2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin explained

Election Name:	2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin
Country:	Wisconsin
Type:	legislative
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin
Previous Year:	2010
Next Election:	2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin
Next Year:	2014
Seats For Election:	All 8 Wisconsin seats to the United States House of Representatives
Election Date:	November 6, 2012
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Last Election1:	5
Seats1:	5
Popular Vote1:	1,401,995
Percentage1:	48.92%
Swing1:	5.54%
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Last Election2:	3
Seats2:	3
Popular Vote2:	1,445,015
Percentage2:	50.42%
Swing2:	6.57%

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the eight U.S. representatives from Wisconsin, one from each of the state's eight congressional districts. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 113th Congress from January 2013 until January 2015. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate. Primary elections were held on August 14, 2012.^[1]

Wisconsin was one of five states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2012, the other states being Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, 2012
Party	Votes	Percentage	Seats Before	Seats After	+/–
	Republican	1,401,995	48.92%	5	5	-
	Democratic	1,445,015	50.42%	3	3	-
	Libertarian	6,054	0.20%	0	0	-
	Independent	9,277	0.32%	0	0	-
	Write-In	26	0.00%	0	0	-
	Scattering	3,683	0.13%	0	0	-
Totals		2,956,050	100.00%	8	8	-

District 1

Election Name:	2012 Wisconsin's 1st congressional district election
Country:	Wisconsin
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 1
Previous Year:	2010
Next Election:	2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 1
Next Year:	2014
Image1:	File:Paul Ryan, Official Portrait, 113th Congress (cropped).png
Nominee1:	Paul Ryan
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	200,423
Percentage1:	54.9%
Nominee2:	Rob Zerban
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	158,414
Percentage2:	43.4%
U.S. Representative
Before Election:	Paul Ryan
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Paul Ryan
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

Republican Paul Ryan, who has represented Wisconsin's 1st congressional district since 1999, ran for reelection after deciding not to run for the U.S. Senate^[2] or seek the Republican presidential nomination^[3] in 2012.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Paul Ryan, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Rob Zerban, member of the Kenosha County Board and former small business owner^[4]

Results

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Keith Deschler, factory worker^[5]

General election

Campaign

Though Ryan was selected to be the Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States on August 11, 2012, he was allowed, and continued to, run for re-election to his House seat.^{[6] [7]}

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Paul Ryan (R)	Rob Zerban (D)	Keith Deschler (L)	Undecided
Public Opinion Strategies (R-Ryan)^[8]	September 9–10, 2012	400	±4.9%	align=center	58%	33%	3%	6%
Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (D-Zerban)^[9]	August 21–23, 2012	404	±4.9%	align=center	47%	39%	4%	11%

Results

External links

District 2

Election Name:	2012 Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election
Country:	Wisconsin
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 2
Previous Year:	2010
Next Election:	2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 2
Next Year:	2014
Image1:	File:Mark Pocan, official portrait, 113th Congress (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Mark Pocan
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	265,422
Percentage1:	67.9%
Nominee2:	Chad Lee
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	124,683
Percentage2:	31.9%
U.S. Representative
Before Election:	Tammy Baldwin
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Mark Pocan
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)

Democrat Tammy Baldwin, who represented Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district since 1999, ran for the U.S. Senate.^[10]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mark Pocan, state representative

Eliminated in primary

• Dennis Hall, former member of Janesville City Council^[11]
• Kelda Roys, state representative ^[12]
• Matt Silverman, attorney and decorated combat veteran^{[11] [13]}

Withdrawn

• Dave Worzala, Dane County Treasurer^{[14] [11]}

Declined

• Tammy Baldwin, incumbent U.S. Representative
• Jon Erpenbach, state senator^[15]

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Chad Lee, businessman and nominee for this seat in 2010^[16]

Results

General election

Results

District 3

Election Name:	2012 Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district election
Country:	Wisconsin
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 3
Previous Year:	2010
Next Election:	2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 3
Next Year:	2014
Image1:	File:Ron Kind, Official Portrait, 109th Congress (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Ron Kind
Party1:	Democratic Party (US)
Popular Vote1:	217,712
Percentage1:	64.1%
Nominee2:	Ray Boland
Party2:	Republican Party (US)
Popular Vote2:	121,713
Percentage2:	35.8%
U.S. Representative
Before Election:	Ron Kind
Before Party:	Democratic Party (US)
After Election:	Ron Kind
After Party:	Democratic Party (US)

Democrat Ron Kind, who has represented Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district since 1997, did not run for the U.S. Senate^[17] and instead ran for re-election.^[18]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Ron Kind, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Ray Boland, former state Secretary of Veterans Affairs and former commander at Fort McCoy^[19]

Withdrawn

• Edward Martin, retired Army sergeant^[20]

Declined

• Bruce Evers, financial adviser and candidate for this seat in 2010^[20]

Results

General election

Results

District 4

Election Name:	2012 Wisconsin's 4th congressional district election
Country:	Wisconsin
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 4
Previous Year:	2010
Next Election:	2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 4
Next Year:	2014
Image1:	File:Gwen Moore, Official Portrait, 112th Congress (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Gwen Moore
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	235,257
Percentage1:	72.2%
Nominee2:	Dan Sebring
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	80,787
Percentage2:	24.8%
U.S. Representative
Before Election:	Gwen Moore
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Gwen Moore
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)

Democrat Gwen Moore, who had represented Wisconsin's 4th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Gwen Moore, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Dan Sebring, automobile repair shop owner and nominee for this seat in 2010^[21]

Results

Independents

• Robert R. Raymond, perennial candidate^[22]

General election

Results

District 5

Election Name:	2012 Wisconsin's 5th congressional district election
Country:	Wisconsin
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 5
Previous Year:	2010
Next Election:	2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 5
Next Year:	2014
Image1:	File:Jim Sensenbrenner, Official Portrait, 109th Congress (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Jim Sensenbrenner
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	250,335
Percentage1:	67.7%
Nominee2:	Dave Heaster
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	118,478
Percentage2:	32.1%
U.S. Representative
Before Election:	Jim Sensenbrenner
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Jim Sensenbrenner
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

Republican Jim Sensenbrenner, who has represented Wisconsin's 5th congressional district since 2003 (and previously represented Wisconsin's 9th congressional district from 1979 to 2003), ran for re-election.^[23]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jim Sensenbrenner, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Dave Heaster, technology employee at the Kohler Company^[24]

Results

General election

Results

District 6

Election Name:	2012 Wisconsin's 6th congressional district election
Country:	Wisconsin
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 6
Previous Year:	2010
Next Election:	2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 6
Next Year:	2014
Image1:	File:Tom Petri, official portrait, 108th Congress (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Tom Petri
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	223,460
Percentage1:	62.1%
Nominee2:	Joe Kallas
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	135,921
Percentage2:	37.8%
U.S. Representative
Before Election:	Tom Petri
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Tom Petri
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

Republican Tom Petri, who has represented Wisconsin's 6th congressional district since 1979, ran for re-election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Tom Petri, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Lauren Stephens, founder of a conservative political action committee.^[25]

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Joe Kallas, former member of the Green Lake County Board and nominee for this seat in 2010^[26]

Results

General election

Results

District 7

Election Name:	2012 Wisconsin's 7th congressional district election
Country:	Wisconsin
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 7
Previous Year:	2010
Next Election:	2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 7
Next Year:	2014
Image1:	File:Sean Duffy, Official Portrait, 112th Congress (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Sean Duffy
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	201,720
Percentage1:	56.1%
Nominee2:	Pat Kreitlow
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	157,524
Percentage2:	43.8%
U.S. Representative
Before Election:	Sean Duffy
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Sean Duffy
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

Republican Sean Duffy, who has represented Wisconsin's 7th congressional district since 2011, ran for re-election.^[27]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Sean Duffy, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Pat Kreitlow, former state Senator^[28]

Declined

• Janet Bewley, state representative^[29]

Results

General election

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Sean Duffy (R)	Pat Kreitlow (D)	Undecided
NMB Research (R-American Action Network)^[30]	September 30–October 1, 2012	400	±4.9%	align=center	51%	40%	9%
Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (D-Kreitlow)^[31]	September 25–26, 2012	509	±4.4%	align=center	44%	41%	15%
Public Policy Polling (D-CREDO)^[32]	September 24–25, 2012	694	±3.7%	align=center	48%	44%	7%

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	The Cook Political Report^[33]		November 5, 2012
align=left	Rothenberg^[34]		November 2, 2012
align=left	Roll Call^[35]		November 4, 2012
align=left	Sabato's Crystal Ball^[36]		November 5, 2012
align=left	NY Times^[37]		November 4, 2012
RCP^[38]		November 4, 2012
align=left	The Hill^[39]		November 4, 2012

Results

District 8

Election Name:	2012 Wisconsin's 8th congressional district election
Country:	Wisconsin
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 8
Previous Year:	2010
Next Election:	2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 8
Next Year:	2014
Image1:	File:Reid Ribble, official portrait, 112th Congress (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Reid Ribble
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	198,874
Percentage1:	56.0%
Nominee2:	Jamie Wall
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	156,287
Percentage2:	44.0%
U.S. Representative
Before Election:	Reid Ribble
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Reid Ribble
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

Republican Reid Ribble, who has represented Wisconsin's 8th congressional district since 2011, ran for re-election.^[40]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Reid Ribble, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jamie Wall, business consultant and candidate for this seat in 2006^[41]

Results

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	The Cook Political Report		November 5, 2012
align=left	Rothenberg		November 2, 2012
align=left	Roll Call		November 4, 2012
align=left	Sabato's Crystal Ball		November 5, 2012
align=left	NY Times		November 4, 2012
RCP		November 4, 2012
align=left	The Hill		November 4, 2012

Results

External links

External links

• Elections & Voting at the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board
  • Candidate list
• United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, 2012 at Ballotpedia
• Wisconsin U.S. House at OurCampaigns.com
• Campaign contributions for U.S. Congressional races in Wisconsin at OpenSecrets
• Outside spending at the Sunlight Foundation

Notes and References

1. Web site: Walker signs bills on partisan primary, nursing home penalties. November 17, 2011. December 6, 2011. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Patrick. Marley.
2. Web site: Paul Ryan Opts Out of Wisconsin Senate Run. May 17, 2011. August 16, 2011. The New York Times. Michael D.. Shear.
3. Web site: Paul Ryan Won't Run for President. August 22, 2011. August 23, 2011. Roll Call. David M.. Drucker.
4. Web site: The Big Get. June 16, 2011. September 22, 2012. National Journal. Jessica. Taylor. https://web.archive.org/web/20120910171941/http://www.nationaljournal.com/columns/hotline-house-race-extra/have-the-democrats-found-their-man-to-defeat-paul-ryan-at-home--20110616. September 10, 2012. dead.
5. Web site: Libertarian to vie for Ryan's seat. August 18, 2012. September 22, 2012. Kenosha News. Joe. Potente.
6. News: Romney picks Paul Ryan as running mate. August 10, 2012. September 22, 2012. The Washington Post. Philip. Rucker. Dan. Balz.
7. Web site: Ryan to stay on ballot for re-election. August 11, 2012. September 22, 2012. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Alison. Bauter.
8. https://web.archive.org/web/20121004064648/http://wispolitics.com/1006/Ryanpollingmemo.pdf Public Opinion Strategies (R-Ryan)
9. https://web.archive.org/web/20140303142929/http://zh.scribd.com/doc/105735721/Poll-Memo Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (D-Zerban)
10. Web site: Tammy Baldwin enters race for open Senate seat. September 6, 2011. September 7, 2011. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Bill. Glauber.
11. Web site: Worzala quits race for Congress. May 8, 2012. May 8, 2012. The Capital Times. Bill. Novak.
12. Web site: State Reps. Kelda Helen Roys, Mark Pocan to run for US Congress. September 7, 2011. September 7, 2011. Wisconsin State Journal. Mary. Spicuzza.
13. Web site: UW grad enters congressional race against Madison reps. November 29, 2011. November 30, 2011. The Badger Herald. Leah. Linscheid.
14. Web site: Dane County treasurer enters race for Congress. September 14, 2011. September 14, 2011. The Capital Times. Jessica. Van Egeren.
15. Web site: Erpenbach says he's not running for Baldwin's seat. September 27, 2011. September 27, 2011. The Capital Times. Jessica. Van Egeren.
16. Web site: Chad Lee 'Leaps' Into Race. February 29, 2012. The Wheeler Report.
17. Web site: Rep. Kind did't run for Senate in Wisconsin. September 15, 2011. September 28, 2011. The Hill. Cameron. Joseph.
18. Web site: Rep. Kind hears common themes; Congressman, who is losing Sauk County from district, visits Reedsburg. September 1, 2012. September 22, 2012. Reedsburg Times-Press. Kim. Lamoreaux.
19. Web site: Former Wis. Veterans secretary to challenge Kind. December 6, 2011. September 22, 2012. La Crosse Tribune. Chris. Hubbuch.
20. Web site: Chippewa Falls veteran seeks to challenge Kind. March 27, 2012. April 5, 2012. La Crosse Tribune. Chris. Hubbuch.
21. Web site: Dan Sebring, Republican Candidate for 4th U.S. Congressional District. https://archive.today/20130131005315/http://shorewood.patch.com/articles/dan-sebring-republican-candidate-for-4th-u-s-congressional-district. dead. January 31, 2013. July 1, 2012. September 22, 2012. Shorewood, WI Patch.
22. Web site: Robert R. Raymond. September 22, 2012. Wisconsin Vote. https://web.archive.org/web/20120921142718/http://wisconsinvote.org/candidates/robert-r-raymond. September 21, 2012. dead.
23. Web site: Sensenbrenner Will Again Seek Re-election. https://archive.today/20120708192738/http://brookfield-wi.patch.com/articles/sensenbrenner-will-again-seek-re-election. dead. July 8, 2012. April 5, 2012. May 8, 2012. Brookfield, WI Patch. Carl. Engelking.
24. Web site: Dave Heaster. September 22, 2012. Wisconsin Vote. https://web.archive.org/web/20120921150057/http://wisconsinvote.org/candidates/dave-heaster. September 21, 2012. dead.
25. Web site: 2nd, 6th House districts face primaries. August 3, 2012. September 22, 2012. Associated Press. WLUK-TV. Dinesh. Ramde. https://web.archive.org/web/20120807040318/http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/local/fox_cities/2nd-6th-house-districts-face-primary-elections-in-2012. August 7, 2012. dead.
26. Web site: Democrat Joe Kallas to oppose Rep. Tom Petri in 6th Congressional District. February 27, 2012. March 4, 2012. Oshkosh Northwestern. Jessica. Opoien.
27. Web site: Duffy announces bid for reelection. August 9, 2012. September 22, 2012. WEAU-TV.
28. Web site: Sean Duffy Gets First Opponent Of 2012 Cycle. April 25, 2011. September 22, 2012. Talking Points Memo. Eric. Kleefeld.
29. Web site: Bewley won't challenge Duffy for congress. October 5, 2011. September 22, 2012. Superior Telegram. Mike. Simonson.
30. https://web.archive.org/web/20140429044821/http://americanactionnetwork.org/sites/default/files/WI_CD_7_Memo_0.pdf NMB Research (R-American Action Network)
31. https://www.scribd.com/doc/108584705/WI-07-FM3-for-Pat-Kreitlow-Sept-2012 Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (D-Kreitlow)
32. https://www.scribd.com/document/107176574/WI-07-PPP-for-CREDO-Sept-2012 Public Policy Polling (D-CREDO)
33. Web site: The Cook Political Report — Charts – 2012 House Competitive Races . Cookpolitical.com . November 5, 2012 . November 6, 2012.
34. Web site: House Ratings . Rothenbergpoliticalreport.com . November 2, 2012 . November 4, 2012.
35. http://www.rollcall.com/politics/race-ratings-chart-2012-house-elections.html
36. http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/category/2012-house/ Crystal Ball
37. http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/ratings/house House Race Ratings
38. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/house/2012_elections_house_map.html
39. Web site: House Ratings . The Hill . November 4, 2012. November 3, 2012 .
40. Web site: PACs help U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble, R-De Pere, amass campaign war chest. August 26, 2011. September 22, 2012. The Post-Crescent. Michael Louis. Vinson.
41. Web site: Green Bay business consultant Jamie Wall first Democrat to enter race against Congressman Reid Ribble. October 5, 2011. September 22, 2012. The Post-Crescent. Michael Louis. Vinson.
42. https://web.archive.org/web/20160402074935/http://wispolitics.com/1006/Wall_Sept_Poll_Memo_Final.pdf Normington, Petts & Associates (D-Wall)