Read more: Races to Watch and Constitutional Amendments
Wisconsin held its state primary election yesterday, August 13. State legislative and U.S. congressional races with competitive partisan primaries were decided, while voters also weighed in on two statewide referenda for proposed constitutional amendments. See this page for more information about the 2024 elections in Wisconsin, including a full list of the candidates and results. Just over 1.2 million voters cast a ballot in yesterday’s election, about 26 percent of the state’s voting-age population, the highest in 60 years for a Wisconsin state primary during a presidential election year.
The August primary was absent a big-ticket race, but it was not short on intrigue and impact.
The most notable statewide contest was over two proposed constitutional amendments, both of which failed by a wide margin. Many see this outcome as a victory for Gov. Tony Evers (D). The amendments sought to curb the Governor’s ability to spend certain federal funds without legislative approval. Republicans in the legislature passed the proposed amendments over the last two legislative sessions after Gov. Evers managed and distributed roughly $5.1 billion in federal funding related to COVID-19 and economic relief.
Opponents of the amendments spent far more to advertise against the referenda than supporters spent in favor of them, and combined with the obtuse wording of the amendments, voters rejected the proposed changes.
Republican legislators successfully used the amendment process in the statewide spring election earlier this year as voters approved two amendments, by relatively strong margins, to prohibit the use of private funding for election administration and to limit the administration of elections to legally designated election officials.
Congressional Primaries: Outside Support Yields Different Results
Two congressional races with spirited primaries ended as Rebecca Cooke beat state Rep. Katrina Shankland in the Democratic primary for the 3rd Congressional District and Tony Wied beat former state Sen. Roger Roth and current Sen. André Jacque in the Republican primary for the 8th Congressional District.
In the 3rd, Cooke’s margin over Shankland was around 7,500 votes, but incumbent U.S. Rep Derrick Van Orden is still favored in the western Wisconsin district come November. Democrats at the national level have targeted this race as a potential flip opportunity, but they may have to salve some wounds to get everyone on board heading into the general. Shankland had the backing of U.S. Reps. Mark Pocan and Gwen Moore, but Cooke outraised Shankland and had the advantage of running a close primary in the district just two years prior.
In the 8th, Trump-endorsed candidate Tony Wied won comfortably over Roger Roth and André Jacque. The former president cut an ad endorsing Wied and encouraging Roth to drop out of the race. Wied will now take on Kristin Lyerly in a seat that Republicans are expected to hold.
State Legislature: Incumbents Hold Strong
In primaries for the Wisconsin Legislature, incumbents largely prevailed, fending off challengers across the state. The only incumbents to lose were those having to run against other incumbents because they were paired due to redistricting.
On the Senate side, Assistant Majority Leader Dan Feyen cruised to victory against former Rep. Tim Ramthun in the Republican primary for Senate District (SD) 20 that insiders thought could be close. Feyen will again cruise to victory in the general election.
Democratic Senate primary winners Reps. Melissa Ratcliffe and Dora Drake easily won primaries for seats that will remain in Democratic hands after November. Ratcliffe knocked off fellow Assembly members Jimmy Anderson and Samba Baldeh in the Dane County-area seat currently held by Melissa Agard (SD 16). Drake beat Rep. LaKeshia Myers in former Sen. Lena Taylor’s Milwaukee-area seat (SD 4).
On the Assembly side, suggesting a simmering level of inter-party squabbling, challengers took on sitting Assembly members in numerous Republican primaries. Each of these challengers lost and most of the races were not close.
However, three incumbents lost on Tuesday in races against other incumbents. Rep. Donna Rozar lost to Rep. John Spiros in a central Wisconsin district (AD 86), Rep. Michael Schraa lost to Nate Gustafson in the Winnebago County area (AD 55), and Rep. Peter Schmidt lost to Rep. Elijah Behnke in northeast Wisconsin (AD 6).
With Republican margins in the Assembly expected to shrink, some of these races could have an impact on leadership votes following the general election on November 5.
Democrats had one significant Assembly primary as a challenger tried to knock off incumbent Rep. Ryan Clancy in his east side Milwaukee district (AD 19). The self-described “democratic socialist” won easily over self-described “pragmatic progressive” Jarrod Anderson. Anderson was unable to defeated Clancy despite being more well financed and having the endorsements of Mayor Cavalier Johnson and County Executive David Crowley.