2008 Wisconsin State Assembly election explained

Election Name:	2008 Wisconsin State Assembly election
Country:	Wisconsin
Type:	legislative
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2006 Wisconsin State Assembly election
Previous Year:	2006
Next Election:	2010 Wisconsin State Assembly election
Next Year:	2010
Seats For Election:	All 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly
Election Date:	November 4, 2008
Majority Seats:	50
Image1:	Kreuser (3346556701) (1).jpg
Image1 Size:	x150px
Leader1:	James Kreuser (retired)
Party1:	Democratic Party of Wisconsin
Leaders Seat1:	64th–Kenosha
Last Election1:	47 seats, TBD%
Seats Before1:	47
Seats1:	52
Seat Change1:	5
Popular Vote1:	1,478,815
Percentage1:	55.31%
Image2 Size:	x150px
Leader2:	Michael Huebsch
Party2:	Republican Party of Wisconsin
Leaders Seat2:	94th–West Salem
Last Election2:	52 seats, TBD%
Seats Before2:	51
Seats2:	46
Seat Change2:	5
Popular Vote2:	1,161,265
Percentage2:	43.43%
Map Size:	350px
Speaker
Before Election:	Michael Huebsch
Before Party:	Republican Party of Wisconsin
After Election:	Michael J. Sheridan
After Party:	Democratic Party of Wisconsin
Party4:	Independent
Seats Before4:	1
Seats4:	1
Last Election4:	N/A
Popular Vote4:	26,037
Percentage4:	0.97%

The 2008 Wisconsin State Assembly election was held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. All 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly were up for election. Before the election, 51 Assembly seats were held by Republicans and 47 seats were held by Democrats. The primary was held on September 9, 2008.^[1]

Democrats flipped five Republican-held seats and took the Assembly majority for the first time since 1994. They entered the 98th Wisconsin Legislature with 52 of 99 Assembly seats.

Results summary

Seats		Party (majority caucus shading)			Total

		Democratic	Independent	Republican
Last election (2006)		47	0	52	99
Total after last election (2006)		47	0		52	99

Total before this election		47	1	51	99
Up for election		47	1	51	99
of which:	Incumbent retired	5	0	6	11
	Vacated	0	0	0	0
	Unopposed	20	0	4	24
This election		52	1	46	99
Change from last election		5	1	6

Total after this election			52	1	46	99
Change in total		3		3

Close races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

(gain)
(gain)
(gain)

Outgoing incumbents

Retiring

Sheryl Albers (R–Reedsburg), representing district 50 since 1991, retired.
Frank Boyle (D–Superior), representing district 73 since 1986, retired.^[2]
Barbara Gronemus (D–Whitehall), representing district 91 since 1984, retired.
Eugene Hahn (R–Cambria), representing district 47 since 1990, retired.
Suzanne Jeskewitz (R–Menomonee Falls), representing district 24 since 1996, retired.
Terry Musser (R–Black River Falls), representing district 92 since 1984, retired.^[3]
Carol Owens (R–Oshkosh), representing district 53 since 1992, retired.
David Travis (D–Waunakee), representing district 81 since 1985, retired.^[4]
Steve Wieckert (R–Appleton), representing district 57 since 1996, retired.^[5]

Seeking other office

James Kreuser (D–Kenosha), representing district 64 since 1993, retired to serve as County Executive of Kenosha County.^[6]
Sheldon Wasserman (D–Milwaukee), representing District 22 since 1994, unsuccessfully ran for State Senate.^[7]

Race summary

District	Incumbent				This race^[8]
District	Member	Party	First elected	Status	Candidates	Results
1			Republican	2000	Ran	Garey Bies (Rep.) 51.33% Dick Skare (Dem.) 48.59%	Incumbent re-elected
2			Republican	1994	Ran	Ted Zigmunt (Dem.) 52.12% Frank Lasee (Rep.) 47.82%		Incumbent defeated. New member elected Democratic gain.
3			Republican	1986	Ran	Al Ott (Rep.) 58.26% Justin Krueger (Dem.) 41.67%	Incumbent re-elected
4			Republican	1998	Ran	Phil Montgomery (Rep.) 52.73% Sam Dunlop (Dem.) 47.20%	Incumbent re-elected
5			Democratic	2004	Ran	Tom Nelson (Dem.) 64.44% Jim Steineke (Rep.) 35.52%	Incumbent re-elected
6			Republican	2006	Ran	Gary Tauchen (Rep.) 55.02% John Powers (Dem.) 44.95%	Incumbent re-elected
7			Democratic	nowrap	1983	Ran	Peggy Krusick (Dem.) 59.53% Corrine Wiesmueller (Rep.) 38.01% Brad Sponholz (Lib.) 2.35%	Incumbent re-elected
8			Democratic	1998	Ran	Pedro Colón (Dem.) 98.26%	Incumbent re-elected
9			Democratic	2002	Ran	Josh Zepnick (Dem.) 98.53%	Incumbent re-elected
10			Democratic	1980	Ran	Annette Polly Williams (Dem.) 99.19%	Incumbent re-elected
11			Democratic	2004	Ran	Jason Fields (Dem.) 99.24%	Incumbent re-elected
12			Democratic	1960 1962 1964 1972 2004	Ran	Fred Kessler (Dem.) 98.92%	Incumbent re-elected
13			Democratic	1990	Ran	David Cullen (Dem.) 98.42%	Incumbent re-elected
14			Republican	2002	Ran	Leah Vukmir (Rep.) 62.28% Dave Hucke (Dem.) 37.55%	Incumbent re-elected
15			Democratic	1996	Ran	Tony Staskunas (Dem.) 60.45% David Nickel (Rep.) 39.40%	Incumbent re-elected
16			Democratic	1992	Ran	Leon Young (Dem.) 98.81%	Incumbent re-elected
17			Democratic	2004	Ran	Barbara Toles (Dem.) 99.20%	Incumbent re-elected
18			Democratic	2004	Ran	Tamara Grigsby (Dem.) 98.96%	Incumbent re-elected
19			Democratic	1998	Ran	Jon Richards (Dem.) 98.52%	Incumbent re-elected
20			Democratic	1998	Ran	Christine Sinicki (Dem.) 98.22%	Incumbent re-elected
21			Republican	2003	Ran	Mark Honadel (Rep.) 52.43% Glen Brower (Dem.) 47.43%	Incumbent re-elected
22			Democratic	1994		Ran for State Senate	Sandy Pasch (Dem.) 67.06% Yash P. Wadhwa (Rep.) 32.77%		Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic hold.
23			Republican	2006	Ran	Jim Ott (Rep.) 57.83% Rene Settle-Robinson (Dem.) 42.10%	Incumbent re-elected
24			Republican	1996		Incumbent retired	Dan Knodl (Rep.) 61.88% Charlene S. Brady (Dem.) 37.90%		Incumbent retired. New member elected Republican hold.
25			Democratic	1992	Ran	Bob Ziegelbauer (Dem.) 98.85%	Incumbent re-elected
26			Democratic	2002	Ran	Terry Van Akkeren (Dem.) 65.43% Alex Pieper (Rep.) 34.51%	Incumbent re-elected
27			Republican	1998	Ran	Steve Kestell (Rep.) 65.95% Bob Cox (Dem.) 33.99%	Incumbent re-elected
28			Democratic	2006	Ran	Ann Hraychuck (Dem.) 55.37% Kent Muschinske (Rep.) 44.59%	Incumbent re-elected
29			Republican	2006	Ran	John Murtha (Rep.) 53.38% Chris Buckel (Dem.) 42.73% Craig Mohn (Lib.) 3.80%	Incumbent re-elected
30			Republican	1998	Ran	Kitty Rhoades (Rep.) 54.74% Sarah A. Bruch (Dem.) 45.17%	Incumbent re-elected
31			Republican	1990	Ran	Stephen Nass (Rep.) 66.66% Frank E. Urban (Dem.) 33.22%	Incumbent re-elected
32			Republican	2002	Ran	Thomas Lothian (Rep.) 51.65% Doug A. Harrod (Dem.) 41.23% John K. Finley (Ind.) 7.40%	Incumbent re-elected
33			Republican	2005	Ran	Scott Newcomer (Rep.) 99.77%	Incumbent re-elected
34			Republican	1998	Ran	Dan Meyer (Rep.) 50.28% Paul Tubbs (Dem.) 49.64%	Incumbent re-elected
35			Republican	2000	Ran	Donald Friske (Rep.) 56.72% Jay Schmelling (Dem.) 43.23%	Incumbent re-elected
36			Republican	2004	Ran	Jeffrey Mursau (Rep.) 51.78% Stan Gruszynski (Dem.) 48.19%	Incumbent re-elected
37			Democratic	2006	Ran	Andy Jorgensen (Dem.) 59.23% Kent Koebke (Rep.) 40.64%	Incumbent re-elected
38			Republican	2004	Ran	Joel Kleefisch (Rep.) 66.27% Dick Pas (Dem.) 33.62%	Incumbent re-elected
39			Republican	2000	Ran	Jeff Fitzgerald (Rep.) 60.08% Aaron E. Onsrud (Dem.) 39.89%	Incumbent re-elected
40			Republican	2006	Ran	Kevin David Petersen (Rep.) 58.29% Kevin M. Kuehl (Dem.) 41.67%	Incumbent re-elected
41			Republican	2004	Ran	Joan Ballweg (Rep.) 62.78% Scott Milheiser (Dem.) 37.14%	Incumbent re-elected
42			Republican	2001	Ran	Fred Clark (Dem.) 58.47% Jacob Hines (Rep.) 41.47%		Incumbent defeated. New member elected Democratic gain.
43			Democratic	2006	Ran	Kim Hixson (Dem.) 51.16% Debi Towns (Rep.) 48.74%	Incumbent re-elected
44			Democratic	2004	Ran	Michael J. Sheridan (Dem.) 99.15%	Incumbent re-elected
45			Democratic	2004	Ran	Chuck Benedict (Dem.) 60.37% Mike Hahn (Rep.) 39.58%	Incumbent re-elected
46			Democratic	2004	Ran	Gary Hebl (Dem.) 66.28% Kathy Maves (Rep.) 33.70%	Incumbent re-elected
47			Republican	1990		Incumbent retired	Keith Ripp (Rep.) 47.87% Trish O'Neil (Dem.) 47.80% Dennis E. Hruby (Ind.) 4.30%		Incumbent retired. New member elected Republican hold.
48			Democratic	2004	Ran	Joe Parisi (Dem.) 99.51%	Incumbent re-elected
49			Democratic	2006	Ran	Phil Garthwaite (Dem.) 53.96% Travis Tranel (Rep.) 45.90%	Incumbent re-elected
50			Republican	1991		Incumbent retired	Ed Brooks (Rep.) 56.20% Tom Crofton (Dem.) 43.73%		Incumbent retired. New member elected Republican hold.
51			Democratic	2006	Ran	Steve Hilgenberg (Dem.) 56.84% Nathan R. Russell (Rep.) 43.12%	Incumbent re-elected
52			Republican	1998	Ran	John Townsend (Rep.) 57.92% Jerry Keifenheim (Dem.) 42.02%	Incumbent re-elected
53			Republican	1992		Incumbent retired	Richard Spanbauer (Rep.) 63.80% Jeff Mann (Dem.) 36.11%		Incumbent retired. New member elected Republican hold.
54			Democratic	2006	Ran	Gordon Hintz (Dem.) 66.21% Mark Reiff (Rep.) 33.64%	Incumbent re-elected
55			Republican	1991	Ran	Dean Kaufert (Rep.) 53.88% Mark Westphal (Dem.) 46.02%	Incumbent re-elected
56			Republican	2006	Ran	Roger Roth (Rep.) 59.66% Susan Garcia Franz (Dem.) 40.24%	Incumbent re-elected
57			Republican	1996		Incumbent retired	Penny Bernard Schaber (Dem.) 56.98% Jo Egelhoff (Rep.) 42.82%		Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic gain.
58			Republican	2004	Ran	Patricia Strachota (Rep.) 82.77% Greg Dombro (Ind.) 17.15%	Incumbent re-elected
59			Republican	2002	Ran	Daniel LeMahieu (Rep.) 99.32%	Incumbent re-elected
60			Republican	2002	Ran	Mark Gottlieb (Rep.) 70.29% Perry Duman (Dem.) 29.65%	Incumbent re-elected
61			Democratic	1990	Ran	Robert L. Turner (Dem.) 87.71% George Meyers (Lib.) 12.09%	Incumbent re-elected
62			Democratic	2006	Ran	Cory Mason (Dem.) 84.54% Keith Deschler (Lib.) 15.20%	Incumbent re-elected
63			Republican	2004	Ran	Robin Vos (Rep.) 61.51% Linda Flashinski (Dem.) 38.45%	Incumbent re-elected
64			Democratic	1993		Retired to serve as Kenosha County Executive	Peter Barca (Dem.) 98.71%		Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic hold.
65			Democratic	1996	Ran	John Steinbrink (Dem.) 62.12% Alex Tiahnybok (Rep.) 37.75%	Incumbent re-elected
66			Republican	2000	Ran	Samantha Kerkman (Rep.) 59.91% Larry Zamba (Dem.) 40.03%	Incumbent re-elected
67			Independent	2002	Ran	Jeffrey Wood (Ind.) 50.28% Don Moga (Rep.) 49.55%	Incumbent re-elected
68			Republican	2004	Ran	Kristen Dexter (Dem.) 50.35% Terry Moulton (Rep.) 49.47%		Incumbent defeated. New member elected Democratic gain.
69			Republican	1998	Ran	Scott Suder (Rep.) 59.46% Tim Swiggum (Dem.) 40.51%	Incumbent re-elected
70			Democratic	2002	Ran	Amy Sue Vruwink (Dem.) 69.62% Dennis Seevers (Rep.) 30.34%	Incumbent re-elected
71			Democratic	2003	Ran	Louis Molepske (Dem.) 68.61% Daron L. Jensen (Rep.) 31.24%	Incumbent re-elected
72			Democratic	1970	Ran	Marlin Schneider (Dem.) 62.23% Jeff Tyberg (Rep.) 37.69%	Incumbent re-elected
73			Democratic	1986		Incumbent retired	Nick Milroy (Dem.) 80.76% Jeffrey Monaghan (Ind.) 18.69%		Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic hold.
74			Democratic	1998	Ran	Gary Sherman (Dem.) 62.38% Shirl LaBarre (Rep.) 37.58%	Incumbent re-elected
75			Democratic	1984	Ran	Mary Hubler (Dem.) 99.03%	Incumbent re-elected
76			Democratic	1998	Ran	Terese Berceau (Dem.) 99.39%	Incumbent re-elected
77			Democratic	1984	Ran	Spencer Black (Dem.) 99.40%	Incumbent re-elected
78			Democratic	1998	Ran	Mark Pocan (Dem.) 99.38%	Incumbent re-elected
79			Democratic	2002	Ran	Sondy Pope (Dem.) 66.71% Carl Skalitzky (Rep.) 33.22%	Incumbent re-elected
80			Republican	2004	Ran	Brett Davis (Rep.) 56.10% John Waelti (Dem.) 43.86%	Incumbent re-elected
81			Democratic	1978		Incumbent retired	Kelda Roys (Dem.) 98.89%		Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic hold.
82			Republican	1998	Ran	Jeff Stone (Rep.) 99.02%	Incumbent re-elected
83			Republican	1994	Ran	Scott Gunderson (Rep.) 72.97% Aaron Robertson (Dem.) 26.98%	Incumbent re-elected
84			Republican	1998	Ran	Mark Gundrum (Rep.) 99.46%	Incumbent re-elected
85			Democratic	2004	Ran	Donna Seidel (Dem.) 64.08% Jess F. Kufahl (Rep.) 35.81%	Incumbent re-elected
86			Republican	1998	Ran	Jerry Petrowski (Rep.) 55.90% Nate Myszka (Dem.) 44.06%	Incumbent re-elected
87			Republican	2002	Ran	Mary Williams (Rep.) 50.42% Judy Reas (Dem.) 49.52%	Incumbent re-elected
88			Democratic	2006	Ran	James Soletski (Dem.) 55.86% Tony Theisen (Rep.) 44.03%	Incumbent re-elected
89			Republican	2006	Ran	John Nygren (Rep.) 53.54% Randy Koehn (Dem.) 46.40%	Incumbent re-elected
90			Republican	2002	Ran	Karl Van Roy (Rep.) 53.70% Lou Ann Weix (Dem.) 46.23%	Incumbent re-elected
91			Democratic	1982		Incumbent retired	Chris Danou (Dem.) 53.70% Dave Hegenbarth (Rep.) 42.97% Paul A. Beseler (Ind.) 2.64% Ted Burleson (Lib.) 0.95%		Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic hold.
92			Republican	1984		Incumbent retired	Mark Radcliffe (Dem.) 53.17% Dan Hellman (Rep.) 46.66%		Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic gain.
93			Democratic	2006	Ran	Jeff Smith (Dem.) 59.35% Darcy Fields (Rep.) 40.52%	Incumbent re-elected
94			Republican	1994	Ran	Michael Huebsch (Rep.) 54.04% Cheryl Hancock (Dem.) 45.91%	Incumbent re-elected
95			Democratic	2000	Ran	Jennifer Shilling (Dem.) 97.29%	Incumbent re-elected
96			Republican	2004	Ran	Lee Nerison (Rep.) 51.72% Dale Klemme (Dem.) 48.26%	Incumbent re-elected
97			Republican	2006	Ran	Bill Kramer (Rep.) 54.62% Ruth Page Jones (Dem.) 45.27%	Incumbent re-elected
98			Republican	2006	Ran	Rich Zipperer (Rep.) 71.88% Victor Weers (Dem.) 28.07%	Incumbent re-elected
99			Republican	2004	Ran	Don Pridemore (Rep.) 99.40%	Incumbent re-elected

Aftermath

With this election Democrats held a trifecta in the Wisconsin government for the first time since 1982, when Tony Earl was elected governor of Wisconsin.

As of 2024, this is the last time Democrats gained a trifecta in Wisconsin, as despite winning the popular vote several times in following elections, a Republican instituted gerrymander in 2011, in addition to low voter turnout, prevented Democrats from gaining a majority of seats.^[9]

Notes

Web site: State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2009-2010 . March 19, 2024 . University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries . 920–922.
Web site: Wisconsin Frank Boyle Announces Retirement . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140201211313/http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/17294769.html . 2014-02-01 . 2014-01-20.
News: Walters . Steven . Musser is 11th Assembly member to not seek re-election . https://web.archive.org/web/20091010000511/http://blogs.jsonline.com/allpoliticswatch/archive/2008/05/21/musser-is-11th-assembly-member-to-not-seek-re-election.aspx . October 10, 2009 . March 18, 2024 . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
News: May 17, 2007 . Travis won't seek Assembly re-election . October 25, 2021 . . 3 . Newspapers.com.
Jim Collar "Appleton's Steve Wieckert announces retirement from Assembly " Appleton Post-Crescent March 22, 2008.
News: Lund . Steve . March 27, 2008 . Kreuser's decision kills dreams of Kenosha clout . August 28, 2020 . . 17 . Newspapers.com.
News: Borowski . Greg J. . October 14, 2008 . Candidates vie over best fit for 8th District . https://web.archive.org/web/20091125122717/http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/30988069.html . November 25, 2009 . 23 June 2023 . . en.
Web site: Wisconsin Bluebook 2009/2010 . March 19, 2024 . University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries . 923–925.
Web site: How the 2011 political district map changed the game for Wisconsin . June 29, 2024 . Wisconsin Public Radio.

References

Web site: State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2009-2010 . March 19, 2024 . University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries . 920–922.
Web site: Wisconsin Frank Boyle Announces Retirement . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140201211313/http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/17294769.html . 2014-02-01 . 2014-01-20.
News: Walters . Steven . Musser is 11th Assembly member to not seek re-election . https://web.archive.org/web/20091010000511/http://blogs.jsonline.com/allpoliticswatch/archive/2008/05/21/musser-is-11th-assembly-member-to-not-seek-re-election.aspx . October 10, 2009 . March 18, 2024 . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
News: May 17, 2007 . Travis won't seek Assembly re-election . October 25, 2021 . . 3 . Newspapers.com.
Jim Collar "Appleton's Steve Wieckert announces retirement from Assembly " Appleton Post-Crescent March 22, 2008.
News: Lund . Steve . March 27, 2008 . Kreuser's decision kills dreams of Kenosha clout . August 28, 2020 . . 17 . Newspapers.com.
News: Borowski . Greg J. . October 14, 2008 . Candidates vie over best fit for 8th District . https://web.archive.org/web/20091125122717/http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/30988069.html . November 25, 2009 . 23 June 2023 . . en.
Web site: Wisconsin Bluebook 2009/2010 . March 19, 2024 . University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries . 923–925.
Web site: How the 2011 political district map changed the game for Wisconsin . June 29, 2024 . Wisconsin Public Radio.