The 2012 Wisconsin Senate elections were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Sixteen of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election—the even-numbered districts. This was the first Senate general election to take place after redistricting following the 2010 United States census. Before the election, 17 Senate seats were held by Democrats and 16 seats were held by Republicans. 10 Democratic seats and 6 Republican seats were up in this election. The primary election took place on August 13, 2012.
Republicans flipped two Democratic-held Senate seat and won the chamber majority, entering the 101st Wisconsin Legislature with 18 of 33 State Senate seats.
Results summary Seats Party (majority caucus shading) TotalDemocraticRepublican Last election (2010) 6 11 17 Total after last election (2010) 14 19 33 Total before this election 17 16 33 Up for election 10 6 16 of which: Incumbent retiring 2 0 2 Vacated 0 0 0 Unopposed 3 1 4 This election 8 8 16 Change from last election 2 2 Total after this election 15 18 33 Change in total 2 2
Close races Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%: (gain)
Outgoing incumbents Retiring Jim Holperin (D–Conover), representing district 12 since 2008, announced that he would not run for re-election.
Seeking other office Spencer Coggs (D–Milwaukee), representing district 6 since 2003, was elected Milwaukee Treasurer at the April 2012 election, and then did not seek re-election to the Senate in the fall.WTMJ News. "Spencer Coggs to finish out Senate term while he's Milwaukee City Treasurer" , WTMJ-TV April 18, 2012.
Predictions SourceRankingAs of Governing | October 24, 2012
Candidates and results
Dist. IncumbentThis race Member Party First electedPrimary election candidates General election candidatesResult 2 Robert Cowles Republican1987 Robert Cowles (Rep.) Robert Cowles (Rep.) 98.54%Incumbent re-elected. 4 Lena Taylor Democratic2004Lena Taylor (Dem.) Incumbent re-elected. 6 Spencer Coggs Democratic2003 Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. 8 Alberta Darling Republican1992 Incumbent re-elected. 10 Sheila Harsdorf Republican2000 Incumbent re-elected. 12 Jim Holperin Democratic2008 Incumbent retired.New member elected.Republican gain. 14 Luther Olsen Republican2004 Incumbent re-elected. 16 Mark F. Miller Democratic2004 Incumbent re-elected. 18 Jessica King Democratic2011 Incumbent lost.New member elected.Republican gain. 20 Glenn Grothman Republican2004 Incumbent re-elected. 22 Robert Wirch Democratic1996 Incumbent re-elected. 24 Julie Lassa Democratic2003 Incumbent re-elected. 26 Fred Risser Democratic1962 Incumbent re-elected. 28 Mary Lazich Republican1998 Incumbent re-elected. 30 Dave Hansen Democratic2000 Incumbent re-elected. 32 Jennifer Shilling Democratic2011 Incumbent re-elected.
See also 2012 Wisconsin elections 2012 United States presidential election in Wisconsin 2012 United States Senate election in Wisconsin 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin 2012 Wisconsin State Assembly election 2012 United States elections Wisconsin Senate Elections in Wisconsin Redistricting in Wisconsin
References
External links Wisconsin Elections Commission
(State affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)