2014 Wisconsin elections
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Mayoral elections

The 2014 Wisconsin Fall General Election was held in the U.S. state of Wisconsin on November 4, 2014. Wisconsin's Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer were all up for election, as well as Wisconsin's eight seats in the United States House of Representatives. The November general election in 2014 also featured a statewide referendum on an amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin. The 2014 Wisconsin Fall Primary Election was held on August 12, 2014.

The Republican Party of Wisconsin held onto all statewide offices up for election in 2014, except for secretary of state, where Democrat Doug La Follette won his tenth term. Republicans also retained control of the Wisconsin State Senate and Wisconsin State Assembly. The partisan breakdown of Wisconsin's delegation to the United States House of Representatives was unchanged, remaining five Republicans and three Democrats.

For nonpartisan local and judicial seats, the 2014 Wisconsin Spring General Election was held April 1, 2014. No Wisconsin Supreme Court seats were up in 2014, but three seats on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and 41 Wisconsin Circuit Court seats were up. The 2014 Wisconsin Spring Primary Election was held on February 18.

Federal

Senate

Neither of Wisconsin's United States Senate seats were up for election in 2014.

House of Representatives

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, 2014

All 8 of Wisconsin's congressional districts will be up for election in November. All eight incumbent Representatives are running for reelection, save for District 6, where incumbent Tom Petri was retiring. Party composition remained unchanged after the general election.

District Incumbent Elected Defeated Democratic Republican Others Total Result
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
District 1 Paul Ryan Paul Ryan Rob Zerban (D)
Keith R. Deschler (Ind)		 105,552 36.63% 182,316 63.27% 302 0.10% 288,170 12.23% Republican Hold
District 2 Mark Pocan Mark Pocan Peter Theron (R) 224,920 68.40% 103,619 31.51% 308 0.09% 328,847 13.96% Democratic Hold
District 3 Ron Kind Ron Kind Tony Kurtz (R)
Ken Van Doren (Ind)		 155,368 56.46% 119,540 43.44% 253 0.09% 275,161 11.68% Democratic Hold
District 4 Gwen Moore Gwen Moore Dan Sebring (R)
Robert R. Raymond (Ind)		 179,045 70.24% 68,490 26.87% 7,357 2.89% 254,892 10.82% Democratic Hold
District 5 Jim Sensenbrenner Jim Sensenbrenner Chris Rockwood (D) 101,190 30.40% 231,160 69.45% 476 0.14% 332,826 14.13% Republican Hold
District 6 Tom Petri Glenn Grothman Mark L. Harris (D)
Gus Fahrendorf (Ind)		 122,212 40.87% 169,767 56.77% 7,054 2.36% 299,033 12.69% Republican Hold
District 7 Sean Duffy Sean Duffy Kelly Westlund (D)
Lawrence Dale (Ind)		 112,949 39.41% 169,891 59.28% 3,763 1.31% 286,603 12.17% Republican Hold
District 8 Reid Ribble Reid Ribble Ron Gruett (D) 101,345 34.94% 188,553 65.01% 150 0.05% 290,048 12.31% Republican Hold
Total 1,102,581 46.81% 1,233,336 52.36% 19,663 0.83% 2,355,580 100.00%

State

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Main article: 2014 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

Incumbent Republican Governor Scott Walker and Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, first elected in 2010, sought re-election to a second term after surviving a recall election in 2012.

The Democratic Party nominated business executive Mary Burke and state senator John Lehman for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively. Burke was a member of the Madison school board and former Secretary of Wisconsin's Department of Commerce. Lehman was a state senator and former teacher from Racine, who had just won back his senate seat in a recall election.

Walker and Kleefisch won the November election with 52% of the vote.[1]

2014 Wisconsin gubernatorial election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Scott Walker (incumbent) /
Rebecca Kleefisch (incumbent) 		1,259,706 52.26% -0.79%
Democratic Mary Burke /
John Lehman 		1,122,913 46.59% +0.31%
Libertarian Robert Burke /
Joseph M. Brost 		18,720 0.78%
Independent Dennis Fehr 7,530 0.31%
Scattering 1,445 0.06%
Plurality 136,793 5.68%
Total votes 2,410,314 100.0% -4.20%

Attorney General

Republican incumbent attorney general J. B. Van Hollen, first elected in 2006, did not seek re-election to a third term. Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel defeated Jefferson County District Attorney Susan Happ in the November general election.

Republican primary

Democratic primary

Candidates
Endorsements
Susan Happ
County District Attorneys
Ismael Ozanne
Statewide politicians
County District Attorneys
Local politicians
  • Joe Parisi, Dane County Executive
  • Dave Mahoney, Dane County Sheriff
  • Carlo Esqueda, Dane County Clerk of Courts
  • Bob Spoden, Rock County Sheriff
  • Shawn Pfaff, Fitchburg Mayor
Results
Democratic primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan Happ 144,367 52.1
Democratic Jon Richards 90,101 32.5
Democratic Ismael Ozanne 42,555 15.4
Total votes 277,023 100

General election

Candidates
Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Brad
Schimel (R) 		Susan
Happ (D) 		Other Undecided
Marquette University October 23–26, 2014 1,164 LV ± 3% 43.1% 38.7% 0.9% 17.3%
1,409 RV ± 2.7% 39.5% 39.5% 1.1% 19.8%
WPR/St. Norbert College October 18–21, 2014 525 ± 4.4% 41% 40% — 19%
Marquette University October 9–12, 2014 803 LV ± 3.5% 41.5% 41.5% — 17%
1,004 RV ± 3.2% 39.1% 39% 0.2% 21.7%
Marquette University September 25–28, 2014 585 LV ± 4.1% 40.9% 38.7% 1.1% 19.3%
801 RV ± 3.5% 36.9% 37.4% 1% 24.5%
Marquette University September 11–14, 2014 589 LV ± 4.1% 41.9% 40.6% 0.4% 17%
800 RV ± 3.5% 38.3% 38.7% 1% 22%
Marquette University August 21–24, 2014 609 LV ± 4.1% 32% 42.5% 0.6% 24.9%
815 RV ± 3.5% 32.8% 39.5% 0.7% 27.1%
Results
2014 Wisconsin Attorney General Election
← 2010 November 4, 2014 2018 →
 
Candidate Brad Schimel Susan V. Happ
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,211,388 1,066,866
Percentage 51.57% 45.41%
County results
Schimel:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Happ:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Attorney General before election

J.B. Van Hollen
Republican

Elected Attorney General

Brad Schimel
Republican

Wisconsin Attorney General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 4, 2014[2]
Republican Brad Schimel 1,211,388 51.57% -6.25%
Democratic Susan V. Happ 1,066,866 45.41% +3.26%
Independent Thomas A. Nelson, Sr. 70,951 3.02%
Scattering 1,120 0.05%
Plurality 144,522 6.15% -9.51%
Total votes 2,350,325 100.0% +11.26%
Republican hold

Secretary of State

2014 Wisconsin Secretary of State Election
← 2010 November 4, 2014 2018 →
 
Candidate Doug La Follette Julian Bradley
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,380,752 1,235,034
Percentage 50.0% 46.3%
County results
La Follette:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Bradley:      40–50%     50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Secretary of State before election

Doug La Follette
Democratic

Elected Secretary of State

Doug La Follette
Democratic

Democratic Incumbent Doug La Follette was re-elected to his tenth term as Secretary of State of Wisconsin, taking 50% of the vote in the November general election. La Follette defeated La Crosse Republican Julian Bradley. State Representative Garey Bies was defeated in the Republican primary.

Democratic primary

Republican primary

Candidates
Results
Republican primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Julian Bradley 138,734 64.8
Republican Garey Bies 75,340 35.2
Total votes 214,074 100

General election

Candidates
Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Doug
La Follette (D) 		Julian
Bradley (R) 		Undecided
Gravis Marketing October 3–4, 2014 837 ± 3% 44% 43% 13%
Gravis Marketing September 22–23, 2014 908 ± 3% 50% 37% 13%
Gravis Marketing July 31–August 2, 2014 1,346 ± 3% 46% 39% 15%
Results
Wisconsin Secretary of State Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 4, 2014[2]
Democratic Doug La Follette (incumbent) 1,161,113 50.00% -1.61%
Republican Julian Bradley 1,074,835 46.29% -2.01%
Independent Andy Craig 58,996 2.54%
Constitution Jerry Broitzman 25,744 1.11%
Scattering 1,347 0.06%
Plurality 86,278 3.72% +0.40%
Total votes 2,322,035 100.0% +11.57%
Democratic hold

Treasurer

Republican incumbent state treasurer Kurt W. Schuller, first elected in 2011, did not seek re-election to a second term. In the November general election, Republican Wisconsin legislative staffer Matt Adamczyk defeated Democrat Dave Sartori, a former Greenfield alderman.

Republican primary

Candidates
Results
Republican primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Adamczyk 132,596 61.8
Republican Randall Melchert 82,108 38.2
Total votes 214,074 100

Democratic primary

Candidates
Results
Democratic primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Sartori 119,504 51.6
Democratic Dave Leeper 112,225 48.4
Total votes 231,729 100

General election

Candidates
Polling
Hypothetical polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Randall
Melchert (R) 		Dave
Leeper (D) 		Ron
Hardy (G) 		Undecided
Gravis Marketing September 22–23, 2014[4] 908 ± 3% 38% 35% 10% 17%
Gravis Marketing July 31–August 2, 2014 1,346 ± 3% 39% 31% 12% 18%
Results
2014 Wisconsin State Treasurer Election
← 2010 November 4, 2014 2018 →
 
Candidate Matt Adamczyk Dave Sartori
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,120,140 1,026,548
Percentage 48.80% 44.73%
County results
Adamczyk:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Sartori:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Treasurer before election

Kurt W. Schuller
Republican

Elected Treasurer

Matt Adamczyk
Republican

Wisconsin State Treasurer Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 4, 2014[2]
Republican Matt Adamczyk 1,120,140 48.80% -4.59%
Democratic Dave Sartori 1,026,548 44.73% -1.74%
Independent Ron Hardy 66,120 2.88%
Independent Jerry Shidell 53,113 2.31%
Constitution Andrew Zuelke 28,053 1.22%
Scattering 1,244 0.05%
Plurality 93,592 4.08% -2.85%
Total votes 2,295,218 100.0% +11.27%
Republican hold

Legislature

State Senate

17 of the Wisconsin State Senate's 33 seats were up for election in the November general election. Republicans added one seat to their majority, retaking the 21st senate district which had been lost in the 2012 recall elections.

Summary
Parties Total
Republican Democratic
Last election (2012) 18 15 33
Before 2014 elections 17 15 32
Not up 8 8 16
Up 10[5] 7 17
Incumbent retiring 4 3 7
Incumbent running 6 4 10
After 2014 elections 19 14 33
Voting share 58% 42%
Full Results
District Incumbent This race Results
Senator Party First
elected 		Incumbent Status Candidates Winner[2]
1 Frank Lasee Republican 2010 Running Frank Lasee (Republican)
Dean P. Debroux (Democratic) 		Frank Lasee
61.59%
3 Tim Carpenter Democrat 2002 Running Tim Carpenter (Democrat) Tim Carpenter
97.10%
5 Leah Vukmir Republican 2010 Running Leah Vukmir (Republican)
Wendy Friedrich (Democratic) 		Leah Vukmir
73.03%
7 Chris Larson Democratic 1993 Running Chris Larson (Democratic)
Jason Red Arnold (Republican) 		Chris Larson
59.50%
9 Joe Leibham Republican 2002 Not Running Devin LeMahieu (Republican)
Martha Laning (Democrat) 		Devin LeMahieu
59.95%
11 Neal Kedzie Republican 2002 Not Running Stephen Nass (Republican)
Dan Kilkenny (Democrat) 		Stephen Nass
63.29%
13 Scott L. Fitzgerald Republican 1994 Running Scott L. Fitzgerald (Republican)
Michelle Zahn (Democrat) 		Scott L. Fitzgerald
62.69%
15 Timothy Cullen Democrat 1974 Not Running Janis Ringhand (Democrat)
Brian Fitzgerald (Republican) 		Janis Ringhand
59.47%
17 Dale Schultz Republican 1990 Not Running Howard Marklein (Republican)
Pat Bomhack (Democrat) 		Howard Marklein
55.07%
19 Michael Ellis Republican 1982 Not Running Roger Roth (Republican)
Penny Bernard Schaber (Democrat) 		Roger Roth
57.17%
21 John Lehman Democrat 2006 Not Running Van H. Wanggaard (Republican)
Randy Bryce (Democrat) 		Van H. Wanggaard
61.42%
23 Terry Moulton Republican 2010 Running Terry Moulton (Republican)
Phil Swanhorst (Democrat) 		Terry Moulton
61.15%
25 Robert Jauch Democrat 1986 Not Running Janet Bewley (Democrat)
Dane Deutsch (Republican) 		Janet Bewley
51.16%
27 Jon Erpenbach Democrat 1998 Running Jon Erpenbach (Democrat) Jon Erpenbach
97.51%
29 Jerry Petrowski Republican 2012 Running Jerry Petrowski (Republican)
Paul Demain (Democratic) 		Jerry Petrowski
65.73%
31 Kathleen Vinehout Democrat 2006 Running Kathleen Vinehout (Democrat)
Mel Pittman (Republican) 		Kathleen Vinehout
52.32%
33 Paul Farrow Republican 2012 Running Paul Farrow (Republican)
Sherryll Shaddock (Democrat) 		Paul Farrow
73.86%

State Assembly

All 99 seats of the Wisconsin State Assembly were up for election in November. 21 Assembly incumbents (14 Republicans, 7 Democrats) did not seek re-election.

Affiliation Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
Before 2014 elections 60 39 99 0
Latest voting share 61% 39%
After 2014 elections 63 36 99 0
Voting share 64% 36%

Judiciary

State Court of Appeals

Three seats on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals were up for election in 2014. None of the three elections was contested.

State Circuit Courts

Forty one of the state's 249 circuit court seats were up for election in 2014. Four of those elections were contested.

Constitutional Amendments

Transportation Fund

In the November election, Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin to establish a dedicated transportation fund administered by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The amendment also specified that none of the money which flowed into the fund, collected by transportation fees or taxes, could be appropriated to any other program. Critics argued that purpose of the amendment was to create budget inflexibility that would force legislators to raid education funds to balance the budget.[6][7]

Transportation Fund
Candidate Votes %
Yes 1,733,101 79.94
No 434,806 20.06
Total votes 2,167,907 100

Personhood Amendment

There was an attempt to amend the Constitution of Wisconsin to establish a right to life. This amendment did not ultimately make it onto the ballot in 2014, as it did not obtain a necessary vote in the 101st Wisconsin Legislature.

Local

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References

  1. ^ Stein, Jason (November 5, 2014). "Walker defeats Burke for 3rd victory in 4 years". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Canvass Results for 2014 General Election - 11/4/2014 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 26, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "Wisconsin 2014 fall primary election results". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
  4. ^ "Should error disqualify Gravis poll from Wisconsin governor's race poll averaging model?". The Cap Times. October 3, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  5. ^ Includes a seat vacated by Republican Neal Kedzie in June 2014.
  6. ^ "Referendum on Creation of a Transportation Fund". Wisconsin Elections Commission. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  7. ^ "Wisconsin voters approve transportation amendment". Wisconsin State Journal. November 5, 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
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