The 2022 Milwaukee mayoral special election was held on April 5, 2022, concurrent with Wisconsin's spring general election, to elect a new mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, following the resignation of mayor Tom Barrett in December 2021. Acting mayor Cavalier Johnson, who had been president of the common council when Barrett resigned, won the election, receiving 71% of the vote and defeating alderman Bob Donovan. Johnson became the first African American elected mayor of Milwaukee.
Municipal elections in Wisconsin are nonpartisan. A nonpartisan primary election was held on February 15, 2022, in which the top two vote-getters advanced to the April general election. This special election was the first open race for mayor of Milwaukee since 2004.
Candidates Advanced to general Bob Donovan, Milwaukee alderman and candidate for mayor in 2016 Cavalier Johnson, Milwaukee Common Council president and acting mayor
Eliminated in primary Sheila Conley-Patterson Marina Dimitrijevic, Milwaukee alderwoman and former chairwoman of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors Earnell Lucas, Milwaukee County sheriff Nick McVey Michael Sampson Lena Taylor, Wisconsin state senator, former Wisconsin state assemblywoman, and candidate for mayor in 2020
Withdrew Daniel Riemer, Wisconsin state assemblyman
Declined Chris Abele, former Milwaukee County Executive Mandela Barnes, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin and former Wisconsin state assemblyman (ran for U.S. Senate) David Bowen, Wisconsin state assemblyman David Clarke, former Milwaukee County sheriff Evan Goyke, Wisconsin state assemblyman Chris Larson, former minority leader of the Wisconsin Senate Chantia Lewis, Milwaukee alderman Michael Murphy, Milwaukee alderman Tearman Spencer, Milwaukee city attorney
Endorsements
Primary election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MarinaDimitrijevic BobDonovan IsehuhGriffin CavalierJohnson EarnellLucas MichaelSampson LenaTaylor UndecidedRemington Research Group (R)Remington Research Group (R)February 2–3, 2022673 (LV)± 4.0%5%24%1%41%6%1%10%12%Public Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D)January 19–20, 20221,135 (LV)± 2.9%7%18%1%25%5%1%13%30%Global Strategy Group (D)January 5–10, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%9%14%–25%7%–18%25%
Results
General election Results
Notes
Partisan clients
References