Wisconsin State Senate District 8 special election, 2023

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Daniel Knodl (R) defeated Jodi Habush Sinykin (D) in the special general election for Wisconsin Senate District 8 on April 4, 2023. Republicans regained a supermajority in the state Senate after Knodl won the election. As of the election, a party with a two-thirds supermajority in the Senate could suspend Senate rules and impeach state officials.

Republicans represented the district since 1993, following Alberta Darling's (R) election in 1992. Republicans gained a supermajority in 2022. Darling's December 1, 2022, retirement reduced Senate Republicans' 22-member supermajority to a 21-member majority.

Habush Sinykin was an environmental lawyer and textile mill owner. Her campaign website said, "Jodi is running on the issues that actually matter to the people of the 8th Senate District: keeping good paying jobs here in Wisconsin, ensuring public safety, and protecting a woman's right to [choose]."

Knodl owned a lakeside resort and had served as a member of the Wisconsin Assembly since 2009. He represented District 24. Knodl's campaign website said, "My priority is to help keep our communities safe and thriving and make sure state government is working efficiently for the people."

During redistricting, the 8th District was redrawn to include portions of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties. Before redistricting, the district leaned 54% Republican. After redistricting, it leaned 57% Republican. Milwaukee County voted for Barack Obama (D), Hillary Clinton (D), and Joe Biden (D) in the 2012 through 2020 presidential elections, making it a Solid Democratic county. Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties voted for Mitt Romney (R) and Donald Trump (R) during the same time period, making them Solid Republican counties.

Wisconsin had a divided government as of the election, meaning Republicans controlled the legislature, while Tony Evers (D) held the governorship. In Wisconsin, a two-thirds majority in each chamber is required to override a gubernatorial veto. The state House was split 64 Republicans to 35 Democrats, while the state Senate was split 21 Republicans to 11 Democrats, with one vacancy. Following the election, the state Senate was the only chamber with a supermajority, with 22 Republicans to 11 Democrats.

To learn more about other special elections in Wisconsin this year, click here.

Candidates and election results

General election

Special general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 8

Daniel Knodl defeated Jodi Habush Sinykin in the special general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 8 on April 4, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Daniel Knodl (R)	50.8	38,492
		Jodi Habush Sinykin (D)	49.1	37,200
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	59

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 75,751
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Special Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 8

Jodi Habush Sinykin advanced from the special Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 8 on February 21, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jodi Habush Sinykin	99.9	17,670
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	17

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 17,687
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Special Republican primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 8

Daniel Knodl defeated Janel Brandtjen and Van Mobley in the special Republican primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 8 on February 21, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Daniel Knodl	56.8	13,996
		Janel Brandtjen	27.9	6,870
	Submit photo	Van Mobley	15.2	3,743
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	25

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 24,634
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Randy Hopper (R)
• Robert Albrightson (R)

Candidate comparison

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Jodi Habush Sinykin

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  Habush Sinykin received a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Harvard University. She worked as a clerk in the federal judiciary before becoming a partner at a law firm. At the time of the election, Habush Sinykin worked in freshwater stewardship and wildlife conservation and, with her husband, owned a textile mill.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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Habush Sinykin referenced her experience as a business owner, saying, “As other factories left Wisconsin, we chose to stay. We have a responsibility to our employees and to their families.” She also emphasized working to “ensure that area businesses and jobs can both survive and thrive in these difficult economic times.”

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Habush Sinykin said that Wisconsin women "deserve the same access to reproductive healthcare as women living in our neighboring states," and that Dan Knodl "is intent on placing women’s lives and health in jeopardy by supporting the 1849 abortion ban."

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Habush Sinykin said, "We need to invest in more police officers, in clearing the backlog in our court system, in addiction and mental health services, and in community-based crime prevention."

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Show sources

Sources: Jodi Habush Sinykin, "Watch Our New TV Ad," accessed March 2, 2023; Jodi Habush Sinykin, "Jodi Habush Sinykin Announces 8th Senate District Candidacy," January 27, 2023;  Jodi Habush Sinykin, "Jodi Habush Sinykin Sets Stage for General Election," February 22, 2023; Jodi Habush Sinykin, "Jodi's Stance," accessed March 12, 2023; Jodi Habush Sinykin, "Meet Jodi," accessed March 2, 2023

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Wisconsin State Senate District 8 in 2023.

Daniel Knodl

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

• Wisconsin State Assembly District 24 (Assumed office: 2009)
• Washington County Board (2006-2008)

Biography:  Knodl graduated from Menomonee Falls East High School. During high school, he sold concessions from a mobile vending truck, and later owned and operated Reef Point Resort on Pike Lake, Wisconsin. Knodl was elected assistant majority leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2011 and 2015. He was also elected majority caucus chair in 2017 and 2019.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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Speaking of his time in the Wisconsin State Assembly, Knodl emphasized, “My record demonstrates my commitment and ability to deliver conservative results for you and your family at the State Capitol. I'm running for the State Senate to continue to be a fighter for our values - Lower taxes, safer communities, fighting inflation, parents' rights, the right to life, and protection of your freedoms.”

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Knodl highlighted his fiscal record, “Thanks to commonsense budgeting and cutting government waste over the years, we’ve been able to reduce the tax burden on families and small businesses, invest in education and roads, reduce healthcare premiums, and much more.”

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Knodl said he voted to “keep violent criminals off our streets, authored bipartisan legislation to make sure domestic abusers are held accountable, helped pass a bill to keep firearms out of the hands of violent criminals” and “voted to protect our police departments from efforts to defund them.”

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Show sources

Sources: Facebook, "Dan Knodl for State Senate," February 14, 2023; Knodl for State Senate, "Welcome," accessed March 2, 2023; Knodl for State Senate, "Issues," accessed March 2, 2023; Knodl for State Senate, "About Dan," accessed March 2, 2023; Vote Smart, "Dan Knodl's Biography," accessed March 2, 2023; Wisconsin State Legislature, "Representative Daniel Knodl," accessed March 12, 2023

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Wisconsin State Senate District 8 in 2023.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

No candidate in this race completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign ads

This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements per candidate released in this race, as well as links to candidates' YouTube, Vimeo, and/or Facebook video pages. If you are aware of other links that should be included, please email us.

Jodi Habush Sinykin

View more ads here:

• Facebook

Daniel Knodl

View more ads here:

• Facebook

Election competitiveness

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

We provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics, when available. No polls were available for this election. To notify us of polls published in this election, please email us.

Endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

Click the links below to see official endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites for any candidates that make that information available. If you are aware of a website that should be included, please email us.

• Jodi Habush Sinykin

Election spending

Campaign finance

Candidates in this election submitted campaign finance reports to the State of Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Click here to access those reports.

Satellite spending

See also: Satellite spending

Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.

If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.

By candidate	By election
Jodi Habush Sinykin Daniel Knodl	Wisconsin State Senate District 8

Election context

District map

Below is the district map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.

Below are the maps in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle. The map on the right was in effect for Wisconsin's 2024 state legislative elections.

Wisconsin State Senate District 8
before 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Wisconsin State Senate District 8
after 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

District history

2020

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Wisconsin State Senate District 8

Incumbent Alberta Darling defeated Neal Plotkin in the general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 8 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Alberta Darling (R)	54.2	64,906
		Neal Plotkin (D)	45.7	54,693
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	67

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 119,666
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 8

Neal Plotkin advanced from the Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 8 on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Neal Plotkin	99.9	17,569
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	14

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 17,583
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Frank Bryson (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 8

Incumbent Alberta Darling advanced from the Republican primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 8 on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Alberta Darling	99.5	16,172
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	74

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,246
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jeremy Somers (R)

2016

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.

Incumbent Alberta Darling ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Senate District 8 general election.

Wisconsin State Senate, District 8 General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Alberta Darling Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	77,331
Total Votes				77,331
Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission

Incumbent Alberta Darling ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Senate District 8 Republican primary.

Wisconsin State Senate, District 8 Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Republican	Alberta Darling Incumbent (unopposed)

2012

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 14, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. Republican incumbent Alberta Darling was unchallenged in the general election. Darling was unopposed in the Republican primary election.

Special elections throughout the country

See also: State legislative special elections, 2023

In 2023, 53 state legislative special elections were scheduled in 21 states. Between 2011 and 2022, an average of 73 special elections took place each year.

Breakdown of 2023 special elections

In 2023, special elections for state legislative positions were held for the following reasons:

• 10 due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
• 32 due to resignation
• 9 due to the death of the incumbent
• 2 due to removal from office

Impact of special elections on partisan composition

The partisan breakdown for the special elections was as follows:

• 33 Democratic seats
• 20 Republican seats

The table below details how many seats changed parties as the result of a special election in 2023. The number on the left reflects how many vacant seats were originally held by each party, while the number on the right shows how many vacant seats each party won in the special elections.

Note: This table reflects information for elections that were held and not the total number of vacant seats.

Partisan Change from Special Elections (2023)
Party		As of Special Election	After Special Election
	Democratic Party	33	33
	Republican Party	20	20
	Independent	0	0
Total		53	53

Flipped seats

In 2023, four seats flipped as a result of state legislative special elections.

Seats flipped from D to R

• Maine House of Representatives District 45 (June 13)
• Massachusetts State Senate Worcester & Hampshire District (November 8)

Seats flipped from R to D

• Virginia State Senate District 7 (January 10)
• New Hampshire House of Representatives District Rockingham 1 (September 19)

2023 battleground elections

See also: Battlegrounds

This election was a battleground race. Other 2023 battleground elections included:

• Kentucky gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2023
• Loudoun County Public Schools, Virginia, elections (2023)
• Mayoral election in Denver, Colorado (April 4, 2023 general election)

See also

• State legislative special elections, 2023
• State legislative special elections, 2022
• State legislative special elections, 2021
• State legislative special elections, 2020
• Wisconsin State Legislature

External links

• Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

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