2008 Wisconsin State Assembly election

The 2008 Wisconsin State Assembly election was held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. All 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly were up for election. Before the election, 51 Assembly seats were held by Republicans and 47 seats were held by Democrats. The primary election was held on September 9, 2008.

Democrats flipped five Republican-held seats and took the Assembly majority for the first time since 1994. They entered the 98th Wisconsin Legislature with 52 of 99 Assembly seats.

Background

Results summary SeatsParty(majority caucus shading)TotalDemocraticIndependentRepublicanLast election (2006)4705299Total after last election (2006)4705299Total before this election4715199Up for election4715199of which:Incumbent retired50611Vacated0000Unopposed200424This election5214699Change from last election 5 1 6Total after this election5214699Change in total 3 3

Close races Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

(gain)

(gain)

(gain)

Outgoing incumbents

Retiring

Sheryl Albers (R–Reedsburg), representing district 50 since 1991, retired. Frank Boyle (D–Superior), representing district 73 since 1987, retired. Barbara Gronemus (D–Whitehall), representing district 91 since 1985, retired. Eugene Hahn (R–Cambria), representing district 47 since 1991, retired. Suzanne Jeskewitz (R–Menomonee Falls), representing district 24 since 1997, retired. Terry Musser (R–Black River Falls), representing district 92 since 1984, retired. Carol Owens (R–Oshkosh), representing district 53 since 1993, retired. David Travis (D–Waunakee), representing district 81 since 1985, retired. Steve Wieckert (R–Appleton), representing district 57 since 1996, retired.Jim Collar "Appleton's Steve Wieckert announces retirement from Assembly " Appleton Post-Crescent March 22, 2008.

Seeking other office

James Kreuser (D–Kenosha), representing district 64 since 1993, retired to serve as County Executive of Kenosha County. Sheldon Wasserman (D–Milwaukee), representing District 22 since 1995, unsuccessfully ran for State Senate.

Predictions SourceRankingAs of Stateline | October 15, 2008

Race summary DistrictIncumbentThis raceMemberPartyFirst electedStatusCandidatesResults1Republican2000RanGarey Bies (Rep.) 51.33% Dick Skare (Dem.) 48.59%Incumbent re-elected2Republican1994RanTed Zigmunt (Dem.) 52.12% Frank Lasee (Rep.) 47.82%Incumbent defeated. New member elected Democratic gain.3Republican1986RanAl Ott (Rep.) 58.26% Justin Krueger (Dem.) 41.67%Incumbent re-elected4Republican1998RanPhil Montgomery (Rep.) 52.73% Sam Dunlop (Dem.) 47.20%Incumbent re-elected5Democratic2004RanTom Nelson (Dem.) 64.44% Jim Steineke (Rep.) 35.52%Incumbent re-elected6Republican2006RanGary Tauchen (Rep.) 55.02% John Powers (Dem.) 44.95%Incumbent re-elected7Democratic 1983 RanPeggy Krusick (Dem.) 59.53% Corrine Wiesmueller (Rep.) 38.01% Brad Sponholz (Lib.) 2.35%Incumbent re-elected8Democratic1998RanPedro Colón (Dem.) 98.26%Incumbent re-elected9Democratic2002RanJosh Zepnick (Dem.) 98.53%Incumbent re-elected10Democratic1980RanAnnette Polly Williams (Dem.) 99.19%Incumbent re-elected11Democratic2004RanJason Fields (Dem.) 99.24%Incumbent re-elected12Democratic19601962 19641972 2004RanFred Kessler (Dem.) 98.92%Incumbent re-elected13Democratic1990 RanDavid Cullen (Dem.) 98.42%Incumbent re-elected14Republican2002 RanLeah Vukmir (Rep.) 62.28% Dave Hucke (Dem.) 37.55%Incumbent re-elected15Democratic1996RanTony Staskunas (Dem.) 60.45% David Nickel (Rep.) 39.40%Incumbent re-elected16Democratic1992RanLeon Young (Dem.) 98.81%Incumbent re-elected17Democratic2004 RanBarbara Toles (Dem.) 99.20%Incumbent re-elected18Democratic2004RanTamara Grigsby (Dem.) 98.96%Incumbent re-elected19Democratic1998RanJon Richards (Dem.) 98.52%Incumbent re-elected20Democratic1998RanChristine Sinicki (Dem.) 98.22%Incumbent re-elected21Republican2003 RanMark Honadel (Rep.) 52.43% Glen Brower (Dem.) 47.43%Incumbent re-elected22Democratic1994Ran for State SenateSandy Pasch (Dem.) 67.06% Yash P. Wadhwa (Rep.) 32.77%Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic hold.23Republican2006RanJim Ott (Rep.) 57.83% Rene Settle-Robinson (Dem.) 42.10%Incumbent re-elected24Republican1996Incumbent retiredDan Knodl (Rep.) 61.88% Charlene S. Brady (Dem.) 37.90%Incumbent retired. New member elected Republican hold.25Democratic1992RanBob Ziegelbauer (Dem.) 98.85%Incumbent re-elected26Democratic2002RanTerry Van Akkeren (Dem.) 65.43% Alex Pieper (Rep.) 34.51%Incumbent re-elected27Republican1998RanSteve Kestell (Rep.) 65.95% Bob Cox (Dem.) 33.99%Incumbent re-elected28Democratic2006RanAnn Hraychuck (Dem.) 55.37% Kent Muschinske (Rep.) 44.59%Incumbent re-elected29Republican2006RanJohn Murtha (Rep.) 53.38% Chris Buckel (Dem.) 42.73% Craig Mohn (Lib.) 3.80%Incumbent re-elected30Republican1998RanKitty Rhoades (Rep.) 54.74% Sarah A. Bruch (Dem.) 45.17%Incumbent re-elected31Republican1990RanStephen Nass (Rep.) 66.66% Frank E. Urban (Dem.) 33.22%Incumbent re-elected32Republican2002RanThomas Lothian (Rep.) 51.65% Doug A. Harrod (Dem.) 41.23% John K. Finley (Ind.) 7.40%Incumbent re-elected33Republican2005 RanScott Newcomer (Rep.) 99.77%Incumbent re-elected34Republican1998RanDan Meyer (Rep.) 50.28% Paul Tubbs (Dem.) 49.64%Incumbent re-elected35Republican2000RanDonald Friske (Rep.) 56.72% Jay Schmelling (Dem.) 43.23%Incumbent re-elected36Republican2004RanJeffrey Mursau (Rep.) 51.78% Stan Gruszynski (Dem.) 48.19%Incumbent re-elected37Democratic2006RanAndy Jorgensen (Dem.) 59.23% Kent Koebke (Rep.) 40.64%Incumbent re-elected38Republican2004RanJoel Kleefisch (Rep.) 66.27% Dick Pas (Dem.) 33.62%Incumbent re-elected39Republican2000RanJeff Fitzgerald (Rep.) 60.08% Aaron E. Onsrud (Dem.) 39.89%Incumbent re-elected40Republican2006RanKevin David Petersen (Rep.) 58.29% Kevin M. Kuehl (Dem.) 41.67%Incumbent re-elected41Republican2004RanJoan Ballweg (Rep.) 62.78% Scott Milheiser (Dem.) 37.14%Incumbent re-elected42Republican2001 RanFred Clark (Dem.) 58.47% Jacob Hines (Rep.) 41.47%Incumbent defeated. New member elected Democratic gain.43Democratic2006RanKim Hixson (Dem.) 51.16% Debi Towns (Rep.) 48.74%Incumbent re-elected44Democratic2004RanMichael J. Sheridan (Dem.) 99.15%Incumbent re-elected45Democratic2004RanChuck Benedict (Dem.) 60.37% Mike Hahn (Rep.) 39.58%Incumbent re-elected46Democratic2004RanGary Hebl (Dem.) 66.28% Kathy Maves (Rep.) 33.70%Incumbent re-elected47Republican1990Incumbent retiredKeith Ripp (Rep.) 47.87% Trish O'Neil (Dem.) 47.80% Dennis E. Hruby (Ind.) 4.30%Incumbent retired. New member elected Republican hold.48Democratic2004RanJoe Parisi (Dem.) 99.51%Incumbent re-elected49Democratic2006RanPhil Garthwaite (Dem.) 53.96% Travis Tranel (Rep.) 45.90%Incumbent re-elected50Republican1991 Incumbent retiredEd Brooks (Rep.) 56.20% Tom Crofton (Dem.) 43.73%Incumbent retired. New member elected Republican hold.51Democratic2006RanSteve Hilgenberg (Dem.) 56.84% Nathan R. Russell (Rep.) 43.12%Incumbent re-elected52Republican1998RanJohn Townsend (Rep.) 57.92% Jerry Keifenheim (Dem.) 42.02%Incumbent re-elected53Republican1992Incumbent retiredRichard Spanbauer (Rep.) 63.80% Jeff Mann (Dem.) 36.11%Incumbent retired. New member elected Republican hold.54Democratic2006RanGordon Hintz (Dem.) 66.21% Mark Reiff (Rep.) 33.64%Incumbent re-elected55Republican1991RanDean Kaufert (Rep.) 53.88% Mark Westphal (Dem.) 46.02%Incumbent re-elected56Republican2006RanRoger Roth (Rep.) 59.66% Susan Garcia Franz (Dem.) 40.24%Incumbent re-elected57Republican1996Incumbent retiredPenny Bernard Schaber (Dem.) 56.98% Jo Egelhoff (Rep.) 42.82%Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic gain.58Republican2004RanPatricia Strachota (Rep.) 82.77% Greg Dombro (Ind.) 17.15%Incumbent re-elected59Republican2002RanDaniel LeMahieu (Rep.) 99.32%Incumbent re-elected60Republican2002RanMark Gottlieb (Rep.) 70.29% Perry Duman (Dem.) 29.65%Incumbent re-elected61Democratic1990RanRobert L. Turner (Dem.) 87.71% George Meyers (Lib.) 12.09%Incumbent re-elected62Democratic2006RanCory Mason (Dem.) 84.54% Keith Deschler (Lib.) 15.20%Incumbent re-elected63Republican2004RanRobin Vos (Rep.) 61.51% Linda Flashinski (Dem.) 38.45%Incumbent re-elected64Democratic1993 Retired to serve as Kenosha County ExecutivePeter Barca (Dem.) 98.71%Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic hold.65Democratic1996RanJohn Steinbrink (Dem.) 62.12% Alex Tiahnybok (Rep.) 37.75%Incumbent re-elected66Republican2000RanSamantha Kerkman (Rep.) 59.91% Larry Zamba (Dem.) 40.03%Incumbent re-elected67Independent2002RanJeffrey Wood (Ind.) 50.28% Don Moga (Rep.) 49.55%Incumbent re-elected68Republican2004RanKristen Dexter (Dem.) 50.35% Terry Moulton (Rep.) 49.47%Incumbent defeated. New member elected Democratic gain.69Republican1998RanScott Suder (Rep.) 59.46% Tim Swiggum (Dem.) 40.51%Incumbent re-elected70Democratic2002RanAmy Sue Vruwink (Dem.) 69.62% Dennis Seevers (Rep.) 30.34%Incumbent re-elected71Democratic2003 RanLouis Molepske (Dem.) 68.61% Daron L. Jensen (Rep.) 31.24%Incumbent re-elected72Democratic1970RanMarlin Schneider (Dem.) 62.23% Jeff Tyberg (Rep.) 37.69%Incumbent re-elected73Democratic1986Incumbent retiredNick Milroy (Dem.) 80.76% Jeffrey Monaghan (Ind.) 18.69%Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic hold.74Democratic1998RanGary Sherman (Dem.) 62.38% Shirl LaBarre (Rep.) 37.58%Incumbent re-elected75Democratic1984RanMary Hubler (Dem.) 99.03%Incumbent re-elected76Democratic1998RanTerese Berceau (Dem.) 99.39%Incumbent re-elected77Democratic1984RanSpencer Black (Dem.) 99.40%Incumbent re-elected78Democratic1998RanMark Pocan (Dem.) 99.38%Incumbent re-elected79Democratic2002RanSondy Pope (Dem.) 66.71% Carl Skalitzky (Rep.) 33.22%Incumbent re-elected80Republican2004RanBrett Davis (Rep.) 56.10% John Waelti (Dem.) 43.86%Incumbent re-elected81Democratic1978Incumbent retiredKelda Roys (Dem.) 98.89%Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic hold.82Republican1998 RanJeff Stone (Rep.) 99.02%Incumbent re-elected83Republican1994RanScott Gunderson (Rep.) 72.97% Aaron Robertson (Dem.) 26.98%Incumbent re-elected84Republican1998RanMark Gundrum (Rep.) 99.46%Incumbent re-elected85Democratic2004RanDonna Seidel (Dem.) 64.08% Jess F. Kufahl (Rep.) 35.81%Incumbent re-elected86Republican1998RanJerry Petrowski (Rep.) 55.90% Nate Myszka (Dem.) 44.06%Incumbent re-elected87Republican2002RanMary Williams (Rep.) 50.42% Judy Reas (Dem.) 49.52%Incumbent re-elected88Democratic2006RanJames Soletski (Dem.) 55.86% Tony Theisen (Rep.) 44.03%Incumbent re-elected89Republican2006RanJohn Nygren (Rep.) 53.54% Randy Koehn (Dem.) 46.40%Incumbent re-elected90Republican2002RanKarl Van Roy (Rep.) 53.70% Lou Ann Weix (Dem.) 46.23%Incumbent re-elected91Democratic1982Incumbent retiredChris Danou (Dem.) 53.70% Dave Hegenbarth (Rep.) 42.97% Paul A. Beseler (Ind.) 2.64% Ted Burleson (Lib.) 0.95%Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic hold.92Republican1984Incumbent retiredMark Radcliffe (Dem.) 53.17% Dan Hellman (Rep.) 46.66%Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic gain.93Democratic2006RanJeff Smith (Dem.) 59.35% Darcy Fields (Rep.) 40.52%Incumbent re-elected94Republican1994RanMichael Huebsch (Rep.) 54.04% Cheryl Hancock (Dem.) 45.91%Incumbent re-elected95Democratic2000RanJennifer Shilling (Dem.) 97.29%Incumbent re-elected96Republican2004RanLee Nerison (Rep.) 51.72% Dale Klemme (Dem.) 48.26%Incumbent re-elected97Republican2006RanBill Kramer (Rep.) 54.62% Ruth Page Jones (Dem.) 45.27%Incumbent re-elected98Republican2006RanRich Zipperer (Rep.) 71.88% Victor Weers (Dem.) 28.07%Incumbent re-elected99Republican2004RanDon Pridemore (Rep.) 99.40%Incumbent re-elected

Aftermath With this election Democrats held a trifecta in the Wisconsin government for the first time since 1982, when Tony Earl was elected governor of Wisconsin.