Wisconsin State Senate elections

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State Legislatures State legislative elections, 2025 Poll opening and closing times

This page displays election information for the Wisconsin State Senate.

Elections

Wisconsin state senators serve staggered, four-year terms and half of the state Senate is up for election every two years. Wisconsin holds elections for its legislature in even years.

2026

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2026

Elections for the Wisconsin State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.

2024

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2024

Elections for the Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was August 13, 2024. The filing deadline was June 3, 2024.

In the 2024 elections, Republicans lost four seats but maintained their majority in the Wisconsin State Senate. The Republican majority went from 22-10 to 18-15.

Wisconsin State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2024	After November 6, 2024
	Democratic Party	10	15
	Republican Party	22	18
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		33	33

2022

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2022

Elections for the Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for August 9, 2022. The filing deadline was June 1, 2022.

Heading into the election, Republicans held a 21-12 majority. Republicans gained one seat in the election, giving them a 22-11 majority.

Wisconsin State Senate
Party		As of November 8, 2022	After November 9, 2022
	Democratic Party	12	11
	Republican Party	21	22
Total		33	33

2020

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2020

Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for August 11, 2020. The filing deadline was June 1, 2020.

In the 2020 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the Wisconsin State Senate from 18-13 to 21-12.

Wisconsin State Senate
Party		As of November 3, 2020	After November 4, 2020
	Democratic Party	13	12
	Republican Party	18	21
	Vacancy	2	0
Total		33	33

2018

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2018

Elections for the Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2018. An open primary election took place on August 14, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2018.

In the 2018 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the Wisconsin State Senate from 18-15 to 19-14.

Wisconsin State Senate
Party		As of November 6, 2018	After November 7, 2018
	Democratic Party	15	14
	Republican Party	18	19
Total		33	33

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. A total of 16 seats out of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin State Senate were up for election in 2016.

Heading into the election, Republicans held an 18-14 majority with one vacancy. Republicans gained two seats in the election, giving them a 20-13 majority.

Wisconsin State Senate
Party		As of November 7, 2016	After November 8, 2016
	Democratic Party	14	13
	Republican Party	18	20
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		33	33

Click [show] to see election information dating back to 2000

2014 See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2014 Elections for 17 seats in the Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 12, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 2, 2014. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 17-15 majority with one vacancy. Republicans gained two seats in the election, giving them a 19-14 majority. Wisconsin State Senate Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014      Democratic Party 15 14      Republican Party 17 19      Vacancy 1 0 Total 33 33 2012 See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2012 Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on August 14, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was July 10, 2012. A total of 16 seats were up for election. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 17-15 majority with one vacancy. Democrats lost two seats in the election, giving Republicans an 18-15 majority. Wisconsin State Senate Party As of November 5, 2012 After the 2012 Election      Democratic Party 17 15      Republican Party 15 18      Vacancy 1 0 Total 33 33 The table below details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election in 2012. 2012 Margin of Victory, Wisconsin State Senate District Winner Margin of Victory Total Votes Top Opponent District 18 Rick Gudex 0.7% 85,648 Jessica King District 30 Dave Hansen 8.5% 79,204 John Macco District 24 Julie Lassa 13.3% 86,024 Scott Kenneth Noble District 14 Luther Olsen 15.1% 81,941 Margarete Worthington District 12 Tom Tiffany 15.8% 90,994 Susan Sommer District 32 Jennifer Shilling 16.6% 87,769 Bill Feehan District 10 Sheila Harsdorf 18.4% 87,734 Daniel Olson District 28 Mary Lazich 26.9% 96,010 Jim Ward District 20 Glenn Grothman 37.3% 97,460 Tanya Lohr District 22 Robert Wirch 39.3% 73,559 Pam Stevens Nine of the 16 senators up for election faced recall elections in 2011. Robert Cowles Alberta Darling Sheila Harsdorf Dave Hansen Jim Holperin Randy Hopper Dan Kapanke Luther Olsen Robert Wirch Dan Kapanke and Randy Hopper were removed by voters. The seven senators who faced re-election in 2012 but did not face recall in 2011 were: Spencer Coggs Glenn Grothman Julie Lassa Mary Lazich Mark Miller Fred Risser Lena Taylor 2010 See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2010 Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on September 14, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was July 13, 2010. Heading into the election, Democrats held an 18-15 majority. Democrats lost four seats in the election, giving Republicans a 19-14 majority. Wisconsin State Senate Party As of November 1, 2010 After the 2010 Election      Democratic Party 18 14      Republican Party 15 19 Total 33 33 In 2010, the candidates for state senate raised a total of $4,251,736 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: 2010 Donors, Wisconsin State Senate Donor Amount Public Fund $56,785 Galloway, Pamela G $45,131 Elmer, Monk $34,248 Richard, Rick $30,675 Hutchison, David E $17,699 Cmte to Elect a Republican Senate $17,226 Northwestern Mutual Life $16,000 State Senate Democratic Cmte of Wisconsin $15,767 Deutsch, Dane A $11,657 United Transportation Union $11,000 2008 See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2008 Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 9, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008. During the 2008 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $4,912,818. The top 10 contributors were: 2008 Donors, Wisconsin State Senate Donor Amount Friends Of Sheldon Wasserman $200,000 Wasserman, Sheldon A $50,000 Strategy Group $38,281 State Senate Democratic Cmte $38,175 Johnson, Tara $23,662 Time Warner $23,413 Hopper, Randy $22,000 Page, Alison H $13,810 Wisconsin Credit Union League $12,100 AT&T $11,568 2006 See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2006 Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 12, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006. During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $4,536,726. The top 10 contributors were: 2006 Donors, Wisconsin State Senate Donor Amount Riley, Donovan W $85,993 Simonson, John C $54,631 State Senate Democratic Campaign Cmte Of Wisconsin $53,654 Reynolds, Tom $44,655 Grabowski, Dimity $43,025 Charles R Most Jr GST Trust $20,000 Wisconsin Dental Association $14,320 AT&T $13,100 Wisconsin Credit Union League $11,750 Association Of Wisconsin School Administrators $10,000 2004 See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2004 Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 14, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004. During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $4,324,018. The top 10 contributors were: 2004 Donors, Wisconsin State Senate Donor Amount Hebl, Thomas Lee $86,023 Priebus, Reince R $34,940 Taylor, Lena C $31,986 Pfaff, Brad $24,425 Bakke, Gary L $23,821 Grothman, Glenn S $22,941 Wisconsin Realtors Association $22,000 Peterson, Eric P $21,459 State Senate Democratic Campaign Cmte Of Wisconsin $14,749 Wisconsin Credit Union League $14,250 2002 See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2002 Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 10, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002. During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $3,014,637. The top 10 contributors were: 2002 Donors, Wisconsin State Senate Donor Amount Reynolds, Tom $59,369 Public Fund $31,964 Wisconsin Republican Party $30,991 Carpenter, Tim $24,297 Farley, Patrick $22,200 Baumgart, James (Jim) $21,682 Kanavas, Theodore J $20,800 Panzer, Mary E $18,350 Black, Gregory A $13,274 Public Fund $11,932 2000 See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2000 Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 12, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000. During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $3,869,105. The top 10 contributors were: 2000 Donors, Wisconsin State Senate Donor Amount Public Fund $91,044 Cmte To Elect A Republican Senate Of Wisconsin $25,000 Wisconsin Republican Party $24,273 Friends Of Rod Moen $13,000 Wisconsin Bankers Association $11,150 Wisconsin Realtors Association $9,200 Plumbers & Gasfitters Local 75 $8,400 Wisconsin Association Of Insurance & Financial Advisors $8,000 Ziegler, Margaret $7,975 Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance $7,900

Historical party control

Republicans won control of the Wisconsin State Senate in 2010. In 2024, they won a 18-15 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Wisconsin Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Wisconsin State Senate election results: 1992-2024

Year	'92	'94	'96	'98	'00	'02	'04	'06	'08	'10	'12	'14	'16	'18	'20	'22	'24
Democrats	18	16	17	17	18	15	14	18	18	14	15	14	13	14	12	11	15
Republicans	15	17	16	16	15	18	19	15	15	19	18	19	20	19	21	22	18

Trifecta history

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Wisconsin was under the following types of trifecta control:

• Democratic trifecta: 2009-2010
• Republican trifecta: 1995, 1998, 2011-2018
• Divided government: 1992-1994, 1996-1997, 1999-2008, 2019-2023

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

Footnotes

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