2008 Wisconsin State Assembly election

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 election was held on September 9, 2008.^[1]

2008 Wisconsin State Assembly election

← 2006 November 4, 2008 2010 →
All 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly 50 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader James Kreuser (retired) Michael Huebsch Party Democratic Republican Leader since November 13, 2002 January 1, 2007 Leader's seat 64th–Kenosha 94th–West Salem Last election 47 seats, TBD% 52 seats, TBD% Seats before 47 51 Seats won 52 46 Seat change 5 5 Popular vote 1,478,815 1,161,265 Percentage 55.31% 43.43%   Third party   Party Independent Last election N/A Seats before 1 Seats won 1 Seat change Popular vote 26,037 Percentage 0.97%
Results:      Democratic hold      Democratic gain      Republican hold      Independent hold
Speaker before election Michael Huebsch Republican Elected Speaker Michael J. Sheridan Democratic

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.

Background

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

Popular vote Democratic   55.31% Republican   43.43% Independent   0.97% Libertarian   0.29%

Assembly seats Democratic   52.53% Republican   46.46% Independent   1.01%

Close races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

1. State Assembly district 47, 0.07%
2. State Assembly district 34, 0.64%
3. State Assembly district 67, 0.73%
4. State Assembly district 68, 0.88% (gain)
5. State Assembly district 87, 0.90%
6. State Assembly district 43, 2.42%
7. State Assembly district 1, 2.74%
8. State Assembly district 96, 3.46%
9. State Assembly district 36, 3.59%
10. State Assembly district 2, 4.30% (gain)
11. State Assembly district 21, 5.00%
12. State Assembly district 4, 5.53%
13. State Assembly district 92, 6.51% (gain)
14. State Assembly district 89, 7.14%
15. State Assembly district 90, 7.47%
16. State Assembly district 55, 7.86%
17. State Assembly district 49, 8.06%
18. State Assembly district 94, 8.13%
19. State Assembly district 97, 9.35%
20. State Assembly district 30, 9.57%

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,^[a] 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 1984,^[b] 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]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Stateline[8]	Tossup	October 15, 2008

Race summary

District	Incumbent				This race[9]
	Member	Party	First elected	Status	Candidates	Results
1	Garey Bies	Republican	2000	Ran	▌YGarey Bies (Rep.) 51.33% ▌Dick Skare (Dem.) 48.59%	Incumbent re-elected
2	Frank Lasee	Republican	1994	Ran	▌YTed Zigmunt (Dem.) 52.12% ▌Frank Lasee (Rep.) 47.82%	Incumbent defeated. New member elected Democratic gain.
3	Al Ott	Republican	1986	Ran	▌YAl Ott (Rep.) 58.26% ▌Justin Krueger (Dem.) 41.67%	Incumbent re-elected
4	Phil Montgomery	Republican	1998	Ran	▌YPhil Montgomery (Rep.) 52.73% ▌Sam Dunlop (Dem.) 47.20%	Incumbent re-elected
5	Tom Nelson	Democratic	2004	Ran	▌YTom Nelson (Dem.) 64.44% ▌Jim Steineke (Rep.) 35.52%	Incumbent re-elected
6	Gary Tauchen	Republican	2006	Ran	▌YGary Tauchen (Rep.) 55.02% ▌John Powers (Dem.) 44.95%	Incumbent re-elected
7	Peggy Krusick	Democratic	1983 (special)	Ran	▌YPeggy Krusick (Dem.) 59.53% ▌Corrine Wiesmueller (Rep.) 38.01% ▌Brad Sponholz (Lib.) 2.35%	Incumbent re-elected
8	Pedro Colón	Democratic	1998	Ran	▌Pedro Colón (Dem.) 98.26%	Incumbent re-elected
9	Josh Zepnick	Democratic	2002	Ran	▌Josh Zepnick (Dem.) 98.53%	Incumbent re-elected
10	Annette Polly Williams	Democratic	1980[c]	Ran	▌Annette Polly Williams (Dem.) 99.19%	Incumbent re-elected
11	Jason Fields	Democratic	2004	Ran	▌Jason Fields (Dem.) 99.24%	Incumbent re-elected
12	Fred Kessler	Democratic	1960 1962 (retired) 1964 1972 (retired) 2004	Ran	▌Fred Kessler (Dem.) 98.92%	Incumbent re-elected
13	David Cullen	Democratic	1990 (special)	Ran	▌David Cullen (Dem.) 98.42%	Incumbent re-elected
14	Leah Vukmir	Republican	2002 (special)	Ran	▌YLeah Vukmir (Rep.) 62.28% ▌Dave Hucke (Dem.) 37.55%	Incumbent re-elected
15	Tony Staskunas	Democratic	1996	Ran	▌YTony Staskunas (Dem.) 60.45% ▌David Nickel (Rep.) 39.40%	Incumbent re-elected
16	Leon Young	Democratic	1992	Ran	▌Leon Young (Dem.) 98.81%	Incumbent re-elected
17	Barbara Toles	Democratic	2004 (special)	Ran	▌Barbara Toles (Dem.) 99.20%	Incumbent re-elected
18	Tamara Grigsby	Democratic	2004	Ran	▌Tamara Grigsby (Dem.) 98.96%	Incumbent re-elected
19	Jon Richards	Democratic	1998	Ran	▌Jon Richards (Dem.) 98.52%	Incumbent re-elected
20	Christine Sinicki	Democratic	1998	Ran	▌Christine Sinicki (Dem.) 98.22%	Incumbent re-elected
21	Mark Honadel	Republican	2003 (special)	Ran	▌YMark Honadel (Rep.) 52.43% ▌Glen Brower (Dem.) 47.43%	Incumbent re-elected
22	Sheldon Wasserman	Democratic	1994	Ran for State Senate	▌YSandy Pasch (Dem.) 67.06% ▌Yash P. Wadhwa (Rep.) 32.77%	Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic hold.
23	Jim Ott	Republican	2006	Ran	▌YJim Ott (Rep.) 57.83% ▌Rene Settle-Robinson (Dem.) 42.10%	Incumbent re-elected
24	Suzanne Jeskewitz	Republican	1996	Incumbent retired	▌YDan Knodl (Rep.) 61.88% ▌Charlene S. Brady (Dem.) 37.90%	Incumbent retired. New member elected Republican hold.
25	Bob Ziegelbauer	Democratic	1992	Ran	▌Bob Ziegelbauer (Dem.) 98.85%	Incumbent re-elected
26	Terry Van Akkeren	Democratic	2002	Ran	▌YTerry Van Akkeren (Dem.) 65.43% ▌Alex Pieper (Rep.) 34.51%	Incumbent re-elected
27	Steve Kestell	Republican	1998	Ran	▌YSteve Kestell (Rep.) 65.95% ▌Bob Cox (Dem.) 33.99%	Incumbent re-elected
28	Ann Hraychuck	Democratic	2006	Ran	▌YAnn Hraychuck (Dem.) 55.37% ▌Kent Muschinske (Rep.) 44.59%	Incumbent re-elected
29	John Murtha	Republican	2006	Ran	▌YJohn Murtha (Rep.) 53.38% ▌Chris Buckel (Dem.) 42.73% ▌Craig Mohn (Lib.) 3.80%	Incumbent re-elected
30	Kitty Rhoades	Republican	1998	Ran	▌YKitty Rhoades (Rep.) 54.74% ▌Sarah A. Bruch (Dem.) 45.17%	Incumbent re-elected
31	Stephen Nass	Republican	1990	Ran	▌YStephen Nass (Rep.) 66.66% ▌Frank E. Urban (Dem.) 33.22%	Incumbent re-elected
32	Thomas Lothian	Republican	2002	Ran	▌YThomas Lothian (Rep.) 51.65% ▌Doug A. Harrod (Dem.) 41.23% ▌John K. Finley (Ind.) 7.40%	Incumbent re-elected
33	Scott Newcomer	Republican	2005 (special)	Ran	▌Scott Newcomer (Rep.) 99.77%	Incumbent re-elected
34	Dan Meyer	Republican	1998	Ran	▌YDan Meyer (Rep.) 50.28% ▌Paul Tubbs (Dem.) 49.64%	Incumbent re-elected
35	Donald Friske	Republican	2000	Ran	▌YDonald Friske (Rep.) 56.72% ▌Jay Schmelling (Dem.) 43.23%	Incumbent re-elected
36	Jeffrey Mursau	Republican	2004	Ran	▌YJeffrey Mursau (Rep.) 51.78% ▌Stan Gruszynski (Dem.) 48.19%	Incumbent re-elected
37	Andy Jorgensen	Democratic	2006	Ran	▌YAndy Jorgensen (Dem.) 59.23% ▌Kent Koebke (Rep.) 40.64%	Incumbent re-elected
38	Joel Kleefisch	Republican	2004	Ran	▌YJoel Kleefisch (Rep.) 66.27% ▌Dick Pas (Dem.) 33.62%	Incumbent re-elected
39	Jeff Fitzgerald	Republican	2000	Ran	▌YJeff Fitzgerald (Rep.) 60.08% ▌Aaron E. Onsrud (Dem.) 39.89%	Incumbent re-elected
40	Kevin David Petersen	Republican	2006	Ran	▌YKevin David Petersen (Rep.) 58.29% ▌Kevin M. Kuehl (Dem.) 41.67%	Incumbent re-elected
41	Joan Ballweg	Republican	2004	Ran	▌YJoan Ballweg (Rep.) 62.78% ▌Scott Milheiser (Dem.) 37.14%	Incumbent re-elected
42	Jacob Hines	Republican	2001 (special)	Ran	▌YFred Clark (Dem.) 58.47% ▌Jacob Hines (Rep.) 41.47%	Incumbent defeated. New member elected Democratic gain.
43	Kim Hixson	Democratic	2006	Ran	▌YKim Hixson (Dem.) 51.16% ▌Debi Towns (Rep.) 48.74%	Incumbent re-elected
44	Michael J. Sheridan	Democratic	2004	Ran	▌Michael J. Sheridan (Dem.) 99.15%	Incumbent re-elected
45	Chuck Benedict	Democratic	2004	Ran	▌YChuck Benedict (Dem.) 60.37% ▌Mike Hahn (Rep.) 39.58%	Incumbent re-elected
46	Gary Hebl	Democratic	2004	Ran	▌YGary Hebl (Dem.) 66.28% ▌Kathy Maves (Rep.) 33.70%	Incumbent re-elected
47	Eugene Hahn	Republican	1990	Incumbent retired	▌YKeith Ripp (Rep.) 47.87% ▌Trish O'Neil (Dem.) 47.80% ▌Dennis E. Hruby (Ind.) 4.30%	Incumbent retired. New member elected Republican hold.
48	Joe Parisi	Democratic	2004	Ran	▌Joe Parisi (Dem.) 99.51%	Incumbent re-elected
49	Phil Garthwaite	Democratic	2006	Ran	▌YPhil Garthwaite (Dem.) 53.96% ▌Travis Tranel (Rep.) 45.90%	Incumbent re-elected
50	Sheryl Albers	Republican	1991 (special)	Incumbent retired	▌YEd Brooks (Rep.) 56.20% ▌Tom Crofton (Dem.) 43.73%	Incumbent retired. New member elected Republican hold.
51	Steve Hilgenberg	Democratic	2006	Ran	▌YSteve Hilgenberg (Dem.) 56.84% ▌Nathan R. Russell (Rep.) 43.12%	Incumbent re-elected
52	John Townsend	Republican	1998	Ran	▌YJohn Townsend (Rep.) 57.92% ▌Jerry Keifenheim (Dem.) 42.02%	Incumbent re-elected
53	Carol Owens	Republican	1992	Incumbent retired	▌YRichard Spanbauer (Rep.) 63.80% ▌Jeff Mann (Dem.) 36.11%	Incumbent retired. New member elected Republican hold.
54	Gordon Hintz	Democratic	2006	Ran	▌YGordon Hintz (Dem.) 66.21% ▌Mark Reiff (Rep.) 33.64%	Incumbent re-elected
55	Dean Kaufert	Republican	1991	Ran	▌YDean Kaufert (Rep.) 53.88% ▌Mark Westphal (Dem.) 46.02%	Incumbent re-elected
56	Roger Roth	Republican	2006	Ran	▌YRoger Roth (Rep.) 59.66% ▌Susan Garcia Franz (Dem.) 40.24%	Incumbent re-elected
57	Steve Wieckert	Republican	1996	Incumbent retired	▌YPenny Bernard Schaber (Dem.) 56.98% ▌Jo Egelhoff (Rep.) 42.82%	Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic gain.
58	Patricia Strachota	Republican	2004	Ran	▌YPatricia Strachota (Rep.) 82.77% ▌Greg Dombro (Ind.) 17.15%	Incumbent re-elected
59	Daniel LeMahieu	Republican	2002	Ran	▌Daniel LeMahieu (Rep.) 99.32%	Incumbent re-elected
60	Mark Gottlieb	Republican	2002	Ran	▌YMark Gottlieb (Rep.) 70.29% ▌Perry Duman (Dem.) 29.65%	Incumbent re-elected
61	Robert L. Turner	Democratic	1990	Ran	▌YRobert L. Turner (Dem.) 87.71% ▌George Meyers (Lib.) 12.09%	Incumbent re-elected
62	Cory Mason	Democratic	2006	Ran	▌YCory Mason (Dem.) 84.54% ▌Keith Deschler (Lib.) 15.20%	Incumbent re-elected
63	Robin Vos	Republican	2004	Ran	▌YRobin Vos (Rep.) 61.51% ▌Linda Flashinski (Dem.) 38.45%	Incumbent re-elected
64	James Kreuser	Democratic	1993 (special)	Retired to serve as Kenosha County Executive	▌Peter Barca (Dem.) 98.71%	Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic hold.
65	John Steinbrink	Democratic	1996	Ran	▌YJohn Steinbrink (Dem.) 62.12% ▌Alex Tiahnybok (Rep.) 37.75%	Incumbent re-elected
66	Samantha Kerkman	Republican	2000	Ran	▌YSamantha Kerkman (Rep.) 59.91% ▌Larry Zamba (Dem.) 40.03%	Incumbent re-elected
67	Jeffrey Wood	Independent	2002[d]	Ran	▌YJeffrey Wood (Ind.) 50.28% ▌Don Moga (Rep.) 49.55%	Incumbent re-elected
68	Terry Moulton	Republican	2004	Ran	▌YKristen Dexter (Dem.) 50.35% ▌Terry Moulton (Rep.) 49.47%	Incumbent defeated. New member elected Democratic gain.
69	Scott Suder	Republican	1998	Ran	▌YScott Suder (Rep.) 59.46% ▌Tim Swiggum (Dem.) 40.51%	Incumbent re-elected
70	Amy Sue Vruwink	Democratic	2002	Ran	▌YAmy Sue Vruwink (Dem.) 69.62% ▌Dennis Seevers (Rep.) 30.34%	Incumbent re-elected
71	Louis Molepske	Democratic	2003 (special)	Ran	▌YLouis Molepske (Dem.) 68.61% ▌Daron L. Jensen (Rep.) 31.24%	Incumbent re-elected
72	Marlin Schneider	Democratic	1970[e]	Ran	▌YMarlin Schneider (Dem.) 62.23% ▌Jeff Tyberg (Rep.) 37.69%	Incumbent re-elected
73	Frank Boyle	Democratic	1986	Incumbent retired	▌YNick Milroy (Dem.) 80.76% ▌Jeffrey Monaghan (Ind.) 18.69%	Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic hold.
74	Gary Sherman	Democratic	1998	Ran	▌YGary Sherman (Dem.) 62.38% ▌Shirl LaBarre (Rep.) 37.58%	Incumbent re-elected
75	Mary Hubler	Democratic	1984	Ran	▌Mary Hubler (Dem.) 99.03%	Incumbent re-elected
76	Terese Berceau	Democratic	1998	Ran	▌Terese Berceau (Dem.) 99.39%	Incumbent re-elected
77	Spencer Black	Democratic	1984	Ran	▌Spencer Black (Dem.) 99.40%	Incumbent re-elected
78	Mark Pocan	Democratic	1998	Ran	▌Mark Pocan (Dem.) 99.38%	Incumbent re-elected
79	Sondy Pope	Democratic	2002	Ran	▌YSondy Pope (Dem.) 66.71% ▌Carl Skalitzky (Rep.) 33.22%	Incumbent re-elected
80	Brett Davis	Republican	2004	Ran	▌YBrett Davis (Rep.) 56.10% ▌John Waelti (Dem.) 43.86%	Incumbent re-elected
81	David Travis	Democratic	1978	Incumbent retired	▌Kelda Roys (Dem.) 98.89%	Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic hold.
82	Jeff Stone	Republican	1998 (special)	Ran	▌Jeff Stone (Rep.) 99.02%	Incumbent re-elected
83	Scott Gunderson	Republican	1994	Ran	▌YScott Gunderson (Rep.) 72.97% ▌Aaron Robertson (Dem.) 26.98%	Incumbent re-elected
84	Mark Gundrum	Republican	1998	Ran	▌Mark Gundrum (Rep.) 99.46%	Incumbent re-elected
85	Donna Seidel	Democratic	2004	Ran	▌YDonna Seidel (Dem.) 64.08% ▌Jess F. Kufahl (Rep.) 35.81%	Incumbent re-elected
86	Jerry Petrowski	Republican	1998	Ran	▌YJerry Petrowski (Rep.) 55.90% ▌Nate Myszka (Dem.) 44.06%	Incumbent re-elected
87	Mary Williams	Republican	2002	Ran	▌YMary Williams (Rep.) 50.42% ▌Judy Reas (Dem.) 49.52%	Incumbent re-elected
88	James Soletski	Democratic	2006	Ran	▌YJames Soletski (Dem.) 55.86% ▌Tony Theisen (Rep.) 44.03%	Incumbent re-elected
89	John Nygren	Republican	2006	Ran	▌YJohn Nygren (Rep.) 53.54% ▌Randy Koehn (Dem.) 46.40%	Incumbent re-elected
90	Karl Van Roy	Republican	2002	Ran	▌YKarl Van Roy (Rep.) 53.70% ▌Lou Ann Weix (Dem.) 46.23%	Incumbent re-elected
91	Barbara Gronemus	Democratic	1982	Incumbent retired	▌YChris 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	Terry Musser	Republican	1984	Incumbent retired	▌YMark Radcliffe (Dem.) 53.17% ▌Dan Hellman (Rep.) 46.66%	Incumbent retired. New member elected Democratic gain.
93	Jeff Smith	Democratic	2006	Ran	▌YJeff Smith (Dem.) 59.35% ▌Darcy Fields (Rep.) 40.52%	Incumbent re-elected
94	Michael Huebsch	Republican	1994	Ran	▌YMichael Huebsch (Rep.) 54.04% ▌Cheryl Hancock (Dem.) 45.91%	Incumbent re-elected
95	Jennifer Shilling	Democratic	2000	Ran	▌Jennifer Shilling (Dem.) 97.29%	Incumbent re-elected
96	Lee Nerison	Republican	2004	Ran	▌YLee Nerison (Rep.) 51.72% ▌Dale Klemme (Dem.) 48.26%	Incumbent re-elected
97	Bill Kramer	Republican	2006	Ran	▌YBill Kramer (Rep.) 54.62% ▌Ruth Page Jones (Dem.) 45.27%	Incumbent re-elected
98	Rich Zipperer	Republican	2006	Ran	▌YRich Zipperer (Rep.) 71.88% ▌Victor Weers (Dem.) 28.07%	Incumbent re-elected
99	Don Pridemore	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 2025, 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.^[10]

See also

• 2008 Wisconsin elections
  • 2008 United States Presidential election in Wisconsin
  • 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin
  • 2008 Wisconsin Senate election
• 2008 United States elections
• Wisconsin State Assembly
• Elections in Wisconsin
• Redistricting in Wisconsin

Notes

1. First elected to the 43rd district in 1982
2. Served the 37th district from 1979–1983 and the 93rd district from 1983–1985
3. Elected to the 17th district in 1980 and 1984, the 11th in 1982, and the 10th in 1992
4. First elected as a Republican
5. Elected to Wood County's 2nd district in 1970, the 59th district in 1972, the 59th district in 1982, and the 72nd in 1984