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Turnout | 61.2% ( 6.7%) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Evers: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Walker: 20–30% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Tie: 40–50% 50% No data | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Wisconsin |
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The 2018 Wisconsin gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018. It occurred concurrently with a Senate election in the state, elections to the state's U.S. House seats, and various other elections. Incumbent Republican Governor Scott Walker sought re-election to a third term, and was challenged by Democratic candidate and then-Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers, as well as Libertarian Phil Anderson and independent Maggie Turnbull. Evers, along with his running mate Mandela Barnes, managed to defeat Walker and Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch in a closely fought and widely watched race, ending unified Republican control of the state.
The result was considered "too close to call" on election night, with Walker and Evers being separated by a mere few hundred votes for much of the night as counties reported their results. Shortly after midnight on November 7, Milwaukee County reported around 46,000 uncounted absentee ballots. From those ballots, Evers received 38,674 votes, or 84% of the total, and Walker 7,181, giving Evers a narrow lead. The race was called for him shortly after.[1]
Wisconsin was the only state in the 2018 gubernatorial election cycle to elect a Democratic governor while voting more Republican than the national average.[a] With a margin of 1.1%, this election was also the second-closest race of the 2018 gubernatorial election cycle, behind only the election in Florida. Walker was one of two Republican incumbent governors to be defeated for re-election in 2018, the other being Bruce Rauner in neighboring Illinois, who had lost decisively to J. B. Pritzker.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Scott Walker (incumbent) | 417,619 | 91.6% | |
Republican | Robert Meyer | 38,347 | 8.4% | |
Total votes | 455,966 | 100.0% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rebecca Kleefisch (incumbent) | 407,420 | 100.00% | |
Total votes | 407,420 | 100.00% |
The primary election for the Democratic nomination featured a crowded field of candidates. The race was ultimately won by Tony Evers with around 40% of the vote.
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Tony Evers |
Matt Flynn |
Andy Gronik* |
Mike McCabe |
Mahlon Mitchell |
Josh Pade |
Kelda Roys |
Paul Soglin |
Kathleen Vinehout |
Dana Wachs* |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emerson College Archived 2018-08-18 at the Wayback Machine | July 26–28, 2018 | 282 | ± 6.3% | 30% | 5% | – | 5% | 5% | – | 7% | 5% | 10% | – | – | 33% |
Marist College | July 15–19, 2018 | 466 | ± 5.3% | 25% | 3% | 2% | 7% | 3% | 1% | 3% | 6% | 7% | 2% | <1% | 41% |
Marquette University Archived 2020-03-05 at the Wayback Machine | July 11–15, 2018 | 305 | ± 6.6% | 31% | 5% | – | 3% | 6% | 0% | 3% | 4% | 6% | – | 0% | 38% |
Marquette University | June 13–17, 2018 | 278 | ± 6.4% | 25% | 7% | 4% | 7% | 4% | 1% | 2% | 7% | 5% | 2% | 1% | 34% |
FM3 Research (D-Soglin) Archived 2018-04-19 at the Wayback Machine | March 16–19, 2018 | 601 | ± 4.0% | 30% | 6% | 2% | 4% | 6% | – | 3% | 17% | 12% | 3% | – | 16% |
Marquette University | February 25 – March 1, 2018 | 318 | ± 7.1% | 18% | 7% | 3% | 6% | 4% | – | 0% | 9% | 5% | 4% | 1% | 44% |
Public Policy Polling (D-Evers) | January 8–10, 2018 | 747 | ± 3.6% | 29% | 5% | 2% | 5% | 5% | – | 2% | 10% | 11% | 4% | – | 28% |
An asterisk (*) denotes that a candidate withdrew before the primary but remains on the ballot.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tony Evers | 224,502 | 41.8% | |
Democratic | Mahlon Mitchell | 88,077 | 16.4% | |
Democratic | Kelda Roys | 68,952 | 12.8% | |
Democratic | Kathleen Vinehout | 43,975 | 8.2% | |
Democratic | Mike McCabe | 39,745 | 7.4% | |
Democratic | Matt Flynn | 31,539 | 5.9% | |
Democratic | Paul Soglin | 28,128 | 5.2% | |
Democratic | Josh Pade | 1,929 | 0.4% | |
Democratic | Others | 10,872 | 2.0% | |
Total votes | 537,719 | 100.0% |
Mandela Barnes, a former state representative from Milwaukee, defeated opponent Kurt Kober by a 2 to 1 margin for the nomination, becoming the first African American to be nominated by a major party for a Wisconsin gubernatorial ticket.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Mandela Barnes | 326,051 | 68.0% | |
Democratic | Kurt Kober | 153,698 | 32.0% | |
Total votes | 479,749 | 100.0% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Green | Michael White | 817 | 95.8% | |
Green | Others | 36 | 4.2% | |
Total votes | 853 | 100.0% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Green | Tiffany Anderson | 793 | 98.0% | |
Green | Others | 16 | 2.0% | |
Total votes | 809 | 100.0% |
Despite the fact that Scott Walker had won three prior races for governor in 2010, 2012, and 2014 by fairly comfortable margins, his bid for a third term was complicated by rising unpopularity due to his policies concerning public education[91] and infrastructure. Walker also faced backlash for a deal his administration made with Taiwanese company Foxconn in 2017 to create jobs in the state in exchange for around $4.5 billion in taxpayer subsidies.[92] In 2018, the deal resulted in around $90 million of funding for roads being diverted to a stretch of I-94 that was set to be near a future Foxconn plant from the rest of state.[93] The poor condition of many roads around the state[94] as well as the lack of work being done to redo them prompted a campaign where potholes were being labeled as “Scott”-holes.[95]
Walker's approval ratings were hobbled further by the unpopularity of Republican U.S. President Donald Trump in Wisconsin.[96] Walker himself sounded the alarm on this several times in early 2018 after Democrats won two special elections to the Wisconsin State Senate in typically Republican districts[97][98] and an election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. In April 2018, Walker warned that Wisconsin was “at risk of a blue wave“ in November.[99] The Walker campaign generally focused on promoting the popular parts of his record, such as a freeze on tuition at public universities and record low unemployment.[100]
The result was expected to be close, with a record $93 million spent on the race by the two major campaigns and special interest groups from in and out of the state.[101] In the end, Walker was ultimately defeated by Democrat Tony Evers, who garnered a slightly more than 1% margin of victory, as Democrats swept every statewide race up for election.
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report[102] | Tossup | October 26, 2018 |
The Washington Post[103] | Tossup | November 5, 2018 |
FiveThirtyEight[104] | Lean D (flip) | November 5, 2018 |
Rothenberg Political Report[105] | Tossup | November 1, 2018 |
Sabato's Crystal Ball[106] | Lean D (flip) | November 5, 2018 |
RealClearPolitics[107] | Tossup | November 4, 2018 |
Daily Kos[108] | Tossup | November 5, 2018 |
Fox News[109][b] | Lean D (flip) | November 5, 2018 |
Politico[110] | Tossup | November 5, 2018 |
Governing[111] | Tossup | November 5, 2018 |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Tony Evers (D) |
Phil Anderson (L) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Research Co. | November 1–3, 2018 | 450 | ± 4.6% | 44% | 45% | – | 3% | 9% |
Emerson College | October 29–31, 2018 | 604 | ± 4.1% | 46% | 51% | – | 2% | 1% |
Marquette University | October 24–28, 2018 | 1,154 LV | ± 3.2% | 47% | 47% | 3% | – | 0% |
1,400 RV | ± 3.0% | 47% | 44% | 5% | – | 2% | ||
Ipsos | October 12–18, 2018 | 1,193 | ± 3.0% | 45% | 48% | – | 2% | 5% |
Marquette University | October 3–7, 2018 | 799 LV | ± 3.9% | 47% | 46% | 5% | – | 1% |
1,000 RV | ± 3.6% | 47% | 43% | 7% | – | 2% | ||
Marist College | September 30 – October 3, 2018 | 571 LV | ± 4.8% | 42% | 50% | 3% | 2%[112] | 3% |
43% | 53% | – | 1% | 3% | ||||
781 RV | ± 4.1% | 42% | 49% | 3% | 3%[113] | 4% | ||
43% | 52% | – | 1% | 3% | ||||
Ipsos | September 14–24, 2018 | 1,109 | ± 3.0% | 43% | 50% | – | 3% | 4% |
Marquette University | September 12–16, 2018 | 614 LV | ± 4.4% | 44% | 49% | 6% | – | 1% |
800 RV | ± 4.0% | 43% | 47% | 7% | – | 2% | ||
Public Policy Polling (D-High Ground Action Fund) | September 4–5, 2018 | 726 | ± 4.0% | 45% | 49% | – | – | 6% |
Suffolk University Archived 2018-11-07 at the Wayback Machine | August 18–24, 2018 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 44% | 46% | 2% | 1%[114] | 7% |
Marquette University | August 15–19, 2018 | 601 LV | ± 4.5% | 46% | 46% | 6% | – | 2% |
800 RV | ± 4.0% | 46% | 44% | 7% | – | 3% | ||
Public Policy Polling | August 15–16, 2018 | 596 | ± 4.0% | 44% | 49% | – | – | 7% |
Emerson College Archived 2018-08-18 at the Wayback Machine | July 26–28, 2018 | 632 | ± 4.2% | 41% | 48% | – | 5% | 7% |
Marist College | July 15–19, 2018 | 906 | ± 3.8% | 41% | 54% | – | <1% | 5% |
Marquette University | June 13–17, 2018 | 800 | ± 4.0% | 48% | 44% | – | – | 5% |
Public Policy Polling (D-Evers) | May 9–10, 2018 | 644 | ± 3.9% | 45% | 49% | – | – | 6% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Kelda Roys (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marquette University | June 13–17, 2018 | 800 | ± 4.0% | 48% | 40% | 7% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Matt Flynn (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marquette University | June 13–17, 2018 | 400 | ± 5.6% | 46% | 42% | 10% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Mike McCabe (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marquette University | June 13–17, 2018 | 400 | ± 5.6% | 44% | 42% | 9% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Mahlon Mitchell (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marquette University | June 13–17, 2018 | 400 | ± 5.6% | 45% | 41% | 11% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Josh Pade (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marquette University | June 13–17, 2018 | 400 | ± 5.6% | 49% | 36% | 11% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Paul Soglin (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marquette University | June 13–17, 2018 | 400 | ± 5.6% | 48% | 39% | 8% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Kathleen Vinehout (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marquette University | June 13–17, 2018 | 400 | ± 5.6% | 48% | 39% | 9% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Generic Democrat |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling | October 17–18, 2017 | 1,116 | ± 2.9% | 43% | 48% | 8% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Andy Gronik (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marquette University | June 13–17, 2018 | 400 | ± 5.6% | 46% | 41% | 11% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott Walker (R) |
Dana Wachs (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marquette University | June 13–17, 2018 | 400 | ± 5.6% | 49% | 38% | 9% |
Evers won the election by a 1.09% margin.[115]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tony Evers | 1,324,307 | 49.54% | +2.95% | |
Republican | Scott Walker (incumbent) | 1,295,080 | 48.44% | -3.82% | |
Libertarian | Phil Anderson | 20,225 | 0.76% | — | |
Independent | Margaret Turnbull | 18,884 | 0.71% | — | |
Green | Michael White | 11,087 | 0.41% | — | |
Independent | Arnie Enz | 2,745 | 0.10% | — | |
Write-in | 980 | 0.04% | — | ||
Plurality | 29,227 | 1.09% | -4.58% | ||
Total votes | 2,673,308 | 100.00% | |||
Democratic gain from Republican |
Evers Democratic |
Walker Republican |
Others | Margin | County Total[117] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
County | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # |
Adams | 3,892 | 41.89% | 5,209 | 56.07% | 190 | 2.04% | 1,317 | 14.08% | 9,291 |
Ashland | 4,168 | 60.23% | 2,584 | 37.34% | 168 | 2.43% | 1,584 | 22.89% | 6,920 |
Barron | 7,623 | 41.05% | 10,655 | 57.38% | 290 | 1.56% | 3,032 | 16.33% | 18,568 |
Bayfield | 5,152 | 58.57% | 3,458 | 39.31% | 187 | 2.13% | 1,694 | 19.26% | 8,797 |
Brown | 51,724 | 44.72% | 61,424 | 53.10% | 2,521 | 2.18% | 9,700 | 8.39% | 115,669 |
Buffalo | 2,385 | 39.91% | 3,463 | 57.95% | 128 | 2.14% | 1,078 | 18.04% | 5,976 |
Burnett | 2,742 | 36.14% | 4,664 | 61.47% | 182 | 2.40% | 1,922 | 25.33% | 7,588 |
Calumet | 8,992 | 37.94% | 14,313 | 60.38% | 398 | 1.68% | 5,321 | 22.45% | 23,703 |
Chippewa | 11,739 | 42.26% | 15,499 | 55.80% | 537 | 1.93% | 3,760 | 13.54% | 27,775 |
Clark | 4,015 | 34.28% | 7,469 | 63.76% | 230 | 1.96% | 3,454 | 29.49% | 11,714 |
Columbia | 14,124 | 52.25% | 12,363 | 45.73% | 547 | 2.02% | 1,761 | 6.51% | 27,034 |
Crawford | 3,354 | 50.79% | 3,117 | 47.20% | 133 | 2.01% | 237 | 3.59% | 6,604 |
Dane | 220,052 | 74.69% | 69,206 | 23.49% | 5,365 | 1.82% | 150,846 | 51.20% | 294,623 |
Dodge | 13,552 | 35.84% | 23,516 | 62.20% | 742 | 1.96% | 9,964 | 26.35% | 37,810 |
Door | 8,151 | 48.01% | 8,536 | 50.27% | 292 | 1.72% | 385 | 2.27% | 16,979 |
Douglas | 11,034 | 58.82% | 7,251 | 38.65% | 474 | 2.53% | 3,783 | 20.17% | 18,759 |
Dunn | 8,667 | 46.96% | 9,255 | 50.14% | 535 | 2.90% | 588 | 3.19% | 18,457 |
Eau Claire | 26,768 | 54.82% | 20,855 | 42.71% | 1,210 | 2.48% | 5,913 | 12.11% | 48,833 |
Florence | 643 | 29.48% | 1,503 | 68.91% | 35 | 1.60% | 860 | 39.43% | 2,181 |
Fond du Lac | 16,439 | 36.38% | 27,941 | 61.84% | 806 | 1.78% | 11,502 | 25.45% | 45,186 |
Forest | 1,486 | 37.32% | 2,421 | 60.80% | 75 | 1.88% | 935 | 23.48% | 3,982 |
Grant | 9,665 | 49.32% | 9,502 | 48.49% | 430 | 2.19% | 163 | 0.83% | 19,597 |
Green | 9,378 | 54.87% | 7,333 | 42.91% | 379 | 2.22% | 2,045 | 11.97% | 17,090 |
Green Lake | 2,633 | 32.17% | 5,411 | 66.12% | 140 | 1.71% | 2,778 | 33.94% | 8,184 |
Iowa | 6,674 | 59.72% | 4,289 | 38.38% | 213 | 1.91% | 2,385 | 21.34% | 11,176 |
Iron | 1,264 | 40.88% | 1,785 | 57.73% | 43 | 1.39% | 521 | 16.85% | 3,092 |
Jackson | 3,713 | 46.32% | 4,129 | 51.51% | 174 | 2.17% | 416 | 5.19% | 8,016 |
Jefferson | 16,018 | 41.98% | 21,475 | 56.28% | 664 | 1.74% | 5,457 | 14.30% | 38,157 |
Juneau | 4,247 | 41.92% | 5,689 | 56.15% | 195 | 1.92% | 1,442 | 14.23% | 10,131 |
Kenosha | 34,481 | 50.65% | 31,512 | 46.29% | 2,081 | 3.06% | 2,969 | 4.36% | 68,074 |
Kewaunee | 3,572 | 37.60% | 5,792 | 60.97% | 135 | 1.42% | 2,220 | 23.37% | 9,499 |
La Crosse | 32,103 | 56.24% | 23,537 | 41.23% | 1,441 | 2.52% | 8,566 | 15.01% | 57,081 |
Lafayette | 3,135 | 47.76% | 3,324 | 50.64% | 105 | 1.60% | 189 | 2.88% | 6,564 |
Langlade | 2,825 | 30.49% | 5,712 | 61.65% | 728 | 7.86% | 2,887 | 31.16% | 9,265 |
Lincoln | 5,335 | 39.49% | 7,865 | 58.22% | 310 | 2.29% | 2,530 | 18.73% | 13,510 |
Manitowoc | 13,513 | 38.00% | 21,360 | 60.07% | 683 | 1.92% | 7,847 | 22.07% | 35,556 |
Marathon | 24,057 | 38.71% | 36,886 | 59.36% | 1,201 | 1.93% | 12,829 | 20.64% | 62,144 |
Marinette | 6,193 | 35.58% | 10,916 | 62.72% | 296 | 1.70% | 4,723 | 27.14% | 17,405 |
Marquette | 2,911 | 40.46% | 4,143 | 57.58% | 141 | 1.96% | 1,232 | 17.12% | 7,195 |
Menominee | 866 | 76.50% | 233 | 20.58% | 33 | 2.92% | 633 | 55.92% | 1,132 |
Milwaukee | 262,124 | 66.55% | 124,055 | 31.50% | 7,698 | 1.95% | 138,069 | 35.05% | 393,877 |
Monroe | 6,969 | 41.48% | 9,464 | 56.34% | 366 | 2.18% | 2,495 | 14.85% | 16,799 |
Oconto | 5,858 | 33.30% | 11,490 | 65.32% | 243 | 1.38% | 5,632 | 32.02% | 17,591 |
Oneida | 7,850 | 40.05% | 11,248 | 57.39% | 502 | 2.56% | 3,398 | 17.34% | 19,600 |
Outagamie | 36,290 | 43.51% | 45,359 | 54.38% | 1,765 | 2.12% | 9,069 | 10.87% | 83,414 |
Ozaukee | 18,394 | 35.94% | 32,069 | 62.66% | 713 | 1.39% | 13,675 | 26.72% | 51,176 |
Pepin | 1,333 | 42.52% | 1,745 | 55.66% | 57 | 1.82% | 412 | 13.14% | 3,135 |
Pierce | 8,193 | 46.81% | 8,740 | 49.94% | 568 | 3.25% | 547 | 3.13% | 17,501 |
Polk | 7,333 | 39.42% | 10,866 | 58.41% | 404 | 2.17% | 3,533 | 18.99% | 18,603 |
Portage | 18,007 | 51.64% | 15,958 | 45.76% | 906 | 2.60% | 2,049 | 5.88% | 34,871 |
Price | 2,585 | 38.70% | 3,996 | 59.83% | 98 | 1.47% | 1,411 | 21.13% | 6,679 |
Racine | 40,498 | 46.45% | 44,770 | 51.35% | 1,922 | 2.20% | 4,272 | 4.90% | 87,190 |
Richland | 3,623 | 51.37% | 3,285 | 46.58% | 145 | 2.06% | 338 | 4.79% | 7,053 |
Rock | 39,680 | 58.04% | 26,904 | 39.35% | 1,782 | 2.61% | 12,776 | 18.69% | 68,366 |
Rusk | 2,184 | 35.81% | 3,797 | 62.26% | 118 | 1.93% | 169 | 14.47% | 6,099 |
Sauk | 15,630 | 54.02% | 12,615 | 43.60% | 687 | 2.37% | 3,015 | 10.42% | 28,932 |
Sawyer | 3,484 | 42.50% | 4,542 | 55.41% | 171 | 2.09% | 1,058 | 12.91% | 8,197 |
Shawano | 6,121 | 34.01% | 11,478 | 63.77% | 401 | 2.23% | 5,357 | 29.76% | 18,000 |
Sheboygan | 20,801 | 39.07% | 31,520 | 59.20% | 926 | 1.74% | 10,719 | 20.13% | 53,247 |
St. Croix | 16,690 | 41.65% | 22,108 | 55.17% | 1,272 | 3.17% | 5,418 | 13.52% | 40,070 |
Taylor | 2,269 | 28.05% | 5,690 | 70.35% | 129 | 1.59% | 3,421 | 42.30% | 8,088 |
Trempealeau | 5,393 | 44.01% | 6,623 | 54.04% | 239 | 1.95% | 1,230 | 10.04% | 12,255 |
Vernon | 6,550 | 50.13% | 6,276 | 48.03% | 240 | 1.84% | 274 | 2.10% | 13,066 |
Vilas | 4,510 | 36.03% | 7,814 | 62.42% | 195 | 1.56% | 3,304 | 26.39% | 12,519 |
Walworth | 17,394 | 38.26% | 27,088 | 59.59% | 977 | 2.15% | 9,694 | 21.32% | 45,459 |
Washburn | 3,292 | 41.59% | 4,461 | 56.35% | 163 | 2.06% | 1,169 | 14.77% | 7,916 |
Washington | 18,703 | 26.51% | 50,958 | 72.23% | 884 | 1.25% | 32,255 | 45.72% | 70,545 |
Waukesha | 72,131 | 32.52% | 146,699 | 66.14% | 2,977 | 1.34% | 74,568 | 33.62% | 221,807 |
Waupaca | 8,143 | 36.23% | 13,909 | 61.89% | 421 | 1.87% | 5,766 | 25.66% | 22,473 |
Waushara | 3,742 | 35.21% | 6,719 | 63.21% | 168 | 1.58% | 2,977 | 28.01% | 10,629 |
Winnebago | 35,610 | 47.01% | 38,368 | 50.65% | 1,775 | 2.34% | 2,758 | 3.64% | 75,753 |
Wood | 13,638 | 41.23% | 18,871 | 57.04% | 572 | 1.73% | 5,233 | 15.82% | 33,081 |
Totals | 1,324,307 | 49.54% | 1,295,080 | 48.44% | 53,921 | 2.02% | 29,227 | 1.09% | 2,673,308 |
Despite losing the state, Walker won 5 of the 8 congressional districts.[118]
District | Walker | Evers | Representative |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 54.13% | 43.75% | Paul Ryan |
2nd | 28.11% | 69.99% | Mark Pocan |
3rd | 47.87% | 49.78% | Ron Kind |
4th | 23.6% | 74.48% | Gwen Moore |
5th | 61.47% | 37.0% | Jim Sensenbrenner |
6th | 57.17% | 40.98% | Glenn Grothman |
7th | 57.09% | 40.63% | Sean Duffy |
8th | 56.47% | 41.56% | Mike Gallagher |
Despite the close result, Scott Walker was unable to request a recount due to a law he had signed himself two years prior, which requires the margin of difference to be within 1%.[119]
Early in December 2018, a special legislative session was called by Walker to pass a series of bills to limit the powers of Governor-elect Evers, as well as incoming Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul, who had defeated incumbent Brad Schimel in the concurrent Attorney General election.[120]
Other bills being considered included restrictions on early voting and the passage of Medicaid work requirements, which Walker had previously held off on due to the election.[121] A similar law restricting early voting that was passed several years prior had been ruled as unconstitutional.[122]
The bills were widely denounced by Democrats and others as a “power grab.” Congresswoman Gwen Moore described the move as a “coup” that “hijacked the voters’ will.” [123] Walker and other Republicans meanwhile argued that the bills were necessary ”checks on power” and that they did not actually strip any real powers from the executive.[124] Lawsuits were filed by Evers and various labor unions almost immediately after Walker signed the bills into law.[125]