Mayoral elections in Madison, Wisconsin

Nonpartisan elections are currently held every four years to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin.

1874

1874 Madison mayoral election^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
General Election, April 7, 1874
	Democratic	Silas U. Pinney	1,015	66.78
	Republican	Hiram Giles	505	33.22
Plurality			510	33.55
Total votes			1,520	100
	Democratic hold

1875

Silas U. Pinney was re-elected in 1875.

1876

1876 Madison mayoral election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
General Election, April 4, 1876
	Democratic	John N. Jones	879	50.84
	Independent Democrat	Silas U. Pinney (incumbent)	850	49.16
Plurality			29	1.68
Total votes			1,729	100
	Democratic hold

1969 and 1971

William Dyke was elected in both 1969 and 1971

1973

Paul Soglin (a member of the Madison Common Council) won an upset victory over incumbent mayor William Dyke.^[3]

1973 Madison mayoral election^[4][3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Primary Election, March 6, 1973
	Nonpartisan	William Dyke (incumbent)	16,243	36.16
	Nonpartisan	Paul Soglin	11,485	25.56
	Nonpartisan	David Stewart	10,350	23.04
	Nonpartisan	Leo Cooper	6,150	13.69
	Nonpartisan	R. Whelan Burke	283	0.63
	Nonpartisan	David Robb	161	0.36
	Nonpartisan	Joseph Kraemer	122	0.27
	Nonpartisan	Mark Gregersen	27	0.06
		Scattering	105	0.23
Total votes			44,926	100
General Election, April 3, 1973
	Nonpartisan	Paul Soglin	37,548	52.35
	Nonpartisan	William Dyke (incumbent)	34,179	47.65
Plurality			3,369	4.70
Total votes			71,727	100

1977

Paul Soglin won re-election.

1981, 1985

1989, 1993, and 1995

Former mayor Paul Soglin was returned to office in 1989, and was re-elected twice consecutively thereafter.

1997 (special)

Madison mayoral special election, 1997

← 1995 February 17, 1997 (primary)[5] April 1, 1997 (general)[6] 1999 →
Turnout	26% reg. voters[a] 3 pp (primary) 32% reg. voters 2 pp (general)
Candidate Susan J. M. Bauman Wayne Bigelow Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 25,455 25,389 Percentage 49.23% 49.10%
Mayor before election Paul Soglin Democratic Elected mayor Susan J. M. Bauman Democratic

The 1997 Madison mayoral special election was held February 17 and April 1, 1997, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It was held after the resignation of incumbent mayor Paul Soglin. It saw the election of Susan J. M. Bauman.

Candidates

• Ray Allen, Madison School Board member^[7]
• Richard H. Anderson
• Susan J. M. Bauman, alderperson on the Madison Common Council
• Wayne Bigelow, President of the Madison Common Council^[8]
• John Hendrick, Supervisor on the Dane County Board since 1994^[9]
• Mary Lang-Sollinger, community activist and political fundraiser^[10]
• Tom Neale
• David Travis, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly

Results

The February county and city primaries saw 42,483 ballots cast in Madison, reported as a turnout of 26%^[11] (compared to election-eve voter registration).

1997 Madison mayoral primary results^[11][5]

Candidate		Votes	%
Wayne Bigelow		9,332	22.38
Susan J. M. Bauman		9,100	21.82
Ray Allen		7,954	19.07
John Hendrick		6,875	16.49
David Travis		4,588	11.00
Mary Lang-Sollinger		3,513	8.42
Richard H. Anderson		198	0.48
Tom Neale		145	0.35
Total votes		41,695	100
Undervotes		788	1.85
Voter turnout		25%

The April county and city general elections saw 52,619 ballots cast in Madison, reported as a turnout of 32%^[11] (compared to election-eve voter registration).

1997 Madison mayoral general election results^[11][6]

Candidate		Votes	%
Susan J. M. Bauman		25,455	49.23
Wayne Bigelow		25,389	49.10
Denis Collins write-in		462	0.89
Other write-ins		398	0.76
Total votes		51,704	100
Undervotes		915	1.74
Voter turnout		32%

1999

Madison mayoral election, 1999

← 1997 (special) April 9, 1999[12] 2003 →
Turnout	31% reg. voters[a] 1 pp
Candidate Susan J. M. Bauman Eugene Parks Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 35,204 8,294 Percentage 80.04% 18.85%
Mayor before election Susan J. M. Bauman Democratic Elected mayor Susan J. M. Bauman Democratic

The 1999 Madison mayoral election was held April 9, 1999, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Susan J. M. Bauman.

Since only two candidates ran, no primary was held.

Results

The April county and city general saw 45,248 ballots cast in Madison, reported as a turnout of 31%^[11] (compared to election-eve voter registration).

1999 Madison mayoral general election results^[11][13]

Candidate		Votes	%
Susan J. M. Bauman (incumbent)		35,204	80.04
Eugene Parks		8,294	18.85
Write-ins		483	1.09
Total votes		43,981	100
Undervotes		1,267	2.80
Voter turnout		31%

2003

2003 Madison mayoral election

← 1999 February 20, 2003 (primary)[12] April 4, 2003 (general)[12] 2007 →
Turnout	26% reg. voters[a] (primary) 38% reg. voters 7 pp (general)
Candidate Dave Cieslewicz Paul Soglin Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 29,717 28,528 Percentage 50.76% 48.73%
Mayor before election Susan J. M. Bauman Democratic Elected mayor Dave Cieslewicz Democratic

The 2003 Madison mayoral election was held February 20 and April 4, 2003, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw the election of Dave Cieslewicz. Incumbent mayor Susan J. M. Bauman was eliminated in the primary.

Candidates

• Susan J. M. Bauman, incumbent mayor
• Dave Cieslewicz, former member of the Dane County Board of Supervisors
• Davy Mayer
• Will Sandstrom
• Paul R. Soglin, former mayor
• Bert G. Zipperer

Results

2003 Madison mayoral primary results^[11][14]

Candidate		Votes	%
Dave Cieslewicz		14,326	35.16
Paul R. Soglin		14,144	34.72
Bert G. Zipperer		6,610	16.22
Susan J. M. Bauman (incumbent)		4,681	11.49
Will Sandstrom		492	1.20
Davy Mayer		389	0.95
Write-ins		92	0.22
Total votes		40,734	100
Undervotes		245	0.60
Voter turnout		26%

2003 Madison mayoral general election results^[11][15]

Candidate		Votes	%
Dave Cieslewicz		29,717	50.76
Paul R. Soglin		28,528	48.73
Write-ins		291	0.49
Total votes		58,536	100
Undervotes		555	1.35
Voter turnout		38%

2007

2007 Madison mayoral election

← 2003 February 22, 2007 (primary)[12] April 5, 2007 (general)[12] 2011 →
Turnout	17% reg. voters[a] 9 pp (primary) 30% reg. voters 2 pp (general)
Candidate Dave Cieslewicz Ray Allen Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 30,812 18,816 Percentage 61.78% 37.72%
Mayor before election Dave Cieslewicz Democratic Elected mayor Dave Cieslewicz Democratic

The 2007 Madison mayoral election was held February 22 and April 5, 2007, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Dave Cieslewicz.

Candidates

• Ray Allen, Madison School Board member^[7] and 1997 mayoral candidate
• Dave Cieslewicz, incumbent mayor
• Peter Munoz
• Will Sandstrom, 2003 mayoral candidate

Results

2007 Madison mayoral primary results^[11][16]

Candidate		Votes	%
Dave Cieslewicz (incumbent)		15,488	57.50
Ray Allen		8,042	29.86
Peter Munoz		2,661	9.88
Will Sandstrom		641	2.38
Write-ins		100	0.37
Total votes		26,932	100
Undervotes		300	1.10
Voter turnout		17%

2007 Madison mayoral general election results^[11][17]

Candidate		Votes	%
Dave Cieslewicz (incumbent)		30,812	61.78
Ray Allen		18,816	37.72
Write-ins		244	0.48
Total votes		49,872	100
Undervotes		1,519	3.14
Voter turnout		30%

2011

2011 Madison mayoral election

← 2007 February 15, 2011 (primary)[12] April 5, 2011 (general)[12] 2015 →
Turnout	22% reg. voters[a] 5 pp (primary) 54% reg. voters 24 pp (general)
Candidate Paul Soglin Dave Cieslewicz Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 44,542 43,829 Percentage 49.76% 48.96%
Mayor before election Dave Cieslewicz Democratic Elected mayor Paul Soglin Democratic

The 2011 Madison mayoral election was held April 4, 2003, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw former mayor Paul Soglin return to the mayoralty by unseating incumbent mayor Dave Cieslewicz.

The primary and general election both coincided with those for a high-profile state supreme court race.

Candidates

• John Blotz
• Dave Cieslewicz, incumbent mayor
• Dennis Amadeus de Nure
• Nick Hart
• Paul R. Soglin, former mayor

Results

2011 Madison mayoral primary results^{[11] [18]}

Candidate		Votes	%
Paul R. Soglin		18,693	49.49
Dave Cieslewicz (incumbent)		17,500	46.33
Nick Hart		598	1.58
John Blotz		569	1.50
Dennis Amadeus de Nure		274	0.72
Write-ins		137	0.36
Total votes		37,771	100
Undervotes		818	2.12
Voter turnout		22%

2011 Madison mayoral general election results^{[11] [19]}

Candidate		Votes	%
Paul R. Soglin		44,542	49.76
Dave Cieslewicz (incumbent)		43,829	48.96
Write-ins		1,133	1.26
Total votes		89,504	100
Undervotes		4,472	4.76
Voter turnout		54%

2015

2015 Madison mayoral election

← 2011 February 17, 2015 (primary)[12] April 7, 2015 (general)[12] 2019 →
Turnout	12% reg. voters[a] 10 pp (primary) 30% reg. voters 20 pp (general)
Candidate Paul Soglin Scott Resnick Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 37,734 14,195 Percentage 72.0% 27.1%
Mayor before election Paul Soglin Democratic Elected mayor Paul Soglin Democratic

The 2015 Madison mayoral election was held February 17 and April 7, 2015, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Paul Soglin.

Candidates

• Richard V. Brown Sr.
• Christopher Daly
• Bridget Maniaci, former 2nd district member of the Madison Common Council (2009–2013)^[20][21]
• Scott Resnick, 8th district member of the Madison Common Council since 2011 and tech executive
• Paul Soglin, incumbent mayor

Results

2015 Madison mayoral primary results^[11][22]

Candidate		Votes	%
Paul R. Soglin (incumbent)		11,856	52.8
Scott Resnick		5,223	23.3
Bridget Maniaci		3,311	14.7
Richard V. Brown, Sr.		1,034	4.6
Christopher Daly		973	4.3
Write-ins		63	0.3
Total votes		22,460	100
Undervotes
Voter turnout		12%

2015 Madison mayoral general election results^[11][23]

Candidate		Votes	%
Paul R. Soglin (incumbent)		37,734	72.0
Scott Resnick		14,195	27.1
Write-ins		506	1.0
Total votes		52,435	100
Undervotes		1,812	3.34
Voter turnout		30%

2019

2019 Madison mayoral election

← 2015 February 19, 2019 (primary)[12] April 2, 2019 (general)[12] 2023 →
Turnout	21% reg. voters[a] 9 pp (primary) 44% reg. voters 14 pp (general)
Candidate Satya Rhodes-Conway Paul Soglin Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 47,915 29,150 Percentage 61.9% 37.7%
Mayor before election Paul Soglin Democratic Elected mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway Democratic

The 2019 Madison mayoral election was held February 19 and April 2, 2019, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw the election of Satya Rhodes-Conway, who unseated incumbent mayor Paul Soglin. Conway became the second woman and the first openly-gay individual elected mayor in the city's history.^[24][25]

Candidates

• Maurice "Mo" Cheeks, 10th district member of the Madison Common Council since 2013 and Vice President of Business Development at MIOsoft^[26]
• Nick Hart
• Satya Rhodes-Conway, former 12th district member of the Madison Common Council
• Raj Shukla
• Paul Soglin, incumbent mayor

Results

2019 Madison mayoral primary results^[11][27]

Candidate		Votes	%
Paul R. Soglin (incumbent)		10,771	28.6
Satya Rhodes-Conway		10,448	27.7
Mo Cheeks		8,801	23.3
Raj Shukla		6,954	18.4
Nick Hart		386	1.0
Write-ins		346	0.9
Total votes		37,706	100
Undervotes		47	0.12
Voter turnout		21%

2019 Madison mayoral general election results^[11][28]

Candidate		Votes	%
Satya Rhodes-Conway		47,915	61.9
Paul R. Soglin (incumbent)		29,150	37.7
Write-ins		311	0.4
Total votes		77,376	100
Undervotes		2,077	2.61
Voter turnout		44%

2023

2023 Madison mayoral election

← 2019 February 21, 2023 (primary) April 4, 2023 (general) 2027 →
Turnout	21% reg. voters[a] 18 pp (primary) 63% reg. voters 19 pp (general)
Candidate Satya Rhodes-Conway Gloria Reyes Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 63,066 50,402 Percentage 55.2% 44.1%
Results by alderman district Conway   50–60%   60–70% Reyes   50–60%
Mayor before election Satya Rhodes-Conway Nonpartisan Elected mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway Nonpartisan

Rhodes-Conway at a campaign party on the night of the primary election

The 2023 Madison mayoral election was held on April 4, 2023, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin.

A primary election was held on February 21, 2023, to narrow down the candidates to two. It saw record turnout due to the concurrent primary for the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Satya Rhodes-Conway and Gloria Reyes qualified for the general election, while Scott Kerr was eliminated. Daniel Howell Jr., a write-in candidate, planned on running as a write-in candidate for the general election in addition to the primary.^[29]

Candidates

• Daniel Howell Jr., caseworker and former Wisconsin Badgers football player (write-in)^[30]
• Scott Kerr, traffic engineer^[31] (endorsed Reyes in the runoff)^[32][33]
• Gloria Reyes, former deputy mayor and president of the Madison Board of Education^[34]
• Satya Rhodes-Conway, incumbent mayor

Forums

2023 Madison mayoral candidate forums^[35]

No.	Date	Host	Link	Nonpartisan	Nonpartisan	Nonpartisan	Nonpartisan
Key:  P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  O  Out of race
				Daniel Howell Jr.	Scott Kerr	Gloria Reyes	Satya Rhodes-Conway
1	January 30, 2023	Community associations[b]	YouTube	N	P	P	P
2	January 31, 2023	Urban League of Greater Madison[c]	YouTube	N	P	P	P
3	February 27, 2023	Wisconsin Policy Forum[d]	YouTube	N	O	P	P

Endorsements

Satya Rhodes-Conway

U.S. Representatives

• Mark Pocan, WI-2 (2013–present)^[36]

County officials

• Richard Kilmer, former Dane County supervisor from the 4th district (2016–2020)^[37]
• Patrick Miles, chair of the Dane County Board of Supervisors from the 34th district (2006–present)^[36]
• Joe Parisi, Dane County executive (2011–present) and former Wisconsin state assemblyman from the 48th district (2005–2011)^[36]

Madison alders

• Juliana Bennett, 8th ward (2021–present)^[37]
• Patrick Heck, 2nd ward (2019–present)^[37]
• Sabrina Madison, 17th ward (2022–present)^[36]
• Erik Paulson, 3rd ward (2022–present)^[37]
• Mike Verveer, 4th ward (1995–present)^[37]

Madison school board members

• Savion Castro, 2nd ward (2019–present)^[36]
• Ali Muldrow, 4th ward (2019–present)^[36]
• Nicki Vander Meulen, 7th ward (2017–present)^[36]

Editorial boards

• The Badger Herald^[38]
• The Capital Times^[39]

Labor unions

• American Federation of Teachers Wisconsin^[40]
• Madison Teachers Incorporated^[41]
• Wisconsin AFL-CIO^[42]

Organizations

• 314 Action^[43]
• Citizen Action of Wisconsin - affiliate of People's Action^[44]
• EMILY's List^[45]
• Fair Wisconsin PAC^[46]
• LGBTQ Victory Fund^[47]
• LPAC^[37][48]
• Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin - affiliate of Planned Parenthood Action Fund^[49]
• Progressive Change Campaign Committee^[50]
• Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters^[51]

Political Parties

• Dane County Democratic Party (co-endorsement with Reyes)^[52]

Gloria Reyes

County officials

• Kalvin Barrett, Dane County Sheriff (2021–present)^[36]

Local officials

• David Couper, former Chief of the Madison Police Department (1972–1993)^[36]
• Christina Gomez Schmidt, Madison school board member from the 6th ward (2004–2023)^[36]
• Barbara Harrington-McKinney, Madison alder from the 1st ward (2015–2023)^[48]
• Ananda Mirilli, former Madison school board member from the 5th ward (2019–2022)^[36]
• Paul Soglin, former mayor of Madison (1973–1979, 1989–1997, and 2011–2019)^[36]
• Noble Wray, former Chief of the Madison Police Department (2004–2013)^[36]

Editorial boards

• Wisconsin State Journal^[33]

Labor unions

• Madison Professional Police Officers Association^[53]

Political parties

• Dane County Democratic Party (co-endorsement with Rhodes-Conway)^[52]

Results

2023 Madison mayoral primary results^[11][54]

Candidate		Votes	%
Satya Rhodes-Conway (incumbent)		43,822	59.5
Gloria Reyes		20,507	27.9
Scott Kerr		8,658	11.8
Write-ins[e]		608	0.8
Total votes		73,595	100
Undervotes		2,141	2.83
Voter turnout		39%

2023 Madison mayoral runoff results^[11][55]

Candidate		Votes	%
Satya Rhodes-Conway (incumbent)		63,066	55.2
Gloria Reyes		50,402	44.1
Write-ins		755	0.7
Total votes		114,223	100
Undervotes		6,170	5.12
Voter turnout		63%

Notes

1. Wisconsin allows same-day voter registration. "Registered voters" election turnout is calculated by dividing the ballots cast (a figure that includes ballots cast voters who registered day-of on Election Day) by the voter registration as it stood on the eve of Election Day (a total which excludes day-of voters).
2. Hosted by Midvale Heights Community Association, Sunset Village Community Association, Regent Neighborhood Association, Westmorland Neighborhood Association, Summit Woods Neighborhood Association, University Hill Farms Association, and Crawford Marlborough Nakoma Neighborhood.
3. Co-hosted by NAACP Dane County Branch, 100 Black Men of Madison, and Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement.
4. Co-hosted by Downtown Madison, Inc.
5. Includes Daniel Howell Jr., who ran as a write-in candidate.