The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin were held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, to elect the eight U.S. representatives from the state of Wisconsin, one from each of the state's eight congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including President of the United States and U.S. Senator from Wisconsin. The primaries were held on August 9.
Wisconsin was one of two states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2016, the other state being Virginia.
District 1
Republican incumbent Paul Ryan, who had represented the 1st district since 1999, ran for re-election. This district had a PVI of R+3. Since October 29, 2015 Ryan sat as the Speaker of the House.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Paul Ryan, incumbent U.S. Representative and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Eliminated in primary Paul Nehlen, senior vice-president of operations at Neptune-BensonTatge-Rozell, Jill. "Delavan businessman to challenge Ryan ". Kenosha News. March 31, 2016.
Campaign Nehlen filed campaign papers to run against Ryan on April 1, 2016, and officially launched his campaign on April 14, with the opening of his first campaign office in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Nehlen claimed to have been a Paul Ryan supporter and worked for his election in earlier campaigns but at least one conservative media report questioned that claim.
According to a Janesville Gazette report about his campaign launch, "Nehlen declined to talk about issues such as abortion and would not say what presidential candidate he supports or whether he would support a Republican running for the presidency." Nehlen ran on a platform calling for secure borders, enforcement of existing immigration laws, and reduced government spending, and he opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership treaty. On May 5, 2016, Nehlen pledged to support Donald Trump for the presidency.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on July 14, 2016, that Nehlen had hired Dan Backer as his campaign treasurer. Backer is nationally known for his fundraising activities.
In an August 2016 radio interview, Nehlen suggested that the United States should "have a discussion" about the possibility of deporting Sharia-adherent Muslims living in the country. The remark occurred when Nehlen was asked about his thoughts regarding the dispute between 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of Humayun Khan, an American Muslim Army captain who died in a suicide bombing while serving in Iraq in 2004. During the interview, Nehlen also said that every mosque in the United States should be monitored for signs of potential radicalization.
Because of Nehlen's support for Trump, Trump publicly thanked him on Twitter and later told The Washington Post that Nehlen was "running a very good campaign", even though he did not endorse him. On August 5, 2016, Trump endorsed Ryan's re-election after pressure from fellow Republican leaders.
Endorsements
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Ryan Solen, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Veteran's Caucus Secretary/Treasurer
Eliminated in primary Tom Breu, plumbing engineer
Declined Rob Zerban, former member of the Kenosha County Board and nominee for this seat in 2012 & 2014
Results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Jason Lebeck, I.T. technicianHelm, Whitney. "Three announce plans to run against Ryan". Beloit Daily News. March 12, 2016.
Results
Independents Spencer Zimmerman, appears on the ballot as "Trump Conservative"
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 2
Democratic incumbent Mark Pocan, who had represented the 2nd district since 2013, ran for re-election. This district had a PVI of D+17.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Mark Pocan, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Peter Theron, professor and nominee for this seat in 2008 & 2014
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 3
Democratic incumbent Ron Kind, who had represented the 3rd district since 1996, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 56.5% of the vote in 2014, and the district had a PVI of D+5. Despite Republican nominee Donald Trump carrying the district in the concurrent presidential election, Kind was reelected unopposed.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Ron Kind, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Myron Buchholz, retired teacher
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 4
Democratic incumbent Gwen Moore, who had represented the 4th district since 2005, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 70.2% of the vote in 2014 and the district had a PVI of D+23.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Gwen Moore, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Gary George, former state senator
Results
Republican primary Candidates Declined Dan Sebring, automobile repair shop owner and nominee for this seat in 2010, 2012, and 2014
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Andy Craig, political activist and 2014 candidate for Secretary of State of Wisconsin
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 5
Republican incumbent Jim Sensenbrenner, who had represented the 5th district since 1978, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 69.5% of the vote in 2014 and the district had a PVI of R+13.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jim Sensenbrenner, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Khary Penebaker, businessman and entrepreneur
Results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee John Arndt
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 6
Republican incumbent Glenn Grothman who had represented the 6th district since 2015, ran for re-election. He was elected with 56.8% of the vote in 2014 and the district has a PVI of R+5.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Glenn Grothman, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Sarah Lloyd, farmer
Eliminated in primary Michael Slattery, farmerCharles Collier. 'Slattery Running for Congress, Tax Reform'. The Denmark News, July 7, 2016, accessed July 7, 2016.
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 7
Republican incumbent Sean Duffy, who had represented the 7th district since 2011, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 59.3% of the vote in 2014 and the district has a PVI of R+2.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Sean Duffy, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Don Raihala, small business owner
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Mary Hoeft, university professor
Eliminated in primary Joel Lewis, Marathon County Board Supervisor
Withdrawn Kirk Bangstad, political consultant Ethel Quisler, independent contractor
Declined Kelly Westlund, businesswoman, Ashland City Council member and nominee for this seat in 2014
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Debate + 2016 Wisconsin's 7th congressional district debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican DemocraticKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Sean Duffy Mary Hoeft1 Nov. 3, 2016 YouTube
Results
District 8
Republican incumbent Reid Ribble, who had represented the 8th district since 2011, announced on January 30, 2016, that he would retire at the end of his third term, opening the seat for the 2016 election. The district had a PVI of R+2.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Mike Gallagher, retired U.S. Marine and former advisor to Governor Scott Walker
Eliminated in primary Frank Lasee, state senator from the 1st district (2011–2017) Terry McNulty, Forestville, Wisconsin village president, Southern Door School Board member
Withdrawn Gary Schomburg, former Hilbert village board member
Declined Andre Jacque, state representative from the 2nd district (2011–2019) John Macco, state representative from the 88th district (2015–present) John Nygren, state representative from the 89th district (2007–2020) Roger Roth, state senator from the 19th district (2015–2023) and nephew of former U.S. representative Toby Roth David Steffen, state representative from the 4th district (2015–present) Jim Steineke, Majority Leader of State Assembly (2015–2022) and state representative from the 5th district (2011–2022) Chad Weininger, former state representative from the 4th district (2011–2015)
Endorsements
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Tom Nelson, County Executive of Outagamie County and former state representative
Declined Penny Bernard Schaber, former state representative Eric Genrich, state representative Steve Kagen, former U.S. Representative Jamie Wall, businessman, nominee for this seat in 2012 and candidate in 2006
Results
Independent Wendy Gribben, part-time grocery store employee Robbie Hoffman, artist and psychologist
General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror MikeGallagher (R) TomNelson (D) UndecidedNMB ResearchNMB Research October 16–18, 2016 400 ± 4.9% 52% 41% 17%Public Opinion Strategies (R)Public Opinion Strategies (R-Gallagher) August 22, 2016 400 ± 4.9% 52% 36% 12%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
References
External links U.S. House elections in Wisconsin, 2016 at Ballotpedia Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets