The 1996 Wisconsin Senate election were held on Tuesday, November 5, 1996. Sixteen of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election—the even-numbered districts. At the time, Democrats held 17 seats while the Republicans held 16, having lost their majority only months prior due to the recalling of Senator George Petak from office.
Summary SeatsParty(majority caucus shading)TotalDemocraticRepublicanLast election (1994)71017Total after last election (1994)161733Total before this election171633Up for election9716of which:Incumbent retiring101Vacated000Unopposed314This election9716Change from last election 2 3Total after this election171633Change in total
Close races
Outgoing incumbents
Retiring
Joseph F. Andrea (D–Kenosha), representing district 22 since 1984, decided to retire.
Recall election
Background In October 1995, Senator, George Petak, faced controversy when he changed his vote on a funding bill for the Miller Park stadium. Miller Park was being planned to replace the forty-year-old Milwaukee County Stadium and was being pushed by Republican Governor Tommy Thompson and Milwaukee Brewers owner and future-Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig. Petak had promised his constituents that he would vote against the bill, but changed his mind based on the belief that the Brewers would leave Wisconsin if a new stadium wasn't built.
Petak's change in vote supported a 0.1% increase in sales tax for five counties in the vicinity of the proposed stadium, which included Petak's home county of Racine. His actions caused outrage and frustration in his home district, and local Democrats were energized to collect signatures for a recall petition. After collecting 15,050 signatures, or 130% of the required 11,577 signatures, the recall was certified on March 26, 1996, and a recall election was ordered for June.
Petition Dist.IncumbentRecall petitionMemberPartyFirst electedSignatures requiredSignatures approved (%)Status21Rep.199011,577Petition certified on March 26, 1996.Recall held on June 4, 1996.
Results Nine months after his vote on the stadium tax, Petak became the first Wisconsin state legislator to be removed from office in a recall election, when he was defeated by Democratic State Representative Kimberly Plache. As a result of the recall, control of the state Senate flipped to Democratic control for the rest of the session. Dist.IncumbentThis raceMemberPartyFirst electedPrimaryGeneralResult21Republican1990Incumbent recalled.Democratic gain.
Results summary Dist.IncumbentThis raceMemberPartyFirst electedStatusCandidates02Rep.1987 Incumbent re-electedRobert Cowles (Rep.) 62.92% Patricia Buss (Dem.) 37.08%04Dem.1988Incumbent re-electedGwen Moore (Dem.) 100%06Dem.1980Incumbent re-electedGary George (Dem.) 100%08Rep.1992Incumbent re-elected10Dem.1992Incumbent re-electedAlice Clausing (Dem.) 54.12% Jay Griggs (Rep.) 45.88%12Dem.1990Incumbent re-electedRoger Breske (Dem.) 57.39% Nancy Levanetz (Rep.) 42.57%14Rep.1995 Incumbent re-electedRobert Welch (Rep.) 100%16Dem.1984Incumbent re-elected18Rep.1987 Incumbent re-electedCarol Buettner (Rep.) 73.77% Fred Frederickson (Dem.) 26.23%20Rep.1993 Incumbent re-elected22Dem.1984Incumbent Retiring.New member elected.Democratic holdRobert Wirch (Dem.) 56.81% Bruno Rizzo (Rep.) 43.19%24Dem.1995 Incumbent re-elected26Dem.1962 Incumbent re-electedFred Risser (Rep.) 100%28Dem.1976Incumbent re-electedLynn Adelman (Dem.) 52.04% Lisa Soik (Rep.) 47.96%30Rep.1992Incumbent re-electedGary Drzewiecki (Rep.) 51.79% Barbara Lawton (Dem.) 48.21%32Rep.1984 Incumbent re-electedBrian Rude (Rep.) 75.10% David Wulf (Dem.) 24.90% Notes
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