Wisconsin Elections Results 2004

 The Hamilton Consulting Group

Updated Nov. 3, 2004

© 2004 The Hamilton Consulting Group

State Senate Races

State Assembly Races

Summary

As with the rest of the country, Wisconsin voters turned out in record numbers. Wisconsin's tag as a presidential battleground state proved deserving, and it appears Kerry will hang on to his slim lead to claim the state's 10 electoral votes.

The Wisconsin congressional races proved to be less exciting, as all incumbents retained their seats by comfortable margins. At the state level, both houses remain strongly in the Republican's column.

Below this summary are the results in Wisconsin's Congressional races. Go to our State Senate Races  and State Assembly Races pages for state legislative race results.

Presidential – Kerry Projected to Win Wisconsin

While noted as too close to call by certain pundits, Sen. John Kerry will win Wisconsin's 10 electoral votes. As of this writing, he holds a 13,293 vote lead (1,480,256 to 1,466,963) with 99 percent of the precincts reporting.

U.S. Senate – Feingold in a Walk-off

On the national stage, the Republicans did better than expected in the U.S. Senate, expanding their razor slim majority. Republicans have picked up two seats, and are leading in the only two outstanding races, which if they hold, would expand their current 51 seats to 55. However, the once targeted Wisconsin seat held by Democrat Russ Feingold proved to be a walk off for Feingold, who received 55 percent of the vote to Republican Tim Michels' 44 percent.

U.S. House – All Incumbents Retain Seats

As expected, all incumbents have been re-elected in Wisconsin Congressional races. Wisconsin also made history by sending its first African-American Woman to Congress, former Democratic State Senator Gwen Moore. Moore handedly defeated Republican challenger Gerald Boyle to represent Wisconsin’s 4^th congressional district vacated by Democrat Gerald Kleczka. In one of the more watched Congressional races, incumbent Ron Kind (D) outpaced Republican challenger Dale Schultz by a 56.5 to 43.5 margin in western Wisconsin’s 3^rd congressional district. Schultz will return to the Wisconsin State Senate.

Wisconsin Senate – Republicans take One of Four Targeted Seats

Falling short of expectations, the Republicans picked up only one of their four targeted seats. However, they will hold a comfortable 19-14 majority next session. Republican Dan Kapanke defeated Democrat Brad Pfaff in the open 32^nd (52.5-47.5). In the other targeted races, all incumbent Democrats won reelection: Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) over former State Senator Gary Drzewiecki (R-Pulaski) (55 to 45); Roger Breske (D-Eland) over Tom Tiffany (53 to 47); and, Bob Wirch (D-Kenosha) over Reince Priebus (52 to 48).

Wisconsin Assembly – Republicans Continue Momentum

Assembly Republicans, led by Speaker John Gard, once again gained seats, albeit only one. The Republicans picked up an open Democratic seat and knock off one sitting Democrat, while the Democrats defeated one incumbent Republican. The result is that Speaker Gard strengthened an already strong hold in the Assembly to a 60 to 39 majority.

Republicans picked up seats in the 29th Assembly District where Republican challenger Andy Lamb of Menomonie defeated incumbent Democrat Joe Plouff and also in the open 68th Assembly District (formerly held by Democrat Larry Balow), where Republican Terry Moulton of Chippewa Falls defeated Democrat Joe Bee Xiong. In the 5th Assembly District in Green Bay, incumbent Republican Becky Weber lost to Democratic challenger Tom Nelson.

Results U.S. Congress – Wisconsin Delegation

U.S. Senate

Incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Russ Feingold handily defeated Republican challenger Tim Michels for his third term. On once targeted race was called early in the evening, with Feingold r, with 3503 of 3540 Precincts Reporting.

U.S. House of Representatives

The following table lists the winners in each of the Wisconsin Congressional races.