The 2020 Wisconsin Senate elections were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, at the Fall general election in Wisconsin. 16 of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election—the even-numbered districts. Before the election, Republicans held 18 seats, Democrats held 13, and two were vacant. Of the seats up for election, seven were held by Republicans, seven were held by Democrats, one was vacated by a Democratic resignation, and one was vacated by a Republican resignation. The primary election was held on August 11, 2020.
Republicans maintained control of the Senate but fell one seat short of a supermajority, defeating one Democratic incumbent and winning an open seat previously held by a Democrat. After the elections, Republicans were set to enter the 105th Wisconsin Legislature with 21 of 33 seats, but one member resigned due to election to another office, leaving them with 20 seats at the start of the legislative term.
Results summary
Seats Party (majority caucus shading) TotalDemocraticRepublican Last election (2018) 6 11 17 Total after last election (2018) 14 19 33 Total before this election 14 19 31 Up for election 8 8 16 of which: Incumbent retiring 3 2 5 Vacated 1 1 2 Unopposed 3 2 5 This election 6 10 16 Change from last election 1 1 Total after this election 12 21 33 Change in total 2 2
Close races Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
(gain)
Outgoing incumbents Retiring Dave Craig (R–Vernon), representing District 28 since 2017, declined to seek re-election. Dave Hansen (D–Green Bay), representing District 30 since 2001, declined to seek re-election. Mark F. Miller (D–Monona), representing District 16 since 2005, declined to seek re-election. Luther Olsen (R–Ripon), representing District 14 since 2005, declined to seek re-election Fred Risser (D–Madison), representing District 26 since 1963, declined to seek re-election.
Vacated office Jennifer Shilling (D–La Crosse), who had represented District 32 since 2011, resigned her seat on May 15, 2020 in order to explore "unspecified career opportunities." Tom Tiffany (R–Hazelhurst), representing District 12 since 2013, resigned on May 18, 2020, after winning the special election for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district.
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportOctober 21, 2020
Race summary
District Incumbent This race Member Party First elected Status Primary candidates General election candidates Result 2 Robert Cowles Republican 1987 Running Robert Cowles (Republican) Robert Cowles (Rep.) Incumbent re-elected 4 Lena Taylor Democratic 2004 Running Lena Taylor (Democratic) Lena Taylor (Dem.) Incumbent re-elected 6 La Tonya Johnson Democratic 2016 Running Incumbent re-elected 8 Alberta Darling Republican 1992 Running Incumbent re-elected 10 Patty Schachtner Democratic 2018 Running Incumbent lostNew member electedRepublican gain 12 Tom Tiffany Republican 2012 Vacant Incumbent vacated office to run for U.S. RepresentativeNew member electedRepublican hold 14 Luther Olsen Republican 2004 Not running Incumbent retiredNew member electedRepublican hold 16 Mark F. Miller Democratic 2004 Not running Incumbent retiredNew member electedDemocratic hold 18 Dan Feyen Republican 2016 Running Incumbent re-elected 20 Duey Stroebel Republican 2014 Running Duey Stroebel (Republican) Duey Stroebel (Rep.) Incumbent re-elected 22 Robert Wirch Democratic 1996 Running Robert Wirch (Democratic) Robert Wirch (Dem.) Incumbent re-elected 24 Patrick Testin Republican 2016 Running Incumbent re-elected 26 Fred Risser Democratic 1962 Not running Kelda Roys (Dem.) Incumbent retiredNew member electedDemocratic hold 28 Dave Craig Republican 2016 Not running Incumbent retiredNew member electedRepublican hold 30 Dave Hansen Democratic 2000 Not running Incumbent retiredNew member electedRepublican gain 32 Jennifer Shilling Democratic 2011 Vacant Incumbent vacated officeNew member electedDemocratic hold
See also Voter suppression in the United States 2019–2020: Wisconsin 2020 Wisconsin elections 2020 Wisconsin State Assembly election 2020 Wisconsin Democratic presidential primary 2020 Wisconsin Republican presidential primary 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin 2020 United States elections Wisconsin Senate Elections in Wisconsin
References
External links Wisconsin Elections Commission
(state affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)