eldredge
(Fond du Lac)
Democratic March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875
43rd Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1872.
Lost renomination.
 
Dodge, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, & Sheboygan counties
 
Samuel D. Burchard
(Beaver Dam)
Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1877
44th Elected in 1874.
Lost renomination.
 
Edward S. Bragg
(Fond du Lac)
Democratic March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1883
45th
46th
47th
Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Redistricted to the 2nd district and lost renomination.
 
Joseph Rankin
(Manitowoc)
Democratic March 4, 1883 –
January 24, 1886
48th
49th
Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Died.
 
Brown, Calumet, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Ozaukee, & Sheboygan counties
Vacant January 24, 1886 –
March 8, 1886
49th
 
Thomas R. Hudd
(Green Bay)
Democratic March 8, 1886 –
March 3, 1889
49th
50th
Elected to finish Rankin's term.
Re-elected in 1886.
Retired.
 
George H. Brickner
(Sheboygan Falls)
Democratic March 4, 1889 –
March 3, 1895
51st
52nd
53rd
Elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Retired.
 
Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington, & Waukesha counties &
    • Town of Granville
    • Town of Milwaukee
    • Town of Wauwatosa
    • Wards 10, 13, city of Milwaukee
 
Samuel S. Barney
(West Bend)
Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1903
54th
55th
56th
57th
Elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Retired.
 
William H. Stafford
(Milwaukee)
Republican March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1911
58th
59th
60th
61st
Elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Lost renomination.
 
Waukesha County &
    • Village of East Milwaukee
    • Village of North Milwaukee
    • Village of Whitefish Bay
    • Town of Granville
    • Town of Milwaukee
    • Wards 1, 6, 9, 10, 13, 18-22, city of Milwaukee
 
Victor L. Berger
(Milwaukee)
Socialist March 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1913
62nd Elected in 1910.
Lost re-election.
 
William H. Stafford
(Milwaukee)
Republican March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1919
63rd
64th
65th
Elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Lost re-election.
 
    • Village of East Milwaukee
    • Village of North Milwaukee
    • Village of Whitefish Bay
    • Town of Granville
    • Town of Milwaukee
    • Wards 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 15, 18-22, 25, city of Milwaukee
Vacant March 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1921
66th Congress refused to seat Representative-elect Victor L. Berger.
 
William H. Stafford
(Milwaukee)
Republican March 4, 1921 –
March 3, 1923
67th Elected in 1920.
Lost re-election.
 
Victor L. Berger
(Milwaukee)
Socialist March 4, 1923 –
March 3, 1929
68th
69th
70th
Elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Lost re-election.
 
William H. Stafford
(Milwaukee)
Republican March 4, 1929 –
March 3, 1933
71st
72nd
Elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Lost renomination.
 
Thomas O'Malley
(Milwaukee)
Democratic March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1939
73rd
74th
75th
Elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Lost re-election.
 
    • Village of Fox Point
    • Village of River Hills
    • Village of Shorewood
    • Village of Whitefish Bay
    • Town of Granville
    • Town of Milwaukee
    • Wards 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 15, 18-22, 25, 26, city of Milwaukee
 
Lewis D. Thill
(Milwaukee)
Republican January 3, 1939 –
January 3, 1943
76th
77th
Elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Lost re-election.
 
Howard J. McMurray
(Milwaukee)
Democratic January 3, 1943 –
January 3, 1945
78th Elected in 1942.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 
Andrew Biemiller
(Milwaukee)
Democratic January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1947
79th Elected in 1944.
Lost re-election.
 
Charles J. Kersten
(Milwaukee)
Republican January 3, 1947 –
January 3, 1949
80th Elected in 1946.
Lost re-election.
 
Andrew Biemiller
(Milwaukee)
Democratic January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1951
81st Elected in 1948.
Lost re-election.
 
Charles J. Kersten
(Milwaukee)
Republican January 3, 1951 –
January 3, 1955
82nd
83rd
Elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Lost re-election.
 
Henry S. Reuss
(Milwaukee)
Democratic January 3, 1955 –
January 3, 1983
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th
97th
Elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Retired.
 
    • The part of the city of Milwaukee contained by a line extending from the point where N. 60th St. intersects with W. Wright St. at the city limits, following N. 60th St. north to Burleigh St., west to Lisbon Ave., northwest to Wauwatosa Ave., north to Hampton Ave., east to the city limits, then following the city limits to Lake Michigan, following the shore of Lake Michigan south to the mouth of the Milwaukee River, following the river west to the intersection with the Menomonee River, then following the Menomonee River west to the point where it intersects with S. 39th St., then south to the city limits
 
    • The part of the city of Milwaukee north of the line extending from the point where E. St. Paul Ave. meets Lake Michigan, following E. St. Paul Ave. west as it becomes W. St. Paul Ave., continuing west to N. 32nd St., south to I-94, west to S. 39th St., them south to the city limits
 
Jim Moody
(Milwaukee)
Democratic January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 1993
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
Elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 
    • Village of Brown Deer
    • Village of Shorewood
    • City of Glendale
    • City of Wauwatosa
    • The part of the city of Milwaukee north of the line extending from the point where I-94 intersects with the western city limits, following I-94 east to the point where it intersects the Menomonee River, then following the river east to the point where it merges with the Milwaukee River, then following the Milwaukee River north to E. Juneau Ave., then east to N. Van Buren St., south to E. State St., east to N. Cass St., south to E. Kilbourn Ave., and east to Lake Michigan
 
Tom Barrett
(Milwaukee)
Democratic January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 2003
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
Elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Retired to run for Governor of Wisconsin.
 
    • Village of Brown Deer
    • Village of Fox Point
    • Village of River Hills
    • Village of Shorewood
    • Village of Whitefish Bay
    • the part of the village of Bayside in the county
    • City of Glendale
    • City of Wauwatosa
    • The part of the city of Milwaukee north of the line extending from the point where I-94 intersects with the western city limits, following I-94 east to the point where it intersects the Menomonee River, then following the river east to the point where it merges with the Milwaukee River, then following the Milwaukee River north to E. Juneau Ave., then east to N. Edison St., south to E. Highland Ave., east to N. Water St., south to E. Kilbourn St., east to N. Broadway, south to E. Wisconsin Ave., east to N. Jefferson St., north to E. Mason St., east to N. Jackson St., north to E. State St., west to N. Broadway, north to E. Knapp St., east to N. Jefferson St., north to E. Knapp St., east to N. Jefferson St., north to E. Ogden Ave., east to N. Van Buren St., south to E. Juneau Ave., east to N. Marshall, south to E. Mason St., and east to Lake Michigan
 
Jim Sensenbrenner
(Menomonee Falls)
Republican January 3, 2003 –
January 3, 2021
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th
114th
115th
116th
Redistricted from the 9th district and re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Retired.
2003–2013
 
2013–2023
 
 
Scott L. Fitzgerald
(Clyman)
Republican January 3, 2021 –
present
117th
118th
Elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
2023–present
 

Recent election results edit

2002 district boundaries (2002–2011) edit

Year Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2002[3] Nov. 5 Jim Sensenbrenner Republican 191,224 86.13% Robert R. Raymond Ind. 29,567 13.32% 222,012 161,657
2004[4] Nov. 2 Jim Sensenbrenner (inc) Republican 271,153 66.57% Bryan Kennedy Dem. 129,384 31.77% 407,291 141,769
Tim Peterson Lib. 6,549 1.61%
2006[5] Nov. 7 Jim Sensenbrenner (inc) Republican 194,669 61.76% Bryan Kennedy Dem. 112,451 35.68% 315,180 82,218
Bob Levis Grn. 4,432 1.41%
Robert R. Raymond Ind. 3,525 1.12%
2008[6] Nov. 4 Jim Sensenbrenner (inc) Republican 275,271 79.58% Robert R. Raymond Ind. 69,715 20.15% 345,899 205,556
2010[7] Nov. 2 Jim Sensenbrenner (inc) Republican 229,642 69.32% Todd P. Kolosso Dem. 90,634 27.36% 331,258 139,008
Robert R. Raymond Ind. 10,813 3.26%

2011 district boundaries (2012–2021) edit

Year Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2012[8] Nov. 6 Jim Sensenbrenner (inc) Republican 250,335 67.72% Dave Heaster Dem. 118,478 32.05% 369,664 131,857
2014[9] Nov. 4 Jim Sensenbrenner (inc) Republican 231,160 69.45% Chris Rockwood Dem. 101,190 30.40% 332,826 129,970
2016[10] Nov. 8 Jim Sensenbrenner (inc) Republican 260,706 69.45% Khary Penebaker Dem. 114,477 29.29% 390,844 146,229
John Arndt Lib. 15,324 3.92%
2018[11] Nov. 6 Jim Sensenbrenner (inc) Republican 225,619 61.93% Tom Palzewicz Dem. 138,385 37.99% 364,288 87,234
2020[12] Nov. 3 Scott L. Fitzgerald Republican 265,434 60.11% Tom Palzewicz Dem. 175,902 39.83% 441,599 89,532

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "My Congressional District".
  2. ^ a b "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  3. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/05/2002 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 2, 2002. p. 5. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  4. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2004. p. 4. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  5. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2006 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 5, 2006. p. 5. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  6. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/04/2008 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2008. p. 3. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  7. ^ 2010 Fall General Election Results Summary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 1, 2010. p. 4. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  8. ^ Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election - 11/6/2012 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 26, 2012. p. 3. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  9. ^ Canvass Results for 2014 General Election - 11/4/2014 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. November 26, 2014. p. 4. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  10. ^ Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 22, 2016. p. 4. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  11. ^ Canvass Results for 2018 General Election - 11/6/2018 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. February 22, 2019. pp. 4–5. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  12. ^ Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 18, 2020. p. 3. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

43°11′59″N 88°31′53″W / 43.19972°N 88.53139°W / 43.19972; -88.53139