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Wisconsin
Elections 2004 – An Overview
By
Andy
Franken and Amy Boyer
The Hamilton Consulting Group
Updated Sept.
17,
2004
©
2004 The Hamilton Consulting Group
Print Version
Senate Races
Assembly Races
Wisconsin Congressional
Races
Primary Highlights
Only 12 percent
of eligible voters turned out last for the Sept. 14 Primaries. Turnout was on the low
end of the last 30 years but those who participated in the
elections removed some uncertainties for candidates and political
parties in Wisconsin and gave new life to some old faces.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Michels’ victory allows
incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold to focus on one challenger and
allows the National Republicans to focus their efforts on a fresh
face political newcomer that surprised most pundits with his
margin of victory over Russ Darrow and State Senator Bob
Welch. State Senator Gwen Moore has positioned
herself to make history by becoming Wisconsin’s first
African-American to be elected to Congress. Moore defeated Matt
Flynn and Tim Carpenter in
Wisconsin’s
4th Congressional District Democratic primary. Moore
will face Republican Gerald Boyle in this heavily Democratic
district in November.
For the Senate Republicans, a new leader must take them to
the November elections as State Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend)
defeated Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer (R-West Bend) in the
GOP primary.
Other primary
election night highlights include:
·
Republican Gary Drzewiecki defeated Dave Steffen in the 30th
State Senate District primary keeping his bid alive to regain the
seat he lost to Democrat Dave Hansen in 2000.
·
Assembly Republican incumbent Mickey Lehman was defeated in his
primary race by Don Pridemore.
·
Democrat Fred Kessler, former Representative and judge won his
primary and will return to state government after leaving the
Capitol over 30 years ago.
·
First time politico Republican Dave Magnum defeated Ron Greer in
Wisconsin’s 2nd Congressional District and will likely
provide a strong challenge to incumbent Democrat Tammy Baldwin.
·
State Representative Lena Taylor, fresh from winning a special
election in 2003 has made a swift leap to the State Senate by
winning the Democratic primary in the 4th State Senate
District in Milwaukee.
·
State Representative Mark Miller defeated State Representative Tom
Hebl in the Democratic primary election to replace Senator Chuck
Chvala in the 16th Senate Seat.
Go to our
Primary Election page for
other results from the Sept. 14 primaries.
NOTE: In the
following pages, we have attempted to fairly and accurately
present background information on the candidates. The
available information is not, however, always consistent and
is sometimes non-existent. Anyone wishing to provide additional
information, please contact us.
(District number links are to District maps, off site. Use your
browsers back button to return to this Update.)
State Senate Races
State Assembly Races
Wisconsin Congressional Races
Links
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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