2020 Wisconsin elections

Two major elections were held in the U.S. state of Wisconsin in 2020. The larger was the general and presidential election, held on November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 United States elections in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. All of the state's eight seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election, as well as sixteen seats in the Wisconsin Senate and all 99 seats in the Wisconsin Assembly. Voters also chose ten electors to represent them in the Electoral College, which then participate in selecting the president of the United States. A primary election for these offices was held on August 11, 2020.

2020 Wisconsin elections
2020 Wisconsin elections
Voting and registration
in Wisconsin
Election Day: November 3, 2020
Polls opening: 7am–9pm
Requisites for voting
Voting precincts
Registration
Deadline: October 14 (Mail and Online), October 30 (In Person) 2020
Online form
Vote by mail
Application deadline: Received by October 29, 2020
Ballot mailing deadline: November 3, 2020
Received by: November 3, 2020
Online Form
Elections in Wisconsin
Federal government
Presidential elections
Presidential primaries
Democratic
2008
2016
2020
Republican
2008
2012
2016
U.S. Senate elections
U.S. House elections
State government
Gubernatorial elections
State Senate elections
State Assembly elections
Judicial
General elections
Ballot measures
2006
Referendum 1
Green Bay
Mayoral elections
Madison
Mayoral elections
Milwaukee
Mayoral elections

In the November general election, the Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden, won Wisconsin's ten electoral votes, defeating incumbent President Donald Trump. There was no change to the partisan makeup of Wisconsin's congressional delegation. Republicans gained two seats in the Wisconsin Senate; Democrats gained four seats in the Wisconsin Assembly.

On April 7, 2020, Wisconsin held its spring election for nonpartisan, local, and judicial offices, as well as its presidential preference primary. The date of this election and deadline to submit absentee ballots became a matter of controversy amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Democrats celebrated the results of the April election with the victory of their preferred candidate in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, reducing the conservative majority on the court to 4–3. The Democrats' preferred candidate also won re-election on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. The primary election for these offices was held on February 18, 2020.

In the Wisconsin Democratic presidential preference primary, Vice President Joe Biden won an overwhelming victory. This was the last primary of the 2020 Democratic nominating contest before Senator Bernie Sanders suspended his 2020 campaign. In the Wisconsin Republican presidential preference primary, incumbent President Donald Trump was unopposed. Wisconsin voters also approved an amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin known popularly as Marsy's Law, intended to grant new rights to victims of crimes.

A special election was held on May 12, 2020, to fill the vacancy in Wisconsin's 7th congressional district. The Republican candidate won the special election, causing no change to the congressional delegation's partisan makeup. The primary for this election was held concurrent with the spring primary on February 18.

Election information

Effects of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic
See also: COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin and Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics § Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, a swing state with a Democratic governor and a Republican legislature, an April 7 election for a state Supreme Court seat, the federal presidential primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties, and several other judicial and local elections went ahead as scheduled.

Due to the pandemic, at least fifteen other U.S. states cancelled or postponed scheduled elections or primaries at the time of Wisconsin's election.[1] With Wisconsin grappling with their own pandemic, state Democratic lawmakers made several attempts to postpone their election, but were prevented by other Republican legislators. Governor Tony Evers called the Wisconsin legislature into an April 4 special session, but the Republican-controlled Assembly and Senate graveled their sessions in and out within seventeen seconds.[2] In a joint statement afterwards, Wisconsin's state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald criticized Evers for attempting to postpone the election, for not calling a special session earlier, and for reversing his previous position on keeping the election date intact.[3]

Early in April, Evers publicly stated that he did not believe that he could postpone the election on his own. Nevertheless, after the legislature's inaction, the governor attempted to move the election by an executive order issued on April 6.[4] Evers' effort was, however, blocked by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. On the same day, a separate effort to extend the deadline for mailing absentee ballots was blocked by the Supreme Court of the United States. The only major concession achieved was that absentee ballots postmarked by April 7 at 8 p.m. would be accepted until April 13.[5] However, local media outlets reported that many voters had not received their requested absentee ballots by election day or, due to social distancing, were unable to satisfy a legal requirement that they obtain a witness's signature.[6][7] Three tubs of ballots from Oshkosh and Appleton were found undelivered the next day, requiring voters who had requested a ballot to come in contact with others at a polling station or forfeit their vote.[8]

The decision by Republican lawmakers to not alter the election in the face of the pandemic, such as to a mail-only vote, was sharply criticized by the editorial board of the local Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, which had previously endorsed the Republican former governor Scott Walker.[9][10] They called the election "the most undemocratic in the state's history," adding that it put "at risk everything we've gained from the past three weeks of staying home and keeping our distance."[9] In a sub-headline, The New York Times stated that the election was "almost certain to be tarred as illegitimate." The newspaper contextualized the inability of Wisconsin's lawmakers to come to an agreement on altering the election as another chapter in the contentious recent political history of the state, which included "a decade of bitter partisan wrangling that saw [state Republicans] clinically attack and defang the state's Democratic institutions, starting with organized labor and continuing with voting laws making it far harder for poor and black residents of urban areas to vote."[11] Republicans believed that holding the election on April 7, when Democratic-leaning urban areas were hard-hit by the pandemic, would help secure them political advantages like a continued 5–2 conservative majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court (through the elected seat of Daniel Kelly).[10][12]

When the election went ahead on April 7, access to easy in-person voting heavily depended on where voters were located. In smaller or more rural communities, which tended to be whiter and vote Republican, few issues were reported.[12][13] In more urbanized areas, the coronavirus pandemic forced the closure and consolidation of many polling places around the state despite the use of 2,400 National Guard members to combat a severe shortage in poll workers.[14][15] The effects were felt most heavily in Milwaukee, Wisconsin's most populous city with the largest minority population and the center of the state's ongoing pandemic.[12] The city's government was only able to open 5 of 180 polling stations after being short by nearly 1,000 poll workers.[15] As a result, lengthy lines were reported, with some voters waiting for up to 2.5 hours and through rain showers.[14][16] The lines disproportionately affected Milwaukee's large Hispanic and African-American population; the latter had already been disproportionately afflicted with the coronavirus pandemic, forming nearly half of Wisconsin's documented cases and over half its deaths at the time the vote was conducted.[11][13] However, by the time the election concluded, Milwaukee Election Commissioner Neil Albrecht stated that despite some of the problems, the in-person voting ran smoothly.[17]

Similar problems with poll station closures and long lines were reported in Waukesha, where only one polling station was opened for a city of 70,000, and Green Bay, where only 17 poll workers out of 270 were able to work.[11] Other cities were able to keep lines much shorter, including the state capital of Madison, which opened about two-thirds of its usual polling locations, and Appleton, which opened all of its usual 15.[14][18]

Voters across the state were advised to maintain social distancing, wear face masks, and bring their own pens.[19] Vos, the state Assembly Speaker, served as an election inspector for in-person voting on April 7. While wearing medical-like personal protective equipment of gloves, a mask, and full gown, he told reporters that it was "incredibly safe to go out" and vote, adding that voters faced "minimal exposure."[12][20]

Turnout

1,551,711 valid ballots were cast.[21]

This voter turnout is approximately 45.8% of eligible voters.[22]

Turnout was also 34.3% of the voting age population, which is a decrease compared to the 47.4% voting age population turnout of the April 2016 elections.[21][23][24]

April 2020 election

As of April 21, 2020, Wisconsin reports that 1,239,611 absentee ballots were requested by voters, 1,282,097 absentee ballots were sent to voters, and 1,138,491 absentee ballots were returned by voters for the April 7 elections.[25] It has not been reported how many absentee ballots were valid.

Approximately 71% of votes cast in the April election were absentee ballots, an unprecedented proportion of absentee votes in Wisconsin.[23][24]

After reports of missing and undelivered absentee ballots, Wisconsin's Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson, as well as the Milwaukee Election Commission, called for investigations.[26]

November 2020 election

To vote by mail in the November election, registered Wisconsin voters had to request a ballot by October 29, 2020.[27] As of early October, some 1,315,431 voters had requested mail ballots.[28]

Federal offices

President
Main article: 2020 United States presidential election in Wisconsin

The 2020 United States presidential election in Wisconsin took place on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Wisconsin voters chose ten electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote.

Democratic Primary
Main article: 2020 Wisconsin Democratic primary

For its part in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Wisconsin's presidential preference primary was on the ballot for Wisconsin's spring general election, held on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. At the time of the Wisconsin primary, only Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders remained in the field of Democratic candidates. However, due to delays in vote-counting, Bernie Sanders had already withdrawn from the race by the time the vote totals were released. Joe Biden won a decisive victory in the state, capturing about 63% of the vote and winning every county.[29]

The Wisconsin primary is an open primary, with the state awarding 97 delegates, of which 84 are pledged delegates allocated on the basis of the results of the primary election.

Republican Primary
Main article: 2020 Wisconsin Republican primary

In the 2020 Republican Party presidential primaries, the Wisconsin Republican presidential preference primary was also on the April 7 ballot. The only candidate for the Republican nomination was incumbent President Donald Trump, who received about 98% of the vote.[29]

General election

Joe Biden won the general election against Donald Trump, but the Trump administration was demanding a recount. However, the Wisconsin votes have been certified.

Polling
Donald Trump vs. Joe Biden
Source of poll aggregation Dates administered Dates updated Joe Biden Donald Trump Other/
Undecided[lower-alpha 1]		 Margin
270 to Win September 7, 2020 - September 18, 2020 September 18, 2020 50.0% 43.5% Biden + 6.5
Real Clear Politics August 29, 2020 – September 13, 2020 September 18, 2020 50.1% 43.4% Biden + 6.7
The Economist September 18, 2020 53.0% 47.0% Biden + 6.0
Five Thirty Eight September 18, 2020 50.3% 43.6% Biden + 6.8
  1. Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined

Senate

Neither of Wisconsin's United States Senate seats were up for election in 2020.

House of Representatives
Main articles: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin and 2020 Wisconsin's 7th congressional district special election

The 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin will be held on November 3, 2020, to elect Wisconsin's delegation to the United States House of Representatives for the 117th United States Congress. A primary election for these offices will be held August 11, 2020. Wisconsin has eight congressional districts, and in six districts the incumbent from the previous general election will be running for re-election in November.

7th district special election

In the special election held on May 12, 2020, Republican state senator Tom Tiffany defeated Democrat Tricia Zunker. A special primary election for the vacant congressional seat was held concurrent with the Spring Primary, February 18, 2020.

Wisconsin's 7th congressional district special election, 2020[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Special Election, May 12, 2020
Republican Tom Tiffany 109,592 57.22% -2.89%
Democratic Tricia Zunker 81,928 42.78% +4.27%
Plurality 27,664 14.44% -7.16%
Total votes 191,520 100.0% -40.68%
Republican hold

General election
District CPVI Incumbent Candidates[31]
(check mark indicates primary winners)		 Result
Representative First Elected Incumbent Status Candidate Ballot Status
Wisconsin 1 R+5 Bryan Steil 2018 Running Y Bryan Steil Approved Incumbent re-elected
John Baker Approved
Jeremy J. Ryan Denied
Charles E. Barman Denied
Y Roger Polack Approved
Josh Pade Approved
Wisconsin 2 D+18 Mark Pocan 2012 Running Y Mark Pocan Approved Incumbent re-elected
Y Peter Theron Approved
Bradley J. Burt Denied
Wisconsin 3 EVEN Ron Kind 1996 Running Y Ron Kind Approved Incumbent re-elected
Mark Neumann Approved
Y Derrick Van Orden Approved
Jessi Ebben Approved
Brandon Cook Denied
Jonathan Sundblom Denied
Kevin John Ruscher Denied
Wisconsin 4 D+25 Gwen Moore 2004 Running Y Gwen Moore Approved Incumbent re-elected
David Turner Denied
Y Tim Rogers[note 1] Approved
Cindy Werner Approved
Travis R. Clark Denied
Robert R. Raymond Approved
Aneb Jah Rasta Sensas-Utcha Nefer-1 Denied
Wisconsin 5 R+13 Jim Sensenbrenner 1978 Not Running Y Scott L. Fitzgerald Approved Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Cliff DeTemple Approved
Y Tom Palzewicz Approved
Wisconsin 6 R+8 Glenn Grothman 2014 Running Y Glenn Grothman Approved Incumbent re-elected
Y Jessica King Approved
Matthew L. Boor Approved
Michael G. Beardsley Approved
Wisconsin 7 R+8 Tom Tiffany 2020 (special) Running Y Tom Tiffany Approved Incumbent re-elected
Y Tricia Zunker Approved
Ken Driessen Denied
Wisconsin 8 R+7 Mike Gallagher 2016 Running Y Mike Gallagher Approved Incumbent re-elected
Y Amanda Stuck Approved
Robbie Hoffman Denied

State offices

State Senate
Main article: 2020 Wisconsin State Senate election

The 16 even-numbered districts out of 33 in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election in 2020.[32] Democrats and Republicans both had seven occupied seats and one vacant seat up in this election, for a total of eight seats each. Seven incumbent senators have filed official papers of non-candidacy (including two vacancies).[33] Five candidates were running unopposed.

Prior to the election, Republicans controlled the chamber with a 18 to 13 majority.

Summary
Seats Party
(majority caucus shading)
 Vacant Total
Democratic Republican
Total after last election (2018) 14 19 - 33
Total before this election 13 18 2 33
Up for election 7 7 2 16
This election 6 10 - 16
Total after this election 12 21 - 33
Change in total 2 2
Candidates
District Incumbent Party Elected Member[34] Party Results
2 Robert Cowles Rep Robert Cowles[lower-alpha 1] Rep Party hold
4 Lena Taylor Dem Lena Taylor[lower-alpha 1] Dem Party hold
6 La Tonya Johnson Dem La Tonya Johnson Dem Party hold
8 Alberta Darling Rep Alberta Darling Rep Party hold
10 Patty Schachtner Dem Rob Stafsholt Rep Republican gain
12 Vacated[lower-alpha 2] by a Republican Mary Felzkowski Rep Party hold
14 Luther Olsen[lower-alpha 2] Rep Joan Ballweg Rep Party hold
16 Mark F. Miller[lower-alpha 2] Dem Melissa Agard Dem Party hold
18 Dan Feyen Rep Dan Feyen Rep Party hold
20 Duey Stroebel Rep Duey Stroebel[lower-alpha 1] Rep Party hold
22 Robert Wirch Dem Robert Wirch[lower-alpha 1] Dem Party hold
24 Patrick Testin Rep Patrick Testin Rep Party hold
26 Fred Risser[lower-alpha 2] Dem Kelda Roys[lower-alpha 1] Dem Party hold
28 Dave Craig[lower-alpha 2] Rep Julian Bradley Rep Party hold
30 Dave Hansen[lower-alpha 2] Dem Eric Wimberger Rep Republican gain
32 Vacated[lower-alpha 2] by a Democrat Brad Pfaff Dem Party hold
  1. Running unopposed in the general election
  2. No incumbent seeking reelection

State Assembly
Main article: 2020 Wisconsin State Assembly election

All of the 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly are up for election in 2020.[35] Right before this election, 63 Assembly seats were held by Republicans, 34 seats were held by Democrats, and two seats were vacant.

Summary
Seats Party
(majority caucus shading)
 Vacant Total
Democratic Republican
Total after last election (2018) 36 63 - 99
Total before this election 34 63 2 99
Up for election 34 63 2 99
This election 38 61 - 99
Total after this election 38 61 - 99
Change in total 2 2
Candidates

Before the election, 13 incumbent Assembly members have filed papers declaring that they will not run for re-election:[33] 11 would retire at the end of term, and two have already vacated their seats (both seats were vacated by Democrats). 18 incumbents ran unopposed in their re-election campaigns. Three incumbents were successfully challenged by other candidates, and lost their seats.

Judicial

Three judicial appointees of former Governor Scott Walker were defeated in the 2020 spring election—Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly, and Milwaukee Circuit Court judges Paul Dedinsky and Daniel Gabler.[36]

State Supreme Court

Incumbent Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly was defeated by Dane Circuit Court Judge Jill Karofsky in the April general election. Justice Kelly was appointed to a vacant seat in 2016 by Governor Scott Walker. Under Wisconsin law, the seat must come up for a new election for a full term on the next year when there is no other scheduled supreme court election. Since there were supreme court elections in Wisconsin scheduled in 2017, 2018, and 2019, the election for this seat was scheduled for 2020.

Marquette University law professor Edward A. Fallone was eliminated in the primary election held on February 18.

Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]		 Margin
of error		 Daniel
Kelly		 Jill
Karofsky
Hodas & Associates/Restoration PAC[upper-alpha 1] Mar 17–19, 2020 600 (RV) – 36% 29%
Results

While the election was formally nonpartisan, the result of the general election was regarded as a victory for the Democratic Party, as the liberal Democratic Party-backed Karofsky defeated the conservative Republican Party-backed Daniel Kelly, who also carried the endorsement of Republican Party incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump.[37][38]

  Karofsky 40–60%
  Karofsky 60–70%
  Karofsky 70–90%
  Kelly 40–60%
  Kelly 60–70%
  Kelly 70–90%
Wisconsin Supreme Court Election, 2020[39][40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Primary Election, February 18, 2020
Nonpartisan Daniel Kelly (incumbent) 352,876 50.04%
Nonpartisan Jill J. Karofsky 261,783 37.13%
Nonpartisan Ed Fallone 89,184 12.65%
Write-ins 1,295 0.18%
Total votes 705,138 100.0%
General Election, April 7, 2020
Nonpartisan Jill J. Karofsky 855,573 55.21%
Nonpartisan Daniel Kelly (incumbent) 693,134 44.73%
Scattering 990 0.06%
Plurality 162,439 10.48%
Total votes 1,549,446 100.0%

State Court of Appeals

Three seats on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals were up for election in 2020.

  • Judge Joe Donald was unopposed seeking re-election in District I.
  • Judge Rachel A. Graham was unopposed seeking re-election in District IV.
  • In District II, incumbent Judge Lisa Neubauer defeated challenger Waukesha County Circuit Judge Paul Bugenhagen, Jr.
Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II Election, 2020[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
General Election, April 7, 2020
Nonpartisan Lisa S. Neubauer (incumbent) 231,788 53.99%
Nonpartisan Paul Bugenhagen, Jr. 196,958 45.88%
Scattering 540 0.13%
Plurality 34,830 8.11%
Total votes 429,286 100.0%

State Circuit Courts

Thirty four of the state's 249 circuit court seats were up for election in 2020. Eight of those seats were contested. Two incumbent judges were defeated—Milwaukee County judges Paul Dedinsky and Daniel Gabler.

  • In Brown County, incumbent Judge Beau G. Liegeois, appointed by Governor Tony Evers in 2019, defeated challenger Andy Williams, a former county supervisor.[41][42]
  • In Chippewa County, incumbent Judge Steven R. Cray was not seeking re-election. Attorney Benjamin Lane defeated Chippewa Falls school board member Sharon Gibbs McIlquham.[36][43]
  • In Dodge County, incumbent Judge Steven G. Bauer was not seeking re-election. Attorney Kristine Snow defeated assistant district attorney James Sempf.[36][44]
  • In Florence and Forest Counties, incumbent two-term Judge Leon D. Stenz narrowly defeated former Judge Robert A. Kennedy, Jr., who he had previously defeated in 2008.[36]
  • In Marinette County, incumbent Judge David G. Miron was not seeking re-election. Court commissioner Jane Kopish Sequin defeated attorney Mike Perry.[36]
  • In Milwaukee County Branch 5, incumbent Judge Paul Dedinsky, appointed by Governor Scott Walker, was defeated by Brett Blomme, chairman of Milwaukee's zoning adjustment board, CEO of Cream City Foundation, and a former public defender.[36][45]
  • In Milwaukee County Branch 29, incumbent Daniel Gabler, appointed by Governor Scott Walker, was defeated by Rebecca Kiefer, an assistant district attorney.[36][46]
  • In Waukesha County, incumbent Judge Lee S. Dreyfus, Jr., was not seeking re-election. Jack Melvin defeated Sarah A. Ponath, both are attorneys.[36]
Circuit Branch Incumbent Elected Defeated Defeated in Primary
Name Votes % Name Votes % Name(s)
Barron 2 J. Michael Bitney J. Michael Bitney 8,981 99.77%
3 Maureen D. Boyle Maureen D. Boyle 8,962 99.79%
Brown 8 Beau G. Liegeois Beau G. Liegeois 29,035 55.62% Andy Williams 23,079 44.21%
Chippewa 3 Steven R. Cray Benjamin Lane 8,839 56.57% Sharon Gibbs McIlquham 6,774 43.35%
Dane 7 William E. Hanrahan William E. Hanrahan 127,673 98.86%
Dodge 1 Brian A. Pfitzinger Brian A. Pfitzinger 16,773 100.00%
4 Steven Bauer Kristine A. Snow 10,351 50.82% James T. Sempf 10,017 49.18%
Dunn 1 James M. Peterson James M. Peterson 8,283 100.00%
Eau Claire 2 Michael Schumacher Michael Schumacher 20,246 99.19%
Florence–Forest Leon D. Stenz Leon D. Stenz 2,189 55.25% Robert A. Kennedy, Jr. 1,770 44.67%
Fond du Lac 1 Dale L. English Dale L. English 20,170 99.96%
Iron Anthony J. Stella, Jr. Anthony J. Stella, Jr. 1,927 99.02%
Juneau 2 Paul S. Curran Paul S. Curran 5,282 98.84%
Kenosha 3 Bruce E. Schroeder Bruce E. Schroeder 26,063 98.70%
Marathon 3 Lamont K. Jacobson LaMont K. Jacobson 26,455 99.31%
Marinette 1 David G. Miron Jane Kopish Sequin 5,397 51.30% Mike Perry 5,123 48.70%
Menominee–Shawano 1 James R. Habeck Tony A. Kordus 7,420 96.05%
Milwaukee 2 Milton L. Childs, Sr. Milton L. Childs, Sr. 127,585 99.10%
5 Paul Dedinsky Brett Blomme 99,091 58.28% Paul Dedinsky 70,005 41.17% Zach Whitney
7 Thomas J. McAdams Thomas J. McAdams 123,474 98.88%
16 Brittany Grayson Brittany Grayson 126,151 99.20%
24 Janet C. Protasiewicz Janet C. Protasiewicz 125,239 99.11%
27 Kevin E. Martens Kevin E. Martens 123,248 99.05%
29 Dan Gabler Rebecca Kiefer 122,798 70.60% Dan Gabler 50,602 29.09%
32 Laura Gramling Perez Laura Gramling Perez 126,227 99.15%
Oneida 1 Patrick F. O'Melia Patrick F. O'Melia 9,210 99.47%
Outagamie 2 Nancy J. Krueger Emily I. Lonergan 35,172 100.00%
3 Mitchell J. Metropulos Mitchell J. Metropulos 35,126 100.00%
St. Croix 1 Scott J. Nordstrand Scott J. Nordstrand 15,250 98.85%
Washburn Eugene D. Harrington Angeline E. Winton 4,034 99.60%
Washington 2 James K. Muehlbauer James K. Muehlbauer 31,757 100.00%
Waukesha 5 Lee S. Dreyfus, Jr. Jack Melvin 67,792 55.97% Sarah A. Ponath 53,059 43.81%
Waupaca 2 Vicki L. Clussman Vicki L. Clussman 10,664 99.63%
Wood 1 Gregory J. Potter Gregory J. Potter 16,270 99.47%

Constitutional Amendment

In the April election, Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin to enact the Wisconsin version of Marsy's Law. The amendment is intended to provide additional rights to victims of crimes, but the language of the Wisconsin referendum was criticized by legal experts as vague and misleading.[47]

Marsy's Law[38]
Candidate Votes %
Yes 1,106,399 75
No 370,941 25
Total votes 1,477,340 100

Local offices

Appleton
  • After six-term incumbent mayor Tim Hanna announced he would not seek re-election, Appleton became the site of a contested mayoral race where Jake Woodford, a senior administrator at Appleton's Lawrence University, defeated former city council member James Clemons by a margin of a little over 10 percent. Woodford had received Mayor Hanna's endorsement in the days leading up to the election, in large part because Hanna believed Woodford was better suited to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. Woodford was also noted for his youth, as he was just 29 years old at the time of his victory. [48]

Milwaukee

Racine
Racine Schools Additional Funding[55]
Candidate Votes %
Yes 16,715 50.01%
No 16,711 49.99%
Total votes 33,426 100.0%

Wausau
  • Incumbent Mayor Robert Mielke was defeated by Marathon County Supervisor Katie Rosenberg.[57]

See also

Notes
  1. Apparent winner
  1. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
Partisan clients
  1. The Restoration PAC is a 501 non-profit which supports Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign

References
  1. Corasaniti, Nick; Saul, Stephanie (April 7, 2020). "15 States Have Postponed Their Primaries Because of Coronavirus. Here's a List". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  2. Glauber, Bill; Marley, Patrick (April 4, 2020). "In matter of seconds, Republicans stall Gov. Tony Evers' move to postpone Tuesday election". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  3. Beck, Molly (April 3, 2020). "Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers calls special session to stop in-person voting, but Republican leaders say it should go forward". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  4. Karson, Kendall (April 6, 2020). "Wisconsin Supreme Court blocks order by governor suspending in-person voting, putting Tuesday's election back on track". Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  5. Herndon, Astead W.; Rutenberg, Jim (April 6, 2020). "Wisconsin Election Fight Heralds a National Battle Over Virus-Era Voting". The New York Times. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  6. Molly, Beck (April 7, 2020). "As election day arrives, voters hoping to avoid coronavirus say they are still waiting for absentee ballots". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  7. Jannene, Jeramey (April 6, 2020). "Where Are the Missing Ballots?". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  8. Marley, Patrick; Dirr, Alison. "Wisconsin is discovering problems with absentee ballots, including hundreds that were never delivered". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  9. "Editorial: Evers' ban on in-person voting was the right call to ensure a safe, fair election during coronavirus pandemic". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  10. Epstein, Reid J. (April 7, 2020). "Why Wisconsin Republicans Insisted on an Election in a Pandemic". The New York Times. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  11. "Wisconsin Election: Voters Forced to Choose Between Protecting Their Health and Their Civic Duty". The New York Times. April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  12. Herndon, Astead W.; Burns, Alexander (April 7, 2020). "Voting in Wisconsin During a Pandemic: Lines, Masks and Plenty of Fear". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  13. Herndon, Astead W. "They Turned Out to Vote in Wisconsin During a Health Crisis. Here's Why". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  14. "Election day live blog". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  15. Jannene, Jeramey (April 7, 2020). "Why Does Madison Have More Voting Sites Than Milwaukee?". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  16. Jannene, Jeramey (April 7, 2020). "Long Lines at Milwaukee's Polling Places". Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  17. Mikkelson, Marti (April 8, 2020). "Milwaukee Election Chief: Despite Some Issues, In-Person Voting Went Smoothly". WUWM/NPR. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  18. Bill, Ruthhart (April 7, 2020). "In battleground Wisconsin, long voter lines, no election results and a missed opportunity to build toward November". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  19. Shabad, Rebecca; Egan, Lauren (April 7, 2020). "Wisconsin voters face long waits, lines amid coronavirus outbreak". NBC News. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  20. Kate, Sullivan (April 7, 2020). "Republican Wisconsin assembly speaker wears protective gear while telling voters they are 'incredibly safe to go out'". CNN. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  21. "Election Day Update Blog | Wisconsin Elections Commission". elections.wi.gov. Wisconsin Elections Commission. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  22. "April 1, 2020 Voter Registration Statistics | Wisconsin Elections Commission". elections.wi.gov. Wisconsin Elections Commission.
  23. "Voter turnout hit 34% for Wisconsin Supreme Court race, 71% of ballots were cast absentee". FOX6Now.com. WITI. April 14, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  24. Rakich, Nathaniel (April 14, 2020). "What Went Down In The Wisconsin Primary". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  25. "Absentee Ballot Report - April 7, 2020 Spring Election and Presidential Preference Primary | Wisconsin Elections Commission". elections.wi.gov. Wisconsin Elections Commission. April 27, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  26. Spicuzza, Mary (April 9, 2020). "U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson call for investigation into Wisconsin's missing absentee ballots". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  27. Lily Hay Newman (August 27, 2020), "How to Vote by Mail and Make Sure It Counts", Wired.com, archived from the original on October 6, 2020
  28. Michael P. McDonald, "2020 General Election Early Vote Statistics", U.S. Elections Project, retrieved October 10, 2020, Detailed state statistics
  29. Reilly, Briana (April 13, 2020). "First results in for April 7 Wisconsin election: Joe Biden, Donald Trump win primaries". The Capital Times. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
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