2012 Wisconsin State Assembly election explained

Election Name:	2012 Wisconsin State Assembly election
Country:	Wisconsin
Type:	legislative
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2010 Wisconsin State Assembly election
Previous Year:	2010
Next Election:	2014 Wisconsin State Assembly election
Next Year:	2014
Seats For Election:	All 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly
Election Date:	November 6, 2012
Majority Seats:	50
Image1:	Jeff Fitzgerald.jpg
Image1 Size:	x150px
Leader1:	Jeff Fitzgerald (retired)
Party1:	Republican Party of Wisconsin
Leaders Seat1:	39th–Horicon
Last Election1:	60 seats, 55.01%
Seats Before1:	59
Seats1:	60
Seat Change1:	1
Popular Vote1:	1,249,559
Percentage1:	46.15%
Image2 Size:	x150px
Leader2:	Peter Barca
Party2:	Democratic Party of Wisconsin
Leaders Seat2:	64th–Kenosha
Last Election2:	38 seats, 41.87%
Seats Before2:	39
Seats2:	39
Popular Vote2:	1,419,858
Percentage2:	52.44%
Speaker
Before Election:	Jeff Fitzgerald
Before Party:	Republican Party of Wisconsin
After Election:	Robin Vos
After Party:	Republican Party of Wisconsin
Swing4:	0.28%
Percentage4:	1.41%
Popular Vote4:	28,119
Seat Change4:	1
Seats Before4:	1
Seats4:	0
Last Election4:	1
Party4:	Independent

The 2012 Wisconsin State Assembly elections were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. All 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly were up for election. Before the election, 58 Assembly seats were held by Republicans, 38 seats were held by Democrats, 1 was held by an independent, and 2 were vacant. The primary election was held on August 14, 2012.

This was the first Assembly election after the legislative redistricting following the 2010 United States census. The maps passed into law ware widely considered one of the most severe Republican gerrymanders in U.S. history.

Republicans flipped the independent-held seat and reclaimed two vacant seats, to enter the 101st Wisconsin Legislature with 60 of 99 State Assembly seats.

Elected members took office on January 7, 2013.

Background

Republicans won control of the Assembly, alongside the governorship and the State Senate, in the 2010 elections. Using their newly-gained governmental trifecta, Republicans began enacting a number of high-profile, highly controversial bills. Chief among them was Wisconsin Act 10, also known as the "Budget Repair Bill," which sought to eliminate public-sector unions and reduce the pay of public employees in a purported attempt to balance the state's budget.^[1] This sparked a heavy backlash from public employees, especially teachers, and students, who staged protests of the legislation across the state.^{[2] [3] [4] [5]} In addition, 14 Democratic members of the Wisconsin Senate staged a walkout to Illinois to deprive the chamber of a quorum to prevent the passage of the bill.^[6] Republicans managed to pass the bill anyway the next month,^[7] but the fallout from the bill's passage led to the attempted recall of governor Scott Walker and the successful recall of multiple members of the Senate in 2011 and 2012.^{[8] [9]}

In May 2011, Democrat Steve Doyle flipped an Assembly seat by winning a special election in the 94th district.^[10]

Redistricting

In the 2010 elections, Republicans won significant majorities in both houses of the Legislature and the governorship. Republicans used their majorities to pass a radical redistricting plan after the 2010 census which substantially shifted the partisan bias of the state legislative maps. It was the product of a Republican project known as REDMAP, which used new statistical and mapping software to craft the maps.^[11] The maps themselves were crafted and agreed upon in highly secretive meetings among Republican legislators, the details of which were only made public during court hearings regarding the constitutionality of the maps in 2015.^[12]

Several lawsuits were brought against the 2011 redistricting plan. A set of early challenges against the plan led to only minor alterations to two districts in the Milwaukee area, which the court ruled violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by improperly diluting the population of Latinos across two districts.^[13] Later suits against the map would eventually become the Supreme Court case Whitford v. Gill.

Results

Republicans maintained their large majority in the Assembly, winning 60 seats to the Democrats' 39. Republicans were aided in part by highly favorable redistricting, winning 74% of contested seats while only winning 52% of the vote in those races. Factoring in uncontested races, Republicans won 60% of seats in the Assembly despite losing the statewide popular vote by almost 175,000 votes.^[14]

Results summary

Seats	Party (majority caucus shading)			Total
Democratic	Ind.	Republican
nowrap colspan=2	Last election (2010)	38	1	60	99
nowrap style="font-size:80%" colspan=2	Total before this election	38	1	58	97
Up for election		39	1	59	99
of which:	nowrap style="font-size:80%"	Incumbent retiring	8	1	6	15
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	Vacated	1	0	1	2
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	Unopposed	16	0	4	20
This election	39	0	60	99
nowrap style="font-size:80%" colspan=2	Change from last election	1	1
nowrap style="font-size:80%" colspan=2	Total after this election	39	0		60	99
nowrap style="font-size:80%" colspan=2	Change in total	1	1	2

Party		Candidates	Votes			Seats
				%	+/−		+/−
	Democratic Party	95	1,419,858	52.44		39	+1
	Republican Party	77	1,249,559	46.15		60	+2
	Independent	14	28,119	1.41		0	align="right"	-1
	Write-in	N/A	9,935	0.37		0	0
Total			2,707,471	100.00	±0.00	99	±0
Source: Wisconsin Government Accountability Board

Close races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

4. (gain)
12. (gain)
14. (gain)

Outgoing incumbents

Retiring

• Tamara Grigsby (D - Milwaukee), representing District 18 since 2004, did not run for re-election due to a difficult battle with cancer.^[15]
• Michelle Litjens (R - Appleton), representing District 56 since 2010, did not run for re-election.^[16]
• Dan Meyer (R - Eagle River), representing District 34 since 2000, did not run for re-election.
• Donna J. Seidel (D - Wausau), representing District 85 since 2004, did not run for re-election.
• Richard Spanbauer (R - Oshkosh), representing District 53 since 2008, did not run for re-election.
• Tony Staskunas (D - West Allis), representing District 15 since 1996, did not run for re-election.^[17]
• Robert L. Turner (D - Racine), representing District 61 since 1990, did not run for re-election due to redistricting which reshaped his district.^[18]
• Karl Van Roy (R - Howard), representing District 90 since 2002, did not run for re-election.
• Bob Ziegelbauer (I - Manitowoc), representing District 25 since 1992, did not run for re-election.^[19]

Seeking other office

• Elizabeth M. Coggs (D - Milwaukee), representing District 10 since 2010, ran for state Senate in the 4th Senate district, but lost the primary.
• David Cullen (D - Milwaukee), representing District 13 since 1990, was elected to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors in the 2014 Spring election.^[20]
• Jeff Fitzgerald (R - Horicon, representing District 39 since 2000, and the incumbent speaker, ran for U.S. Senate, but lost the primary.^{[21] [22]}
• Louis Molepske (D - Stevens Point), representing District 71 since 2003, ran for Portage County district attorney, and won the election.^[23]
• Mark Pocan (D - Madison), representing District 78 since 1998, ran for U.S. House of Representatives in Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district, and won the election.^[24]
• Tom Tiffany (R - Hazelhurst), representing District 35 since 2010, ran for state Senate in the 12th Senate district, and won the election.^{[25] [26]}

Vacated

• Jerry Petrowski (R - Marathon) resigned from District 86 after his election as state senator.^{[27] [28]}
• Barbara Toles (D - Milwaukee) resigned from District 17 on July 2, 2012.^[29]

Election results

Dist.	Incumbent				This race^[30]
Member	Party	First elect	Status	Candidates	Results
01			Republican	2000	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
02			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
03			Republican	1986	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
04			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
05			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
06			Republican	2006	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
07			Democratic	1983	Running	nowrap			Incumbent lost primary New member elected Democratic hold
08			Democratic	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
09			Democratic	2002	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
10			Democratic	2010		Ran for state Senate	nowrap			Incumbent retired to run for Wisconsin Senate New member elected Democratic hold
11			Democratic	2004	Running	nowrap			Incumbent lost primary New member elected Democratic hold
12			Democratic	1960 1962 1964 1972 2004	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
13			Democratic	1990		Ran for county board	nowrap			Incumbent retired New member elected Republican gain
14			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
15			Democratic	1996		Not running	nowrap			Incumbent retired New member elected Republican gain
16			Democratic	1992	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
17	--Vacant--				nowrap			Incumbent resigned New member elected Democratic hold
18			Democratic	2004		Not running	nowrap			Incumbent retired New member elected Democratic hold
19			Democratic	1998	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
20			Democratic	1998	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
21			Republican	2013	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
22			Democratic	2008		Ran for 10th district	nowrap			Incumbent redistricted New member elected Republican gain
23			Republican	2006	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
24			Republican	2008	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
25			Independent	1992		Not running	nowrap			Incumbent retired New member elected Republican gain
26			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
27			Republican	1998	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
28			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
29			Republican	2006	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
30			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
31			Republican	2010		Ran for 33rd district	nowrap			Incumbent redistricted New member elected Republican hold
32			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
33			Republican	1990		Ran for 99th district	nowrap			Incumbent redistricted New member elected Republican hold
34			Republican	2000		Not running	nowrap			Incumbent retired New member elected Republican hold
35			Republican	2012		Ran for state Senate	nowrap			Incumbent retired to run for Wisconsin Senate New member elected Republican hold
36			Republican	2004	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
37			Democratic	2006		Ran for 43rd district	nowrap			Incumbent redistricted New member elected Republican gain
38			Republican	2004	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
39			Republican	2000		Ran for U.S. Senate	nowrap			Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senate New member elected Republican hold
40			Republican	2006	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
41			Republican	2004	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
42			Republican	2008	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
43			Democratic	2006	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
44			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap			Incumbent defeated New member elected Democratic gain
45			Republican	2010		Ran for 31st district	nowrap			Incumbent redistricted New member elected Democratic gain
46			Democratic	2004	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
47			Republican	2008		Ran for 42nd district	nowrap			Incumbent redistricted New member elected Democratic gain
48			Democratic	2012		Ran for 76th district	nowrap			Incumbent redistricted New member elected Democratic hold
49			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
50			Republican	2008	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
51			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
52			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
53			Republican	2008		Not running	nowrap			Incumbent retired New member elected Republican hold
54			Democratic	2006	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
55			Republican	1990	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
56			Republican	2010		Not running	nowrap			Incumbent retired New member elected Republican hold
57			Democratic	2008	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
58			Republican	2004	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
59			Republican	2002	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
60			Republican	2011	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
61			Democratic	1990		Not running	nowrap			Incumbent retired New member elected Republican gain
62			Democratic	2006		Ran for 66th district	nowrap			Incumbent redistricted New member elected Republican gain
63			Republican	2004	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
64			Democratic	1984 1993 2008	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
65			Democratic	1996		Ran for 61st district	nowrap			Incumbent redistricted New member elected Democratic hold
66			Republican	2000		Ran for 61st district	nowrap			Incumbent redistricted New member elected Democratic gain
67			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
68			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
69			Republican	1998	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
70			Democratic	2002	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
71			Democratic	2003		Ran for district attorney	nowrap			Incumbent retired to run for district attorney New member elected Democratic hold
72			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
73			Democratic	2008	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
74			Democratic	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
75			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap			Incumbent defeated New member elected Democratic gain
76			Democratic	1998		Ran for 77th district	nowrap			Incumbent redistricted New member elected Democratic hold
77			Democratic	2010		Ran for 78th district	nowrap			Incumbent redistricted New member elected Democratic hold
78			Democratic	1998		Ran for U.S. House of Representatives	nowrap			Incumbent retired to run for U.S. House New member elected Democratic hold
79			Democratic	2012	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
80			Democratic	2002	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
81			Democratic	2008	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
82			Republican	1998	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
83			Republican	2011	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
84			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
85			Democratic	2004		Not running	nowrap			Incumbent retired New member elected Democratic hold
86	--Vacant--				nowrap			Incumbent resigned New member elected Republican hold
87			Republican	2002	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
88			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
89			Republican	2006	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
90			Republican	2002		Not running	nowrap			Incumbent retired New member elected Democratic gain
91			Democratic	2008	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
92			Democratic	2008	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
93			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
94			Democratic	2011	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
95			Democratic	2011	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
96			Republican	2004	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
97			Republican	2006	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
98			Republican	2010	Running	nowrap		Incumbent re-elected
99			Republican	2004		Ran for 22nd district	nowrap			Incumbent redistricted New member elected Republican hold

See also

• 2012 Wisconsin elections
  • 2012 Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election
  • 2012 Wisconsin Senate election
  • 2012 Wisconsin Senate recall elections
  • 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin
  • 2012 United States Senate election in Wisconsin
• 2012 United States elections
• Wisconsin State Assembly
• Elections in Wisconsin
• Redistricting in Wisconsin

Notes

1. News: AP staff reporter . 2011-02-11 . Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says National Guard ready for any unrest over anti-union bill . Green Bay Press-Gazette . The Associated Press.
2. Web site: Milwaukee teachers protest budget-repair bill . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055254/http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/116707114.html . March 4, 2016 . October 4, 2017 . www.jsonline.com.
3. Web site: Northeastern Wisconsin residents join Wisconsin budget repair bill protests . dead . https://archive.today/20130124212246/http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20110216/GPG0101/102160641/Northeastern-Wisconsin-residents-join-Wisconsin-budget-repair-bill-protests . January 24, 2013 . October 4, 2017.
4. Web site: February 14, 2011 . UW teachers, students protest Walker's budget fix . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171005000215/http://www.wrn.com/2011/02/uw-teachers-students-protest-walkers-budget-fix/ . October 5, 2017 . October 4, 2017.
5. Web site: UWM Students Rally Against Budget Proposal . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120321195405/http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/117941359.html . March 21, 2012 . October 4, 2017 . mdy-all.
6. Web site: Kelleher . James . February 20, 2011 . Wisconsin gov. sees Democrats returning to debate plan . August 27, 2024 . Reuters.
7. News: Condon . Stephanie . 2011-03-11 . Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signs anti-union bill – but Democrats say they're the political victors . 2011-03-12 . CBS News.
8. News: Liz Halloran . March 8, 2011 . Recall Efforts in Wisconsin Face Tough Odds . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181116062935/https://www.npr.org/2011/03/08/134340952/recall-efforts-in-wisconsin-face-tough-odds . November 16, 2018 . 2011-05-23 . National Public Radio.
9. Web site: Mary Spicuzza . March 31, 2012 . Recall elections ordered for Walker, Kleefisch, 4 GOP senators . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170818010115/http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/recall-elections-ordered-for-walker-kleefisch-gop-senators/article_97b6f274-7a74-11e1-bd58-001a4bcf887a.html . August 18, 2017 . October 4, 2017 . Wisconsin State Journal.
10. Web site: Behm . Don . May 3, 2011 . GOP wins 2 of 3 Assembly elections . 2024-08-28 . archive.jsonline.com . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
11. News: Zelizer . Julian E. . June 17, 2016 . The power that gerrymandering has brought to Republicans . March 30, 2021 . The Washington Post.
12. Book: Daley, David . Ratf**ked

    The True Story Behind the Secret Plan to Steal America's Democracy

    . Liveright Publishing Corporation . 2017 . 978-1-63149-321-8 . New York, NY . 139–147 . en.
13. Baldus v. Members of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. 849. F. Supp. 2d. 840. E.D. Wis.. March 22, 2012. https://cite.case.law/fsupp2d/849/840/. March 30, 2021. Case Law Project.
14. Book: Daley, David . Ratf**ked

    The True Story Behind the Secret Plan to Steal America's Democracy

    . Liveright Publishing Corporation . 2017 . 978-1-63149-321-8 . New York, NY . 138–139 . en.
15. "Two State Legislators Plan To Retire". La Crosse Tribune, April 18, 2012, p. B-2.
16. "Rep. Michelle Litjens, a Vinland Republican, won't seek re-election," The Northwestern.com, February 14, 2012 .
17. 'Two State Legislators Plan To Retire,' La Crosse Tribune, April 18, 2012, B-2
18. Web site: Stephanie Jones . 2012-03-28 . State Rep. Turner not seeking re-election . 2019-02-10 . Racine Journal Times.
19. Web site: Channel 3000 . Ziegelbauer Won't Seek 11th Term . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120210151752/http://www.channel3000.com/news/30155323/detail.html . 10 February 2012 . 24 August 2015 . Channel 3000.
20. News: Sandler . Larry . December 6, 2011 . Rep. Cullen seeks Milwaukee County Board seat . January 7, 2024 . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
21. http://www.thirdage.com/news/jeff-fitzgerald-to-run-for-u-s-senate_10-11-2011 Jeff Fitzgerald to run for US Senate
22. Vaccino, Steven."Tommy Thompson Wins G.O.P. Senate Primary Race in Wisconsin", The New York Times, August 15, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
23. News: December 29, 2012 . Election Frenzy at national, state, local level . December 15, 2022 . Stevens Point Journal . A10 . Newspapers.com.
24. Web site: Zinck . Shaun . Pocan inherits Baldwin's seat . November 9, 2012 . beloitdailynews.com . Beloit Daily News.
25. News: March 29, 2012 . Tom Tiffany will seek northern Senate post . https://web.archive.org/web/20120401181533/http://www.antigodailyjournal.com/full.php?id=14497 . April 1, 2012 . May 2, 2020 . Antigo Daily Journal . Wayback Machine.
26. News: Kirkby . Sean . November 7, 2012 . Republicans Take State Senate . May 2, 2020 . The Badger Herald.
27. Matt Lehman. "Petrowski to run for State Senate". WSAU, March 21, 2012. Accessed June 25, 2013.
28. Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. G.A.B. Canvass Reporting System: Canvass Results for 2012 June 5 Recall Election - 6/5/2012.
29. July 5, 2012 . Communications . State of Wisconsin Assembly Journal . . One-Hundredth Regular Session . Thursday, July 5, 2012 . April 13, 2012.
30. Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election - 11/6/2012 . December 26, 2012 . . April 13, 2024 . .

External links

• Wisconsin Elections Commission
  • • • Web site: League of Women Voters of Wisconsin . September 7, 2017 . (State affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)