Wisconsin Elections - 2008
The Hamilton Consulting Group
July
2008
©
2008 The Hamilton Consulting Group
State
Assembly Races
State Senate
Races
Wisconsin Congressional Races
Election News
Links
Introduction
The balance of power in the State Legislature is at stake in the upcoming
2008 Fall Elections. Currently, Democrats control the State Senate 17-14
with two open/vacant seats. Republicans control the State Assembly by a
51-47-1 margin with 11 open seats. Governor Jim Doyle (D) and Republican
Attorney General JB Van Hollen are not up for reelection this cycle. The
partisan Primary Election will be held on September 9, 2008.
All 99 seats in the State Assembly will be filled by election this fall as
they are every two years. The Republican majority has decreased in recent
elections and a fierce battle for control of the Assembly is anticipated.
And in a surprising development Rep. Jeff Wood, who has represented the 67th
Assembly District as a Republican since 2002, filed nomination papers to run
as an Independent, leaving Speaker Huebsch with just a two seat majority.
Although the Democrats have already targeted the most vulnerable Republican
seats in recent elections, the overall national trends, mostly advantaging
Democrats, are putting the Republicans in a somewhat defensive position. The
Assembly, therefore, will be the key battleground in the upcoming election,
and should the Democrats gain the majority, it will give them control of
both houses (assuming they retain their Senate majority) and the Governor’s
Office.
In the Senate, 16 of the 33 seats will be contested this year. Senators in
Wisconsin serve staggered four-year terms with the even-numbered districts
up this year. The Republicans were in the majority as recently as the
2005-06 session and will seek to regain control in an uphill battle. The
vacant 12th Senate District seat was considered fairly safe with
incumbent Roger Breske (D) before his appointment as Railroad Commissioner,
but is now considered competitive. The open 18th Senate District,
vacated by Republican Carol Roessler is generally considered a safe
Republican seat. Other seats in play are outlined below.
November Elections by the Numbers
State
Assembly: GOP holds a 51-47 Majority (1 Ind.)
-
All
99 seats up for election this fall
-
13
Democrats are unopposed: Zepnick, Kessler, Cullen, Grigsby, Richards,
Ziegelbauer, Sheridan, Parisi, Hubler, Black, Berceau, Pocan, Schelling
-
Four
Republicans are unopposed: Newcomer, Stone, Gundrum, Pridemore
-
29
incumbent Democrats are opposed
-
39
incumbent Republicans are opposed
-
11
open seats: Assembly Districts 22, 24, 47, 50, 53, 57, 64, 73, 81, 91, 92
-
One
unopposed Independent
State
Senate: Dems hold a 17-14 Majority
-
16
even numbered districts up for election this fall.
-
Two
Democrats unopposed: Miller and Taylor
-
Three
Republicans unopposed: Lazich, Cowles, Olsen
-
Five incumbent Democrats are opposed
-
Four incumbent Republicans are opposed
-
Two
open seats – 12th and 18th Senate Districts
Primary Election - Sept.
2008
The following incumbents face opponents in the
September primary election only:
-
Senator Spencer Coggs (D)
-
Democrat Reps. Pedro Colon, Annette Williams, Jason Fields, Leon Young,
Barbara Toles, and Christine Sinicki
-
Republican Rep. Daniel LeMahieu
Election News
Ryan is running, Thomas isn't in 1st District: Janesville Gazette,
July 10, 2008. The race for Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District seat
will be different this year because of who is not running.
Control of
Legislature in play: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 9, 2008. GOP,
Democrats set rosters for fall races in hopes of winning other house.
Open race in Wisconsin 91st District draws a crowd: La Crosse
Tribune, July 9, 2008. With the retirement of Rep. Barbara Gronemus
after nearly three decades in the state Assembly, the 91st District race
is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in the state.
How the primary is
shaping up: Wisconsin State Journal, July 8, 2008. The stakes are high.
Republicans control the Assembly by just five seats, 52-47. Democrats hold
the majority in the Senate 17-15.
Sensenbrenner
draws GOP challenger in 5th District run: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
July 8, 2008. No Republican has dared even try to take Rep. Jim
Sensenbrenner's congressional seat for the past three decades.
Wisconsin Democrats plot for Assembly takeover: La Crosse Tribune,
July 7, 2008. Four months before the November election, Democrats are
positioning themselves to win control of the Wisconsin Assembly for the
first time in 14 years.
Links
Government Accountability Board. List of all candidates
registered for U. S. House, State Senate, State Assembly and
District Attorney.
Government Accountability Board. Candidate registrations show interest
in autumn elections.
Political
Parties
The
Democratic Party of Wisconsin
The
Republican Party of Wisconsin
Libertarian Party
Green Party
Constitution Party
Business Organizations
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
State
Bar Association of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Manufacturers & Commerce
Wisconsin
Utilities Association
Government Organizations
League of Wisconsin Municipalities
Wisconsin
Alliance of Cities
Wisconsin
Assoc. of School Boards'
Wisconsin
Counties Association
Issue
Groups
AARP
League
of Women Voters Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
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