Wisconsin 2012 General Election

The Green Papers: Wisconsin 2012 General Election

This page is for offices up for election in 2012. Find 2013 elections here.

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Wisconsin
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
Recall Primary Governor: Tuesday 8 May 2012
Recall Governor: Tuesday 5 June 2012
Primary: Tuesday 14 August 2012
General Election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Senators:	2	(Electoral Classes 1 and 3)
Governor:	1
2010 Census:	5,698,230	(1.84% of 309,785,186)
2012, 2016, 2020 Electoral Votes:	10	(1.86% of 538)
2012-2020 Representatives:	8	(1.84% of 435)
2000 Census:	5,371,210	(1.90% of 281,998,273)
2004, 2008 Electoral Votes:	10	(1.86% of 538)
2002-2010 Representatives:	8	(1.84% of 435)
Voter Registration:	Wisconsin has election day registration at the polls.
Capital:	Madison
Tuesday 8 May 2012 polling hours 7:00a CDT (1200 UTC) to 8:00p CDT (0100 UTC).
Tuesday 5 June 2012 polling hours 7:00a CDT (1200 UTC) to 8:00p CDT (0100 UTC).
Tuesday 14 August 2012 polling hours 7:00a CDT (1200 UTC) to 8:00p CDT (0100 UTC).
Tuesday 6 November 2012 polling hours 7:00a CST (1300 UTC) to 8:00p CST (0200 UTC).

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Wisconsin State and Local Government

Wisconsin 2012 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats, Republicans, Third Parties

12 October 2011 from The Republic: Federal election official presses Wisconsin lawmakers to change fall primary date

December 2011: Senate Bill 116 was approved by the Governor on 16 November 2011. The bill moves the partisan primary from the 2nd Tuesday in September to the 2nd Tuesday in August.

Wisconsin Government Accountability Board 2012 Recall Elections: Governor, Lt. Governor and State Senator.

5 June 2012 recall election returns from the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.

6 November 2012 Fall 2012 General Election and Registered Write-In CANDIDATES from the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.

6 November 2012 General Election returns from the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.



President 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2012, 2016. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime. Electors: 10 (Winner-take-all), How Appointed, Meeting Place, Duly Appointed Presidential Electors, List of Presidential Candidates.


		Democratic	1,620,985	52.83%	President Barack Hussein Obama (10 Electoral Votes) • Vice President: Vice President Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. • FEC P80003338; 26 Nov 12; Tot $732,741,988; Dsb $729,647,987

		Republican	1,407,966	45.89%	former Massachusetts Governor Willard "Mitt" Romney • Vice President: Wisconsin Congressman Paul D. Ryan • FEC P80003353; 26 Nov 12; Tot $478,704,347; Dsb $465,787,141

		Libertarian	20,439	0.67%	former New Mexico Governor Gary Earl Johnson • Vice President: James P. "Jim" Gray • FEC P20002671; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,575,529; Dsb $2,572,585

		Green	7,665	0.25%	Jill E. Stein • Vice President: Ben Manski • FEC P20003984; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,005,788; Dsb $1,093,022

		Scattering	5,170	0.17%	SCATTERING

		Constitution	4,930	0.16%	former Congressman Virgil Hamlin Goode, Jr. • Vice President: James N. "Jim" Clymer • FEC P20004685; 26 Nov 12; Tot $202,258; Dsb $202,253

		Socialist Equality	553	0.02%	Jerome S. "Jerry" White • For Vice-President, Phyllis Scherrer • FEC P20004677; 26 Nov 12; Tot $18,854; Dsb $18,854

		Socialism and Liberation	526	0.02%	Gloria Estela La Riva • Vice President: Filberto Ramirez, Jr. The Party for Socialism and Liberation petitioned Gloria LaRiva rather than the party's nominee, Peta Lindsey. Mr. Lindsey is under 35 years old and does not meet the Constitutional requirements to be President. • FEC P80005572

		Write-in; (Justice Party)	112	0.00%	former Salt Lake City Mayor Ross Carl "Rocky" Anderson • Vice President: Luis J. Rodriguez • FEC P20004263; 31 Dec 11; Tot $7,954; Dsb $10,084
		Write-in; (Americans Elect)	88	0.00%	Roseanne Cherri Barr • Vice President: Cindy Lee Sheehan • FEC P20002804; 26 Nov 12; Tot $56,337; Dsb $53,474
Total			3,068,434	100.00%

U.S. Senate 6 year term. No Term Limit. 112^th Senate Senate Electoral Classes

Class 1 Open		Democratic	Senator Herbert H. "Herb" Kohl • First elected: 1988; re-elected: 1994, 2000, 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Open Seat - 13 May 2011: Media reports say Senator Kohl will not seek re-election in 2012.
			Open Seat (no incumbent)

		Democratic	1,547,104	51.41%	Congressman Tammy Baldwin • 5 September 2011: Candidate for the U.S. Senate Class 1 Seat in 2012. • FEC S2WI00219; 26 Nov 12; Tot $15,063,115; Dsb $15,333,064

		Republican	1,380,126	45.86%	former Wisconsin Governor Tommy G. Thompson • FEC S2WI00235; 26 Nov 12; Tot $9,801,827; Dsb $9,653,975

		Libertarian	62,240	2.07%	Joseph Kexel • FEC S2WI00284

		Independent	16,455	0.55%	Nimrod Y. U. Allen, III • I.D.E.A. • FEC S2WI00292

		Scattering	3,373	0.11%	SCATTERING

		Write-in; (Constitution)	70	0.00%	Riley J. "Jon" Hood
		Write-in; (Independent)	43	0.00%	Diane E. Lorbiecki
Total			3,009,411	100.00%

Class 3		Republican	Senator Ronald Harold "Ron" Johnson • First elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016

Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014. Term Limit: None, All Governors

		Republican	Governor Scott Walker • First elected: 2010 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

		Democratic			former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk
		Democratic			Secretary of State Douglas "Doug" La Follette
		Democratic			state Senator Kathleen Vinehout

		Independent			Hari Trivedi
	30 March 2012: The Government Accountability Board certified a recall election for Governor. A sufficient number of petition signatures have been validated to order to require a Gubernatorial recall election. 540,208 signatures are required to force a recall and 808,990 have been validated. The partisan recall primary will be held on 8 May and the general election on 5 June. If there is no need for a partisan primary, the General Election will be on 8 May.

Special Election		Republican	• Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 June 2012 • Special Election - Recall-- Governor Walker was renominated to defend himself in this Recall Election via a Special Primary on 8 May 2012

		Republican	1,335,585	53.08%	Governor Scott Walker

		Democratic	1,164,480	46.28%	Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett

		Independent	14,463	0.57%	Hari Trivedi

		Scattering	1,537	0.06%	Scattering
Total			2,516,065	100.00%
	30 March 2012: The Government Accountability Board certified a recall election for Governor. A sufficient number of petition signatures have been validated to order to require a Gubernatorial recall election. 540,208 signatures are required to force a recall and 808,990 have been validated. The partisan recall primary will be held on 8 May and the general election on 5 June. If there is no need for a partisan primary, the General Election will be on 8 May.

Lieutenant Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014. Elected on a ticket with- but nominated separately from- the Governor

		Republican	Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch • First elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
	30 March 2012: The Government Accountability Board certified a recall election for Lieutenant Governor. A sufficient number of petition signatures have been validated to order to require a Gubernatorial recall election. The partisan recall primary will be held on 8 May and the general election on 5 June. If there is no need for a partisan primary, the General Election will be on 8 May.

Special Election		Republican	• Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 June 2012 • Special Election - Recall

		Republican	1,301,739	52.89%	Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch • Lieutenant Governor Kleefisch is the only Republican running so there will not be a primary.

		Democratic	1,156,520	46.99%	Mahlon Mitchell

		Scattering	3,077	0.13%	Scattering
Total			2,461,336	100.00%
	30 March 2012: The Government Accountability Board certified a recall election for Lieutenant Governor. A sufficient number of petition signatures have been validated to order to require a Gubernatorial recall election. The partisan recall primary will be held on 8 May and the general election on 5 June. If there is no need for a partisan primary, the General Election will be on 8 May.

112^th U.S. House of Representatives 2-year term. Election Cycle 2010, 2012. No Term Limit. 112^th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition): 5 Republican (5 Renominated); 3 Democratic (1 Open, 2 Renominated)

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 1		Republican	Congressman Paul D. Ryan • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary. 11 August 2012: Mitt Romney announced Congressman Paul D. Ryan as his running mate.
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Republican	200,423	54.90%	Congressman Paul D. Ryan • FEC H8WI01024; 26 Nov 12; Tot $4,976,476; Dsb $6,556,234

		Democratic	158,414	43.39%	former Kenosha County Supervisor Robert T. "Rob" Zerban • FEC H2WI01084; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,383,956; Dsb $2,282,929

		Libertarian	6,054	1.66%	Keith Deschler • FEC H2WI01092

		Scattering	167	0.05%	SCATTERING
Total			365,058	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 2 Open		Democratic	Congressman Tammy Baldwin • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Open Seat - 5 September 2011: Candidate for the U.S. Senate Class 1 Seat in 2012.
			Open Seat (no incumbent)
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Democratic	265,422	67.90%	state Representative Mark Pocan • FEC H2WI02124; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,153,220; Dsb $1,062,870

		Republican	124,683	31.90%	Chad Lee • FEC H0WI02060; 31 Dec 12; Tot $91,144; Dsb $90,402

		Scattering	787	0.20%	SCATTERING

		Write-in; (Independent)	6	0.00%	Joseph William "Joe" Kopsick • Independent: (Liberty, Sovereignty, Independence, Social Liberalism) • FEC H2WI02116
Total			390,898	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 3		Democratic	Congressman Ron Kind • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Democratic	217,712	64.08%	Congressman Ron Kind • FEC H6WI03099; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,971,475; Dsb $1,472,858

		Republican	121,713	35.82%	former state Secretary of Veterans Affairs Raymond G. "Ray" Boland • FEC H2WI03080; 26 Nov 12; Tot $117,775; Dsb $112,246

		Scattering	339	0.10%	SCATTERING
Total			339,764	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 4		Democratic	Congressman Gwendolynne "Gwen" Moore • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First elected: 2004 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Democratic	235,257	72.21%	Congressman Gwendolynne "Gwen" Moore • FEC H4WI04183; 26 Nov 12; Tot $807,866; Dsb $792,008

		Republican	80,787	24.80%	Daniel P. "Dan" Sebring • FEC H0WI04090; 26 Nov 12; Tot $40,052; Dsb $39,700

		Independent	9,277	2.85%	Robert R. Raymond • FEC H8WI05124

		Scattering	467	0.14%	SCATTERING
Total			325,788	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 5		Republican	Congressman F. James "Jim" Sensenbrenner, Jr. • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Republican	250,335	67.72%	Congressman F. James "Jim" Sensenbrenner, Jr. • FEC H8WI09050; 26 Nov 12; Tot $554,880; Dsb $611,079

		Democratic	118,478	32.05%	David Lemaire "Dave" Heaster • FEC H2WI05259

		Scattering	851	0.23%	SCATTERING
Total			369,664	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 6		Republican	Congressman Thomas E. "Tom" Petri • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Republican	223,460	62.12%	Congressman Thomas E. "Tom" Petri • FEC H0WI06061; 26 Nov 12; Tot $742,623; Dsb $650,291

		Democratic	135,921	37.78%	Joseph C. "Joe" Kallas • FEC H0WI06152; 06 Dec 12; Tot $7,408; Dsb $7,408

		Scattering	364	0.10%	SCATTERING
Total			359,745	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 7		Republican	Congressman Sean P. Duffy • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Republican	201,720	56.08%	Congressman Sean P. Duffy • FEC H0WI07051; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,645,819; Dsb $2,502,988

		Democratic	157,524	43.80%	former state Senator Patrick "Pat" Kreitlow • FEC H2WI07065; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,281,552; Dsb $1,254,881

		Scattering	405	0.11%	SCATTERING

		Write-in; (Independent)	20	0.01%	Dale Clifford Lehner • FEC H2WI07073; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,118; Dsb $842
Total			359,669	100.00%

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 8		Republican	Congressman Reid J. Ribble • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Republican	198,874	55.95%	Congressman Reid J. Ribble • FEC H0WI08075; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,323,592; Dsb $2,140,527

		Democratic	156,287	43.97%	James Richard "Jamie" Wall • FEC H6WI08106; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,066,991; Dsb $1,044,639

		Scattering	303	0.09%	SCATTERING
Total			355,464	100.00%

Secretary of State 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

		Democratic	Secretary of State Douglas "Doug" La Follette • First elected: 1974; elected: 1982; re-elected 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014 • 30 March 2012: Running in the 5 June 2012 Special Gubernatorial recall election.

Attorney General 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

		Republican	Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen • First elected: 2006; re-elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Treasurer 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

		Republican	Treasurer Kurt W. Schuller • First elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Superintendent of Public Instruction 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2009, 2013

		Nonpartisan	Public Instruction Superintendent Tony Evers • First elected: 2009 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 April 2013

Political Parties Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
	• Democratic (affiliates): 5 incumbents, 15 candidates
	• Republican: 12 incumbents, 12 candidates
Major Third Parties
	• Constitution (affiliates): 2 candidates
	• Green (affiliates): 1 candidate
	• Libertarian: 3 candidates
Other Third Parties
	• Americans Elect: 1 candidate
	• Justice Party: 1 candidate
	• Socialism and Liberation: 1 candidate
	• Socialist Equality: 1 candidate
Independents
	• Independent: 7 candidates
	• Nonpartisan: 1 incumbent
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
	• Scattering: 12 candidates
	• Write-in: 6 candidates
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.

"FEC" indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary.

When available, we post each candidate's FEC identification number, the date of their most recently filed Report of Receipts and Disbursements, their "Tot" [Total Receipts (contributions received or what came in: FEC Form 3, Line 16, Column B)] and their "Dsb" [Total Disbursements (expenditures or what was spent: FEC Form 3, Line 23, Column B)]. A link is provided to the Federal Election Commission's Summary Report for those who might wish to explore the details.

If a candidate raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not subject to FEC reporting requirements.