2008 Wisconsin Senate election

The 2008 Wisconsin Senate election was held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. Sixteen of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election—the even-numbered districts. Prior to the election 17 seats were held by Democrats, 14 were held by Republicans, and 2 seats were vacant.

2008 Wisconsin State Senate election

← 2006 November 4, 2008 2010 →
16 of 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate 17 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Russ Decker Scott L. Fitzgerald Party Democratic Republican Leader since October 24, 2007 January 1, 2007 Leader's seat 29th–Weston 13th–Juneau Last election 10 seats, 49.68% 7 seats, 49.25% Seats before 18 15 Seats won 8 8 Seats after 18 15 Seat change Popular vote 666,668 575,543 Percentage 52.74% 45.53% Swing 3.06 pp 3.72 pp
Results by seat gains Results by vote share Map of the incumbents:      Democratic hold      Republican hold      No election Democratic:     50–60%      60–70%      >90% Republican:     50–60%      >90%
President before election Fred Risser Democratic Elected President Fred Risser Democratic

The primary was held on September 9, 2008, and the filing deadline was July 8, 2008.

Summary

Seats		Party (majority caucus shading)		Total
		Democratic	Republican
Last election (2006)		9	8	17
Total after last election (2006)		18	15	33
Total before this election		18	15	33
Up for election		8	8	16
of which:	Incumbent retiring	1	1	2
	Vacated	1	1	2
	Unopposed	4	2	6
This election		8	8	16
Change from last election
Total after this election		18	15	33
Change in total

Popular vote Democratic   52.74% Republican   45.53% Independent   1.73%

Senate seats won Democratic   50% Republican   50%

Close races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

• State Senate district 18, 0.19%
• State Senate district 8, 1.01%
• State Senate district 12, 2.48%
• State Senate district 32, 2.85%

Outgoing incumbents

Vacated

• Roger Breske (D–Eland), first elected to the 12th district in a 1990 special election, resigned his seat on June 4, 2008, after being appointed Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner by governor Jim Doyle.^[1]
• Carol Roessler (R–Oshkosh), first elected to the 18th district in a 1987 special election, resigned her seat on July 4, 2008, after being appointed Administrator of State and Local Finance by governor Jim Doyle.

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Stateline[2]	Lean D	October 15, 2008

Results summary

Dist.	Incumbent				This race[a][3]
	Member	Party	First elected	Status	Candidates
02	Robert Cowles	Rep.	1987 (special)	Incumbent re-elected	▌YRobert Cowles (Rep.) 99.35%
04	Lena Taylor	Dem.	2004	Incumbent re-elected	▌YLena Taylor (Dem.) 98.82%
06	Spencer Coggs	Dem.	2003 (recall)	Incumbent Ran	▌YSpencer Coggs (Dem.) 98.85%
08	Alberta Darling	Rep.	1992	Incumbent re-elected	▌YAlberta Darling (Rep.) 50.46% ▌Sheldon Wasserman (Dem.) 49.45%
10	Sheila Harsdorf	Rep.	2000	Incumbent re-elected	▌YSheila Harsdorf (Rep.) 56.40% ▌Alison H. Page (Dem.) 43.49%
12	--Vacant[b]--			Previous incumbent resigned Jun. 4, 2008 New member elected. Democratic hold	▌YJim Holperin (Dem.) 51.21% ▌Tom Tiffany (Rep.) 48.73%
14	Luther Olsen	Rep.	2004	Incumbent re-elected	▌YLuther Olsen (Rep.) 99.36%
16	Mark Miller	Dem.	2004	Incumbent re-elected	▌Mark Miller (Dem.) 99.29%
18	--Vacant[c]--			Previous incumbent resigned Jul. 4, 2008 New member elected. Republican hold	▌YRandy Hopper (Rep.) 50.05% ▌Jessica King (Dem.) 49.86%
20	Glenn Grothman	Rep.	2004	Incumbent re-elected	▌YGlenn Grothman (Rep.) 80.26% ▌Clyde Winter (Ind.) 19.64%
22	Robert Wirch	Dem.	1996	Incumbent re-elected	▌YRobert Wirch (Dem.) 66.65% ▌Benjamin Lee Bakke (Rep.) 33.21%
24	Julie Lassa	Dem.	2003 (special)	Incumbent re-elected	▌YJulie Lassa (Dem.) 67.67% ▌Tom Kimmet (Rep.) 32.28%
26	Fred Risser	Dem.	1962 (special)	Incumbent re-elected	▌YFred Risser (Rep.) 99.13%
28	Mary Lazich	Rep.	1998 (special)	Incumbent re-elected	▌YMary Lazich (Rep.) 99.24%
30	Dave Hansen	Dem.	2000	Incumbent re-elected	▌YDave Hansen (Dem.) 66.06% ▌Chad Fradette (Rep.) 33.88%
32	Dan Kapanke	Rep.	2004	Incumbent re-elected	▌YDan Kapanke (Rep.) 51.38% ▌Tara Johnson (Dem.) 48.53%

Notes

1. Not all totals add up to 100% due to scattering
2. Roger Breske (D) resigned June 4, 2008
3. Carol Roessler (R) resigned July 4, 2008