The 2014 Wisconsin gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to determine the governor and lieutenant governor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It occurred concurrently with elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections.

This was one of nine Republican-held governorships up for election in a state that Barack Obama won in the 2012 presidential election. Incumbent Republican governor Scott Walker won re-election to a second term in office, defeating Democratic businesswoman and Madison school board member Mary Burke and two minor party candidates in the general election.

Walker, who was elected in 2010, survived an attempted recall in 2012, the first governor in United States history to do so, defeating Democrat Tom Barrett both times. Wisconsin voters had elected a governor from a different political party than the sitting president in 27 of the last 31 elections since 1932; only once has a Democratic candidate been elected governor in Wisconsin in the last 18 contests when a Democrat was in the White House. Eleven of the last twelve Wisconsin governors, dating back to Republican Vernon Wallace Thomson in the late 1950s, had, unlike Burke, previously won an election to state government, the exception being Republican Lee S. Dreyfus in 1978.

The polling leading up to the election was very close, with no candidate clearly in the lead. The consensus among most analysts was that the race was either a tossup or leaning Republican. As of , this is the last time a Republican was elected governor of Wisconsin, and the last time that a candidate was elected Governor of Wisconsin while winning a majority of counties.

Republican primary Governor Candidates Scott Walker, incumbent governor

Results

Lieutenant governor Candidates Rebecca Kleefisch, incumbent lieutenant governor

Results

Democratic primary Governor Candidates Mary Burke, businesswoman, member of the Madison school district board and former Wisconsin secretary of commerce Brett Hulsey, state representative

Disqualified Marcia Mercedes Perkins Hari Trivedi, independent candidate for governor in the 2012 recall election

Declined Chris Abele, Milwaukee County executive Peter W. Barca, minority leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly and former U.S. representative Tom Barrett, Mayor of Milwaukee and nominee for governor in 2010 and 2012 Deb Carey, founder and president of New Glarus Brewing Company Dave Cieslewicz, former mayor of Madison Lori Compas, executive director of the Wisconsin Business Alliance and nominee for the Wisconsin Senate in 2012 Kevin Conroy, biotechnology executive John Dickert, mayor of Racine Jon Erpenbach, state senator Kathleen Falk, former Dane County executive and candidate for governor in 2012 Russ Feingold, former U.S. senator Dave Hansen, state senator Mark L. Harris, Winnebago County executive Dianne Hesselbein, state representative Sara Johann, political activist Steve Kagen, former U.S. representative Ron Kind, U.S. representative Jessica King, former state senator Herb Kohl, former U.S. senator Chris Larson, minority leader of the Wisconsin Senate Julie Lassa, state senator Cory Mason, state representative Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2012 Gwen Moore, U.S. representative Tom Nelson, Outagamie County Executive and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2010 Dave Obey, former U.S. representative Joe Parisi, Dane County executive Jennifer Shilling, state senator Chris Taylor, state representative Kathleen Vinehout, state senator and candidate for governor in 2012

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror MaryBurke BrettHulsey Marcia MercedesPerkins HariTrivedi Other UndecidedMarquette UniversityMarquette University May 15–18, 2014 ? ± ? 66% 3% 1% 1% — 24%

Results

Lieutenant governor Candidates John Lehman, member of Wisconsin Senate Mary Jo Walters

Results

Minor parties Candidates Declared Robert Burke (Libertarian Party), founder of the Libertarian Party of Pierce-St. Croix Running mate: Joseph Brost Dennis Fehr (The People's Party), businessman and founder of The People's Party Brett Hulsey (write-in), state representative

Disqualified Francis Klein (Pirate Party)

General election Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 3, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2014 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2014 Real Clear Politics November 3, 2014

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ScottWalker (R) MaryBurke (D) Other UndecidedYouGovYouGov October 25–31, 2014 1,494 ± 3.4% 45% 43% 1% 11%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 28–30, 2014 1,814 ± 3% 48% 47% — 5%Marquette UniversityMarquette University October 23–26, 2014 1,164 LV ± 3% 50% 43% 1% 7% 1,409 RV ± 2.7% 46% 45% 1% 9%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov October 16–23, 2014 3,308 ± 3% 46% 45% 0% 10%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 20–21, 2014 973 ± 3% 48% 49% 1% 2%WPR/St. Norbert CollegeWPR/St. Norbert College October 18–21, 2014 525 ± 4.4% 47% 46% — 6%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 17–18, 2014 860 ± ? 47% 46% — 7%Marquette UniversityMarquette University October 9–12, 2014 803 LV ± 3.5% 47% 47% 0% 5% 1,004 RV ± 3.2% 48% 45% 1% 6%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing October 3–4, 2014 837 ± 3% 50% 46% — 4%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov September 20–October 1, 2014 1,444 ± 3% 48% 49% 0% 3%Marquette UniversityMarquette University September 25–28, 2014 585 LV ± 4.1% 51% 45% 1% 4% 801 RV ± 3.5% 46% 45% 1% 8%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing September 22–23, 2014 908 ± 3% 45% 50% — 4%Rasmussen Reports September 15–16, 2014 650 ± 4% 48% 46% 3% 3%Marquette UniversityMarquette University September 11–14, 2014 589 LV ± 4.1% 49% 46% 1% 4% 800 RV ± 3.5% 46% 46% 1% 7%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov August 18–September 2, 2014 1,473 ± 4% 49% 45% 0% 5%We Ask America September 3, 2014 1,170 LV ± 3% 44% 48% 2% 6%Marquette UniversityMarquette University August 21–24, 2014 609 LV ± 4.1% 47% 49% 1% 4% 815 RV ± 3.5% 48% 44% 1% 8%Rasmussen Reports August 13–14, 2014 750 ± 4% 48% 47% — 5%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing July 31–August 2, 2014 1,346 ± 3% 47% 47% — 6%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov July 5–24, 2014 1,968 ± ? 47% 46% 1% 5%Marquette UniversityMarquette University July 17–20, 2014 549 LV ± 4.3% 46% 47% 1% 8% 804 RV ± 3.5% 46% 45% 1% 8%Marquette University May 15–18, 2014 805 ± 3.5% 46% 46% — 6%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling April 17–20, 2014 1,144 ± 2.9% 48% 45% — 7%Magellan StrategiesMagellan Strategies April 14–15, 2014 851 ± 3.36% 47% 47% 2% 4%St. Norbert CollegeSt. Norbert College March 24–April 3, 2014 401 ± 5% 55% 40% — 5%Marquette UniversityMarquette University March 20–23, 2014 801 ± 3.5% 48% 41% — 11%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing March 17, 2014 988 ± 4% 49% 44% — 7%Rasmussen Reports March 10–11, 2014 500 ± 4.5% 45% 45% 5% 5%Marquette UniversityMarquette University January 20–23, 2014 802 ± 3.5% 47% 41% — 8%Marquette UniversityMarquette University October 21–24, 2013 800 ± 3.5% 47% 45% — 8%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling September 13–16, 2013 1,180 ± 2.9% 48% 42% — 10%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ScottWalker (R) JonErpenbach (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,799 ± 2.3% 48% 42% — 9%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ScottWalker (R) RussFeingold (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,799 ± 2.3% 47% 49% — 4%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ScottWalker (R) MahlonMitchell (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,799 ± 2.3% 48% 39% — 13%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ScottWalker (R) BrettHulsey (D) Other UndecidedMarquette University May 15–18, 2014 805 ± 3.5% 48% 39% — 13%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ScottWalker (R) SteveKagen (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,799 ± 2.3% 48% 41% — 11%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ScottWalker (R) TomNelson (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling September 13–16, 2013 1,180 ± 2.9% 47% 40% — 12%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ScottWalker (R) RonKind (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,799 ± 2.3% 46% 42% — 11%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ScottWalker (R) KathleenVinehout (D) Other UndecidedMarquette University October 21–24, 2013 800 ± 3.5% 47% 44% — 9%Public Policy Polling September 13–16, 2013 1,180 ± 2.9% 47% 41% — 10%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ScottWalker (R) Peter W.Barca (D) Other UndecidedMarquette University October 21–24, 2013 800 ± 3.5% 48% 42% — 10%Public Policy Polling September 13–16, 2013 1,180 ± 2.9% 47% 43% — 10%Public Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,799 ± 2.3% 48% 43% — 9%

Results

By county