Republican Party primaries in Wisconsin, 2018
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 17 (online or mail), or Nov. 2 (in-person)
- Early voting: Varies by locality
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Voter ID: Photo ID required
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Primary elections—in which registered voters select a candidate whom they believe should run on the party's ticket in the general election—can reflect internal conflict over the direction of a party.
Heading into the 2018 election, the Republican Party's legislative record during Donald Trump’s presidency figured into several Republican primaries. This record included the passage of major tax legislation in December 2017 and the confirmation of federal judges. It also included a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill in March 2018, which Trump opposed, and unsuccessful efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.[1][2]
Trump, himself, also played a role in Republican primaries. His approval rating reached 90% in June among self-described Republicans, according to a Gallup survey.[3] Many Republican candidates campaigned on their support for Trump, and negative ads accusing opponents of criticizing the president were common.[4][5][6] A May report found Trump's name or image had appeared in 37% of all Republican campaign ads at that point in 2018.[7]
This page focuses on the Republican primaries that took place in Wisconsin on August 14, 2018. In addition, the page provides context for understanding the state party apparatus.
Battleground primaries
Battleground elections are those that Ballotpedia expected would either be more competitive than other races or attract significant national attention.
Federal elections
U.S. Senate
U.S. House
| Candidate ballot access |
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District 1
Republican primary candidates
Did not make the ballot:
District 2
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
District 3
Republican primary candidates
Did not make the ballot:
District 4
Republican primary candidates
District 5
Republican primary candidates
- F. James Sensenbrenner (Incumbent) ✔
- Jennifer Vipond
District 6
Republican primary candidates
- Glenn Grothman (Incumbent) ✔
Did not make the ballot:
District 7
Republican primary candidates
- Sean Duffy (Incumbent) ✔
District 8
Republican primary candidates
- Mike Gallagher (Incumbent) ✔
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
Twenty-three of 72 Wisconsin counties—32 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
| Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Trump margin of victory in 2016 | Obama margin of victory in 2012 | Obama margin of victory in 2008 | ||||
| Adams County, Wisconsin | 21.92% | 8.73% | 18.35% | ||||
| Buffalo County, Wisconsin | 21.82% | 2.93% | 14.66% | ||||
| Columbia County, Wisconsin | 2.14% | 13.58% | 15.26% | ||||
| Crawford County, Wisconsin | 5.40% | 19.98% | 27.03% | ||||
| Door County, Wisconsin | 3.22% | 6.99% | 17.33% | ||||
| Dunn County, Wisconsin | 11.09% | 4.97% | 14.95% | ||||
| Forest County, Wisconsin | 26.58% | 5.44% | 15.16% | ||||
| Grant County, Wisconsin | 9.43% | 13.77% | 23.88% | ||||
| Jackson County, Wisconsin | 11.74% | 15.01% | 21.84% | ||||
| Juneau County, Wisconsin | 26.05% | 7.03% | 9.00% | ||||
| Kenosha County, Wisconsin | 0.31% | 12.23% | 18.06% | ||||
| Lafayette County, Wisconsin | 8.99% | 15.37% | 22.32% | ||||
| Lincoln County, Wisconsin | 20.60% | 0.71% | 12.48% | ||||
| Marquette County, Wisconsin | 24.09% | 0.27% | 5.28% | ||||
| Pepin County, Wisconsin | 23.08% | 2.22% | 12.89% | ||||
| Price County, Wisconsin | 25.00% | 0.04% | 13.40% | ||||
| Racine County, Wisconsin | 4.28% | 3.54% | 7.41% | ||||
| Richland County, Wisconsin | 5.50% | 16.13% | 20.63% | ||||
| Sauk County, Wisconsin | 0.35% | 18.47% | 23.04% | ||||
| Sawyer County, Wisconsin | 18.41% | 0.49% | 6.23% | ||||
| Trempealeau County, Wisconsin | 12.64% | 14.08% | 26.39% | ||||
| Vernon County, Wisconsin | 4.43% | 14.73% | 22.00% | ||||
| Winnebago County, Wisconsin | 7.34% | 3.73% | 11.66% | ||||
In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Wisconsin with 47.2 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 46.5 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Wisconsin cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 76.7 percent of the time. In that same time frame, Wisconsin supported Republicans slightly more than Democratic candidates, 50.0 to 46.7 percent. The state, however, favored Democrats in every presidential election from 2000 to 2012 before voting for Trump in 2016.
Presidential results by legislative district
The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state Assembly districts in Wisconsin. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[8][9]
| In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 43 out of 99 state Assembly districts in Wisconsin with an average margin of victory of 34.1 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 36 out of 99 state Assembly districts in Wisconsin with an average margin of victory of 34.6 points. Clinton won three districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections. |
| In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 56 out of 99 state Assembly districts in Wisconsin with an average margin of victory of 12.1 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 63 out of 99 state Assembly districts in Wisconsin with an average margin of victory of 19.4 points. Trump won two districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections. |
| 2016 Presidential Results by State Assembly District ' | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
| 1 | 49.45% | 49.55% | R+0.1 | 40.19% | 55.31% | R+15.1 | R |
| 2 | 45.06% | 53.88% | R+8.8 | 35.98% | 58.55% | R+22.6 | R |
| 3 | 46.37% | 52.37% | R+6 | 39.25% | 54.77% | R+15.5 | R |
| 4 | 47.96% | 51.02% | R+3.1 | 42.82% | 51.96% | R+9.1 | R |
| 5 | 45.84% | 53.01% | R+7.2 | 35.60% | 58.94% | R+23.3 | R |
| 6 | 44.15% | 54.75% | R+10.6 | 30.90% | 64.34% | R+33.4 | R |
| 7 | 57.11% | 41.73% | D+15.4 | 55.20% | 39.20% | D+16 | D |
| 8 | 86.53% | 12.79% | D+73.7 | 82.43% | 14.14% | D+68.3 | D |
| 9 | 74.69% | 24.42% | D+50.3 | 71.60% | 23.86% | D+47.7 | D |
| 10 | 89.76% | 9.63% | D+80.1 | 89.09% | 8.09% | D+81 | D |
| 11 | 86.92% | 12.62% | D+74.3 | 85.40% | 12.20% | D+73.2 | D |
| 12 | 80.00% | 19.52% | D+60.5 | 79.28% | 17.84% | D+61.4 | D |
| 13 | 41.61% | 57.43% | R+15.8 | 46.60% | 48.01% | R+1.4 | R |
| 14 | 42.53% | 56.71% | R+14.2 | 49.36% | 45.05% | D+4.3 | R |
| 15 | 44.86% | 54.03% | R+9.2 | 43.63% | 50.53% | R+6.9 | R |
| 16 | 90.18% | 8.97% | D+81.2 | 88.16% | 8.20% | D+80 | D |
| 17 | 86.03% | 13.52% | D+72.5 | 85.53% | 11.96% | D+73.6 | D |
| 18 | 89.18% | 10.15% | D+79 | 87.03% | 9.71% | D+77.3 | D |
| 19 | 69.95% | 28.13% | D+41.8 | 72.67% | 20.16% | D+52.5 | D |
| 20 | 58.37% | 40.39% | D+18 | 55.33% | 39.27% | D+16.1 | D |
| 21 | 47.93% | 51.07% | R+3.1 | 44.81% | 50.06% | R+5.3 | R |
| 22 | 42.44% | 56.73% | R+14.3 | 35.41% | 60.15% | R+24.7 | R |
| 23 | 34.62% | 64.61% | R+30 | 50.43% | 44.81% | D+5.6 | R |
| 24 | 43.05% | 56.18% | R+13.1 | 45.71% | 49.32% | R+3.6 | R |
| 25 | 46.93% | 51.76% | R+4.8 | 35.85% | 58.74% | R+22.9 | R |
| 26 | 45.64% | 53.35% | R+7.7 | 38.91% | 55.22% | R+16.3 | R |
| 27 | 45.07% | 53.89% | R+8.8 | 40.39% | 54.00% | R+13.6 | R |
| 28 | 43.68% | 54.77% | R+11.1 | 32.63% | 61.90% | R+29.3 | R |
| 29 | 48.16% | 50.05% | R+1.9 | 38.58% | 54.01% | R+15.4 | R |
| 30 | 46.24% | 52.24% | R+6 | 42.51% | 50.44% | R+7.9 | R |
| 31 | 46.56% | 52.48% | R+5.9 | 40.68% | 53.70% | R+13 | R |
| 32 | 41.42% | 57.37% | R+15.9 | 34.97% | 59.41% | R+24.4 | R |
| 33 | 39.95% | 58.97% | R+19 | 35.54% | 59.27% | R+23.7 | R |
| 34 | 44.59% | 54.39% | R+9.8 | 35.28% | 60.34% | R+25.1 | R |
| 35 | 46.89% | 52.10% | R+5.2 | 34.68% | 60.52% | R+25.8 | R |
| 36 | 46.49% | 52.48% | R+6 | 32.07% | 64.35% | R+32.3 | R |
| 37 | 45.97% | 52.93% | R+7 | 39.87% | 54.26% | R+14.4 | R |
| 38 | 41.66% | 57.48% | R+15.8 | 38.23% | 56.78% | R+18.5 | R |
| 39 | 42.12% | 56.85% | R+14.7 | 32.76% | 62.11% | R+29.4 | R |
| 40 | 45.04% | 53.94% | R+8.9 | 32.61% | 62.85% | R+30.2 | R |
| 41 | 48.58% | 50.35% | R+1.8 | 36.02% | 59.60% | R+23.6 | R |
| 42 | 51.09% | 48.03% | D+3.1 | 40.26% | 54.51% | R+14.3 | R |
| 43 | 58.46% | 40.22% | D+18.2 | 50.24% | 43.54% | D+6.7 | D |
| 44 | 63.57% | 35.53% | D+28 | 55.44% | 38.62% | D+16.8 | D |
| 45 | 63.99% | 34.88% | D+29.1 | 52.83% | 41.86% | D+11 | D |
| 46 | 63.63% | 35.46% | D+28.2 | 61.74% | 32.95% | D+28.8 | D |
| 47 | 71.05% | 27.83% | D+43.2 | 71.89% | 23.13% | D+48.8 | D |
| 48 | 77.21% | 21.61% | D+55.6 | 76.06% | 19.26% | D+56.8 | D |
| 49 | 56.34% | 42.26% | D+14.1 | 42.01% | 51.26% | R+9.3 | R |
| 50 | 54.10% | 44.84% | D+9.3 | 38.35% | 57.05% | R+18.7 | R |
| 51 | 59.12% | 39.77% | D+19.4 | 48.42% | 46.59% | D+1.8 | R |
| 52 | 45.04% | 53.91% | R+8.9 | 38.03% | 56.66% | R+18.6 | R |
| 53 | 43.36% | 55.55% | R+12.2 | 34.18% | 60.93% | R+26.7 | R |
| 54 | 57.39% | 41.08% | D+16.3 | 49.16% | 44.12% | D+5 | D |
| 55 | 47.32% | 51.08% | R+3.8 | 41.80% | 51.70% | R+9.9 | R |
| 56 | 43.05% | 55.69% | R+12.6 | 37.98% | 56.68% | R+18.7 | R |
| 57 | 58.41% | 39.31% | D+19.1 | 51.73% | 41.22% | D+10.5 | D |
| 58 | 31.25% | 67.77% | R+36.5 | 28.43% | 66.52% | R+38.1 | R |
| 59 | 31.24% | 67.73% | R+36.5 | 25.52% | 69.73% | R+44.2 | R |
| 60 | 31.82% | 67.23% | R+35.4 | 32.35% | 62.53% | R+30.2 | R |
| 61 | 44.42% | 54.59% | R+10.2 | 36.49% | 58.50% | R+22 | R |
| 62 | 45.73% | 53.46% | R+7.7 | 41.17% | 54.02% | R+12.9 | R |
| 63 | 42.73% | 56.47% | R+13.7 | 37.80% | 57.26% | R+19.5 | R |
| 64 | 58.84% | 40.05% | D+18.8 | 52.63% | 42.23% | D+10.4 | D |
| 65 | 67.06% | 31.78% | D+35.3 | 57.76% | 36.48% | D+21.3 | D |
| 66 | 75.23% | 23.77% | D+51.5 | 68.34% | 26.50% | D+41.8 | D |
| 67 | 48.07% | 50.75% | R+2.7 | 36.41% | 58.15% | R+21.7 | R |
| 68 | 51.24% | 47.56% | D+3.7 | 40.11% | 54.44% | R+14.3 | R |
| 69 | 43.65% | 55.15% | R+11.5 | 34.08% | 60.83% | R+26.8 | R |
| 70 | 48.55% | 50.09% | R+1.5 | 36.82% | 57.83% | R+21 | R |
| 71 | 57.55% | 41.03% | D+16.5 | 50.34% | 43.28% | D+7.1 | D |
| 72 | 48.68% | 50.09% | R+1.4 | 36.95% | 58.55% | R+21.6 | R |
| 73 | 60.93% | 37.66% | D+23.3 | 47.53% | 47.49% | D+0 | D |
| 74 | 57.74% | 40.88% | D+16.9 | 46.22% | 49.38% | R+3.2 | D |
| 75 | 47.55% | 51.22% | R+3.7 | 34.53% | 60.84% | R+26.3 | R |
| 76 | 81.64% | 15.70% | D+65.9 | 82.30% | 11.34% | D+71 | D |
| 77 | 82.23% | 16.20% | D+66 | 83.80% | 11.48% | D+72.3 | D |
| 78 | 71.91% | 26.85% | D+45.1 | 75.62% | 19.47% | D+56.2 | D |
| 79 | 60.89% | 38.29% | D+22.6 | 62.65% | 32.43% | D+30.2 | D |
| 80 | 63.93% | 35.08% | D+28.9 | 62.12% | 32.50% | D+29.6 | D |
| 81 | 61.46% | 37.67% | D+23.8 | 51.23% | 43.11% | D+8.1 | D |
| 82 | 43.03% | 56.32% | R+13.3 | 43.69% | 51.79% | R+8.1 | R |
| 83 | 31.12% | 68.10% | R+37 | 29.71% | 65.91% | R+36.2 | R |
| 84 | 42.31% | 56.84% | R+14.5 | 41.43% | 53.68% | R+12.3 | R |
| 85 | 52.04% | 46.78% | D+5.3 | 44.67% | 49.90% | R+5.2 | R |
| 86 | 43.96% | 55.02% | R+11.1 | 36.19% | 59.18% | R+23 | R |
| 87 | 44.81% | 53.95% | R+9.1 | 30.93% | 64.82% | R+33.9 | R |
| 88 | 48.79% | 50.35% | R+1.6 | 43.75% | 50.75% | R+7 | R |
| 89 | 46.02% | 52.97% | R+6.9 | 32.41% | 63.26% | R+30.9 | R |
| 90 | 63.31% | 35.13% | D+28.2 | 53.29% | 39.82% | D+13.5 | D |
| 91 | 60.63% | 37.68% | D+22.9 | 55.95% | 36.72% | D+19.2 | D |
| 92 | 55.89% | 42.98% | D+12.9 | 40.90% | 54.33% | R+13.4 | R |
| 93 | 47.10% | 51.80% | R+4.7 | 38.30% | 56.18% | R+17.9 | R |
| 94 | 51.53% | 47.32% | D+4.2 | 45.50% | 49.03% | R+3.5 | D |
| 95 | 64.46% | 33.93% | D+30.5 | 58.03% | 34.66% | D+23.4 | D |
| 96 | 55.57% | 42.95% | D+12.6 | 42.90% | 51.64% | R+8.7 | R |
| 97 | 39.90% | 59.02% | R+19.1 | 39.37% | 54.43% | R+15.1 | R |
| 98 | 33.69% | 65.46% | R+31.8 | 35.20% | 59.58% | R+24.4 | R |
| 99 | 26.70% | 72.64% | R+45.9 | 28.97% | 66.40% | R+37.4 | R |
| Total | 52.92% | 45.97% | D+7 | 47.01% | 47.78% | R+0.8 | - |
| Source: Daily Kos | |||||||
State elections
Wisconsin Party Control: 1992-2025
Two years of Democratic trifectas • Ten years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | R | R | R | D | D | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Gubernatorial election
Lieutenant gubernatorial election
Attorney general election
Secretary of state election
State party overview
- See also: Republican Party of Wisconsin
State political party revenue
The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following maps display total state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic and Republican state party affiliates from 2011 to 2016. The blue map displays Democratic state parties and the red map displays Republican state parties. Click on a state below to view the state party's revenue per capita totals:
Total Democratic and Republican state political party revenue per capita in the United States, 2011-2016
Primary election scheduling
Wisconsin was one of four states to hold a primary election on August 14, 2018.
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Wisconsin utilizes an open primary system; registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[10][11]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In Wisconsin, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[12]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in Wisconsin, one must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of Wisconsin for at least 28 days prior to the election. A voter must be at least 18 years of age by Election Day.[13]
Prospective voters can register online or by mailing a form to their municipal clerk. If registering by mail, the application must be postmarked no later than 20 days before the election. In-person registration must be completed by 5 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day. Prospective voters can also register in person at their municipal clerk's office up until the Friday before the election or at their polling place on Election Day. (Same-day voter registration requires proof of residency.)[13]
Automatic registration
Wisconsin does not practice automatic voter registration.[14]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Wisconsin has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.[14]
Same-day registration
Wisconsin allows same-day voter registration.[14]
Residency requirements
Wisconsin law requires 28 days of residency in a precinct before a person may vote.[13]
Verification of citizenship
Wisconsin does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who provides false information "may be subject to fine or imprisonment under State and Federal laws."[15]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[16] As of January 2025, six states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The site My Vote, run by the Wisconsin Election Commission, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Wisconsin requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[17]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of May 2023. Click here for the Wisconsin Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
- Wisconsin Department of Transportation-issued driver license, even if driving privileges are revoked or suspended
- Wisconsin Department of Transportation-issued identification card, with or without a photo
- Military ID card issued by the U.S. Uniformed Services
- U.S. passport book or card
- Identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin (can be expired or unexpired)
- Photo identification card issued by a Wisconsin accredited university or college, or technical college, containing the date the card was issued and a signature. (If expired, the voter must also provide a separate document proving enrollment).
- Veteran's photo ID card issued by a government authority
- Certificate of naturalization issued within the past two years
- Driver’s license receipt issued by Wisconsin Department of Transportation (valid for 45 days from date issued)
- Identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin Department of Transportation (valid for 45 days from date issued)
- Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles ID Petition Process Photo Receipt (valid for 60 days from date issued)
The following voters do not need to provide photo ID:[17]
- Confidential electors
- Active military and permanent overseas voters who vote by absentee ballot
- Indefinitely confined voters who vote by absentee ballot
Voters can obtain a free Wisconsin State ID Card at a Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles office. Voters need the following to apply for an ID:[18]
- Proof of name and date of birth (birth certificate)
- Proof of identity (Social Security Card, Medicaid/Medicare Card, etc.)
- Proof of Wisconsin residency (utility bill, government mail, lease, etc.)
- Proof of U.S. citizenship (U.S. Birth certificate or citizenship paperwork)
- Social Security Number
Voters who do not have all or any of the materials listed above can still obtain an ID. Call the voter ID hotline for assistance at (844) 588-1069.[18]
Early voting
Wisconsin permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
All voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail in Wisconsin. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee/by mail.[19][20]
To vote absentee by mail, a request to the municipal clerk must be received by 5 p.m. on the Thursday before Election Day. Once completed, returned ballots must be received no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day.[19][21]
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
Twenty-three of 72 Wisconsin counties—32 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
| Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Trump margin of victory in 2016 | Obama margin of victory in 2012 | Obama margin of victory in 2008 | ||||
| Adams County, Wisconsin | 21.92% | 8.73% | 18.35% | ||||
| Buffalo County, Wisconsin | 21.82% | 2.93% | 14.66% | ||||
| Columbia County, Wisconsin | 2.14% | 13.58% | 15.26% | ||||
| Crawford County, Wisconsin | 5.40% | 19.98% | 27.03% | ||||
| Door County, Wisconsin | 3.22% | 6.99% | 17.33% | ||||
| Dunn County, Wisconsin | 11.09% | 4.97% | 14.95% | ||||
| Forest County, Wisconsin | 26.58% | 5.44% | 15.16% | ||||
| Grant County, Wisconsin | 9.43% | 13.77% | 23.88% | ||||
| Jackson County, Wisconsin | 11.74% | 15.01% | 21.84% | ||||
| Juneau County, Wisconsin | 26.05% | 7.03% | 9.00% | ||||
| Kenosha County, Wisconsin | 0.31% | 12.23% | 18.06% | ||||
| Lafayette County, Wisconsin | 8.99% | 15.37% | 22.32% | ||||
| Lincoln County, Wisconsin | 20.60% | 0.71% | 12.48% | ||||
| Marquette County, Wisconsin | 24.09% | 0.27% | 5.28% | ||||
| Pepin County, Wisconsin | 23.08% | 2.22% | 12.89% | ||||
| Price County, Wisconsin | 25.00% | 0.04% | 13.40% | ||||
| Racine County, Wisconsin | 4.28% | 3.54% | 7.41% | ||||
| Richland County, Wisconsin | 5.50% | 16.13% | 20.63% | ||||
| Sauk County, Wisconsin | 0.35% | 18.47% | 23.04% | ||||
| Sawyer County, Wisconsin | 18.41% | 0.49% | 6.23% | ||||
| Trempealeau County, Wisconsin | 12.64% | 14.08% | 26.39% | ||||
| Vernon County, Wisconsin | 4.43% | 14.73% | 22.00% | ||||
| Winnebago County, Wisconsin | 7.34% | 3.73% | 11.66% | ||||
In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Wisconsin with 47.2 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 46.5 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Wisconsin cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 76.7 percent of the time. In that same time frame, Wisconsin supported Republicans slightly more than Democratic candidates, 50.0 to 46.7 percent. The state, however, favored Democrats in every presidential election from 2000 to 2012 before voting for Trump in 2016.
Presidential results by legislative district
The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state Assembly districts in Wisconsin. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[22][23]
| In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 43 out of 99 state Assembly districts in Wisconsin with an average margin of victory of 34.1 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 36 out of 99 state Assembly districts in Wisconsin with an average margin of victory of 34.6 points. Clinton won three districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections. |
| In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 56 out of 99 state Assembly districts in Wisconsin with an average margin of victory of 12.1 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 63 out of 99 state Assembly districts in Wisconsin with an average margin of victory of 19.4 points. Trump won two districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections. |
| 2016 Presidential Results by State Assembly District ' | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
| 1 | 49.45% | 49.55% | R+0.1 | 40.19% | 55.31% | R+15.1 | R |
| 2 | 45.06% | 53.88% | R+8.8 | 35.98% | 58.55% | R+22.6 | R |
| 3 | 46.37% | 52.37% | R+6 | 39.25% | 54.77% | R+15.5 | R |
| 4 | 47.96% | 51.02% | R+3.1 | 42.82% | 51.96% | R+9.1 | R |
| 5 | 45.84% | 53.01% | R+7.2 | 35.60% | 58.94% | R+23.3 | R |
| 6 | 44.15% | 54.75% | R+10.6 | 30.90% | 64.34% | R+33.4 | R |
| 7 | 57.11% | 41.73% | D+15.4 | 55.20% | 39.20% | D+16 | D |
| 8 | 86.53% | 12.79% | D+73.7 | 82.43% | 14.14% | D+68.3 | D |
| 9 | 74.69% | 24.42% | D+50.3 | 71.60% | 23.86% | D+47.7 | D |
| 10 | 89.76% | 9.63% | D+80.1 | 89.09% | 8.09% | D+81 | D |
| 11 | 86.92% | 12.62% | D+74.3 | 85.40% | 12.20% | D+73.2 | D |
| 12 | 80.00% | 19.52% | D+60.5 | 79.28% | 17.84% | D+61.4 | D |
| 13 | 41.61% | 57.43% | R+15.8 | 46.60% | 48.01% | R+1.4 | R |
| 14 | 42.53% | 56.71% | R+14.2 | 49.36% | 45.05% | D+4.3 | R |
| 15 | 44.86% | 54.03% | R+9.2 | 43.63% | 50.53% | R+6.9 | R |
| 16 | 90.18% | 8.97% | D+81.2 | 88.16% | 8.20% | D+80 | D |
| 17 | 86.03% | 13.52% | D+72.5 | 85.53% | 11.96% | D+73.6 | D |
| 18 | 89.18% | 10.15% | D+79 | 87.03% | 9.71% | D+77.3 | D |
| 19 | 69.95% | 28.13% | D+41.8 | 72.67% | 20.16% | D+52.5 | D |
| 20 | 58.37% | 40.39% | D+18 | 55.33% | 39.27% | D+16.1 | D |
| 21 | 47.93% | 51.07% | R+3.1 | 44.81% | 50.06% | R+5.3 | R |
| 22 | 42.44% | 56.73% | R+14.3 | 35.41% | 60.15% | R+24.7 | R |
| 23 | 34.62% | 64.61% | R+30 | 50.43% | 44.81% | D+5.6 | R |
| 24 | 43.05% | 56.18% | R+13.1 | 45.71% | 49.32% | R+3.6 | R |
| 25 | 46.93% | 51.76% | R+4.8 | 35.85% | 58.74% | R+22.9 | R |
| 26 | 45.64% | 53.35% | R+7.7 | 38.91% | 55.22% | R+16.3 | R |
| 27 | 45.07% | 53.89% | R+8.8 | 40.39% | 54.00% | R+13.6 | R |
| 28 | 43.68% | 54.77% | R+11.1 | 32.63% | 61.90% | R+29.3 | R |
| 29 | 48.16% | 50.05% | R+1.9 | 38.58% | 54.01% | R+15.4 | R |
| 30 | 46.24% | 52.24% | R+6 | 42.51% | 50.44% | R+7.9 | R |
| 31 | 46.56% | 52.48% | R+5.9 | 40.68% | 53.70% | R+13 | R |
| 32 | 41.42% | 57.37% | R+15.9 | 34.97% | 59.41% | R+24.4 | R |
| 33 | 39.95% | 58.97% | R+19 | 35.54% | 59.27% | R+23.7 | R |
| 34 | 44.59% | 54.39% | R+9.8 | 35.28% | 60.34% | R+25.1 | R |
| 35 | 46.89% | 52.10% | R+5.2 | 34.68% | 60.52% | R+25.8 | R |
| 36 | 46.49% | 52.48% | R+6 | 32.07% | 64.35% | R+32.3 | R |
| 37 | 45.97% | 52.93% | R+7 | 39.87% | 54.26% | R+14.4 | R |
| 38 | 41.66% | 57.48% | R+15.8 | 38.23% | 56.78% | R+18.5 | R |
| 39 | 42.12% | 56.85% | R+14.7 | 32.76% | 62.11% | R+29.4 | R |
| 40 | 45.04% | 53.94% | R+8.9 | 32.61% | 62.85% | R+30.2 | R |
| 41 | 48.58% | 50.35% | R+1.8 | 36.02% | 59.60% | R+23.6 | R |
| 42 | 51.09% | 48.03% | D+3.1 | 40.26% | 54.51% | R+14.3 | R |
| 43 | 58.46% | 40.22% | D+18.2 | 50.24% | 43.54% | D+6.7 | D |
| 44 | 63.57% | 35.53% | D+28 | 55.44% | 38.62% | D+16.8 | D |
| 45 | 63.99% | 34.88% | D+29.1 | 52.83% | 41.86% | D+11 | D |
| 46 | 63.63% | 35.46% | D+28.2 | 61.74% | 32.95% | D+28.8 | D |
| 47 | 71.05% | 27.83% | D+43.2 | 71.89% | 23.13% | D+48.8 | D |
| 48 | 77.21% | 21.61% | D+55.6 | 76.06% | 19.26% | D+56.8 | D |
| 49 | 56.34% | 42.26% | D+14.1 | 42.01% | 51.26% | R+9.3 | R |
| 50 | 54.10% | 44.84% | D+9.3 | 38.35% | 57.05% | R+18.7 | R |
| 51 | 59.12% | 39.77% | D+19.4 | 48.42% | 46.59% | D+1.8 | R |
| 52 | 45.04% | 53.91% | R+8.9 | 38.03% | 56.66% | R+18.6 | R |
| 53 | 43.36% | 55.55% | R+12.2 | 34.18% | 60.93% | R+26.7 | R |
| 54 | 57.39% | 41.08% | D+16.3 | 49.16% | 44.12% | D+5 | D |
| 55 | 47.32% | 51.08% | R+3.8 | 41.80% | 51.70% | R+9.9 | R |
| 56 | 43.05% | 55.69% | R+12.6 | 37.98% | 56.68% | R+18.7 | R |
| 57 | 58.41% | 39.31% | D+19.1 | 51.73% | 41.22% | D+10.5 | D |
| 58 | 31.25% | 67.77% | R+36.5 | 28.43% | 66.52% | R+38.1 | R |
| 59 | 31.24% | 67.73% | R+36.5 | 25.52% | 69.73% | R+44.2 | R |
| 60 | 31.82% | 67.23% | R+35.4 | 32.35% | 62.53% | R+30.2 | R |
| 61 | 44.42% | 54.59% | R+10.2 | 36.49% | 58.50% | R+22 | R |
| 62 | 45.73% | 53.46% | R+7.7 | 41.17% | 54.02% | R+12.9 | R |
| 63 | 42.73% | 56.47% | R+13.7 | 37.80% | 57.26% | R+19.5 | R |
| 64 | 58.84% | 40.05% | D+18.8 | 52.63% | 42.23% | D+10.4 | D |
| 65 | 67.06% | 31.78% | D+35.3 | 57.76% | 36.48% | D+21.3 | D |
| 66 | 75.23% | 23.77% | D+51.5 | 68.34% | 26.50% | D+41.8 | D |
| 67 | 48.07% | 50.75% | R+2.7 | 36.41% | 58.15% | R+21.7 | R |
| 68 | 51.24% | 47.56% | D+3.7 | 40.11% | 54.44% | R+14.3 | R |
| 69 | 43.65% | 55.15% | R+11.5 | 34.08% | 60.83% | R+26.8 | R |
| 70 | 48.55% | 50.09% | R+1.5 | 36.82% | 57.83% | R+21 | R |
| 71 | 57.55% | 41.03% | D+16.5 | 50.34% | 43.28% | D+7.1 | D |
| 72 | 48.68% | 50.09% | R+1.4 | 36.95% | 58.55% | R+21.6 | R |
| 73 | 60.93% | 37.66% | D+23.3 | 47.53% | 47.49% | D+0 | D |
| 74 | 57.74% | 40.88% | D+16.9 | 46.22% | 49.38% | R+3.2 | D |
| 75 | 47.55% | 51.22% | R+3.7 | 34.53% | 60.84% | R+26.3 | R |
| 76 | 81.64% | 15.70% | D+65.9 | 82.30% | 11.34% | D+71 | D |
| 77 | 82.23% | 16.20% | D+66 | 83.80% | 11.48% | D+72.3 | D |
| 78 | 71.91% | 26.85% | D+45.1 | 75.62% | 19.47% | D+56.2 | D |
| 79 | 60.89% | 38.29% | D+22.6 | 62.65% | 32.43% | D+30.2 | D |
| 80 | 63.93% | 35.08% | D+28.9 | 62.12% | 32.50% | D+29.6 | D |
| 81 | 61.46% | 37.67% | D+23.8 | 51.23% | 43.11% | D+8.1 | D |
| 82 | 43.03% | 56.32% | R+13.3 | 43.69% | 51.79% | R+8.1 | R |
| 83 | 31.12% | 68.10% | R+37 | 29.71% | 65.91% | R+36.2 | R |
| 84 | 42.31% | 56.84% | R+14.5 | 41.43% | 53.68% | R+12.3 | R |
| 85 | 52.04% | 46.78% | D+5.3 | 44.67% | 49.90% | R+5.2 | R |
| 86 | 43.96% | 55.02% | R+11.1 | 36.19% | 59.18% | R+23 | R |
| 87 | 44.81% | 53.95% | R+9.1 | 30.93% | 64.82% | R+33.9 | R |
| 88 | 48.79% | 50.35% | R+1.6 | 43.75% | 50.75% | R+7 | R |
| 89 | 46.02% | 52.97% | R+6.9 | 32.41% | 63.26% | R+30.9 | R |
| 90 | 63.31% | 35.13% | D+28.2 | 53.29% | 39.82% | D+13.5 | D |
| 91 | 60.63% | 37.68% | D+22.9 | 55.95% | 36.72% | D+19.2 | D |
| 92 | 55.89% | 42.98% | D+12.9 | 40.90% | 54.33% | R+13.4 | R |
| 93 | 47.10% | 51.80% | R+4.7 | 38.30% | 56.18% | R+17.9 | R |
| 94 | 51.53% | 47.32% | D+4.2 | 45.50% | 49.03% | R+3.5 | D |
| 95 | 64.46% | 33.93% | D+30.5 | 58.03% | 34.66% | D+23.4 | D |
| 96 | 55.57% | 42.95% | D+12.6 | 42.90% | 51.64% | R+8.7 | R |
| 97 | 39.90% | 59.02% | R+19.1 | 39.37% | 54.43% | R+15.1 | R |
| 98 | 33.69% | 65.46% | R+31.8 | 35.20% | 59.58% | R+24.4 | R |
| 99 | 26.70% | 72.64% | R+45.9 | 28.97% | 66.40% | R+37.4 | R |
| Total | 52.92% | 45.97% | D+7 | 47.01% | 47.78% | R+0.8 | - |
| Source: Daily Kos | |||||||
See also
| Federal primaries in Wisconsin | State primaries in Wisconsin | Wisconsin state party apparatus | Wisconsin voter information |
|---|---|---|---|
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Footnotes
- ↑ ‘’National Review’’, “Trump Is Not Blameless in the Spending-Bill Disaster,” March 28, 2018
- ↑ The New York Times, "A New Guide to the Republican Herd," August 26, 2012
- ↑ Gallup, "Trump Job Approval Slips Back to 41%," June 25, 2018
- ↑ Daily Commercial, "Trump hurdle looms large in Florida GOP governor primary," July 30, 2018
- ↑ Daily Commercial, "These 2018 Primaries Are Worth Watching," July 25, 2018
- ↑ Washington Post, "Republican primary candidates have one goal: Securing Trump’s endorsement or denying it to an opponent," July 25, 2018
- ↑ USA Today, "Donald Trump once divided Republicans; ads for midterms signal that's no longer true," May 17, 2018
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 4, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wis. State § 5.62 Partisan primary ballots," accessed October 4, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin Election Commission, “Election Day Voting,” accessed May 4, 2023
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Voter Registration and Proof of Residence," accessed May 4, 2023
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed August 20, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Wisconsin Voter Registration Application," accessed November 2, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Photo ID," accessed May 4, 2023 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "wvid" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 18.0 18.1 Wisconsin Department of Transportation, "Wisconsin ID card for voting purposes - petition process," accessed May 4, 2023
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Wisconsin Election Commission, "What is in-person absentee voting and how can I do it?" accessed May 4, 2023
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Vote Absentee Guide," accessed May 4, 2023
- ↑ Wisconsin Election Commission, "FAQ search results: absentee," accessed May 4, 2023
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
