Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
2022 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
The 2022 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Wisconsin. Incumbent Democratic Governor Tony Evers won re-election to a second term by a margin of 3.4%, defeating Republican nominee Tim Michels.
As Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes ran for the U.S. Senate in the concurrent election, a new Democratic running mate, state assemblywoman Sara Rodriguez, was nominated in the partisan primary. Barnes was the second lieutenant governor not to run with the incumbent governor since the state constitution was amended in 1967. The partisan primary was held on August 9, 2022, with businessman Tim Michels defeating former lieutenant governor Rebecca Kleefisch in the Republican primary. State senator Roger Roth received the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor.
This election result was the first since 2006 in which a Democrat in Wisconsin won with an outright majority of the vote, the first since 1990 in which the winner was from the same party as the incumbent president, and the first since 1962 in which Wisconsin voted for a Democratic governor at the same time the party held the presidency. This was also the first gubernatorial election in the state since 1998 in which the winning candidate was of a different party than the winner of the concurrent U.S. Senate election.
Evers's victory was labeled a slight upset, as he was initially elected back in 2018 by a meager 1.1%, despite 2018 being considered a much more favorable year for Democrats than 2022. In addition, many polls showed Michels in the lead in the weeks leading up to the election. According to Ron Brownstein of CNN in 2023, Evers won independent voters by 6–7 percentage points, which contributed to Michels's defeat.[1]
Evers did substantially better than Mandela Barnes did against incumbent senator Ron Johnson in suburban areas of the state in this election as well as compared to his initial election in 2018, chiefly in the "WOW" counties of Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington that form a ring around the north and west of Milwaukee, performing in line with Biden's 2020 margins. On the flip side, Michels did better in most rural areas than former governor Scott Walker had in 2018, winning the counties of Crawford, Grant, and Richland, three counties that Evers had previously won four years earlier. Michels also flipped the county of Kenosha. One exception to the trend toward Republicans in rural areas was Door County, which flipped to Evers after having voted for Walker in 2018. Notably, Evers carried the 3rd congressional district, which Republican Derrick Van Orden concurrently won after losing in 2020 to then-Representative Ron Kind; Evers also came within 0.2% of carrying the 1st congressional district.
Remove ads
Democratic primary
Summarize
Perspective
Governor
Nominee
- Tony Evers, incumbent governor (2019–present)[2]
Disqualified
Endorsements
Tony Evers
Organizations
- 314 Action[4]
- Giffords[5]
- Human Rights Campaign[6]
- Jewish Democratic Council of America[7]
- NARAL Pro-Choice America[8]
- United Rural Democrats of America[9]
Labor unions
- United Auto Workers[10]
- Wisconsin AFL–CIO[11]
Results
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
Nominee
- Sara Rodriguez, state assemblywoman from the 13th district (2021–2023)[13]
Eliminated in primary
Withdrawn
- David Bowen, state assemblyman from the 10th district (2015–2023)[15]
- Lena Taylor, state senator from the 4th district (2005–2024) and former state assemblywoman from the 18th district (2003–2005) (ran for mayor of Milwaukee)[16][17]
Declined
- Mandela Barnes, incumbent lieutenant governor (2019–2023) (ran for U.S. Senate)[18]
Endorsements
Sara Rodriguez
Statewide officials
- Barbara Lawton, former lieutenant governor of Wisconsin (2003–2011)[19]
State legislators
- Jonathan Brostoff, state representative from the 19th district (2015–2022)[20]
- Tim Carpenter, state senator from the 3rd district (2003–present)[20]
- Sue Conley, state representative from 44th district (2021–present)[20]
- Steve Doyle, state representative from the 94th district (2011–present)[20]
- Jodi Emerson, state assemblywoman from the 91st district (2019–present)[20]
- Gary Hebl, state representative from the 46th district (2005–2023)[20]
- La Tonya Johnson, state senator from the 6th district (2017–present)[20]
- Chris Larson, state senator from the 7th district (2011–present)[20]
- Nick Milroy, state representative from the 73rd district (2009–2023)[20]
- Tod Ohnstad, state representative from the 65th district (2013–2025)[20]
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, state representative (Wisconsin Assembly, District 8) and Milwaukee County Board supervisor [20]
- Daniel Riemer, state representative from the 7th district (2013–2025)[20]
- Kelda Roys, state senator from Wisconsin Senate, District 26 (2021–present)[20]
- Kristina Shelton, state representative from the 90th district (2021–present)[20]
- Christine Sinicki, state representative from the 20th district (1999–present)[20]
- Mark Spreitzer, state representative from the 45th district (2015–present)[20]
- Lisa Subeck, state representative from the 78th district (2015–present)[20]
- Don Vruwink, state assemblyman from the 43rd district (2017–2023)[20]
- Robert Wirch, state senator from Wisconsin's 22nd State Senate district (1997–present)[20]
Party officials
- Sachin Chheda, former chairman of the Milwaukee County Democratic Party[20]
- Matthew Mareno, Chairman of the Waukesha County Democratic Party[20]
- Khary Penebaker, representative to the Democratic National Committee[20]
Local officials
- Mike Hallquist, Rock County Supervisor[20]
- JoCasta Zamarripa, member of the Milwaukee Common Council[20]
Polling
Results

Rodriguez
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
Remove ads
Republican primary
Summarize
Perspective
Governor

Nominee
- Tim Michels, co-owner of the Michels Corporation and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2004[22]
Eliminated in primary
- Adam J. Fischer, former police officer and businessman[23]
- Rebecca Kleefisch, former lieutenant governor (2011–2019)[24][25]
- Timothy Ramthun, state representative for the 59th district[26]
Disqualified
Withdrawn
- Kevin Nicholson, businessman, former member of the Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2018 (remained on ballot)[28]
- Jonathan Wichmann, businessman (ran for lieutenant governor)[29]
Declined
- Sean Duffy, former U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district (2011–2019)[30][31]
- Paul Farrow, chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin (2021–2022), Waukesha County Executive (2015–present) and former state senator from the 33rd district (2013–2015)[30][32]
- Mike Gallagher, U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 8th congressional district (2017–2024) (ran for re-election)[32]
- Eric Hovde, businessman and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012[33]
- Ron Johnson, U.S. senator (2011–present) (ran for re-election)[34]
- Chris Kapenga, President of the Wisconsin Senate (2021–2025) and state senator from the 33rd district (2015–present) (ran for re-election)[35]
- John Macco, state representative for the 88th district (2015–present) (ran for re-election; endorsed Kleefisch)[36]
- Bill McCoshen, lobbyist[27][37]
- Reince Priebus, former White House Chief of Staff (2017), former chair of the Republican National Committee (2011–2017) and former chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin (2007–2011)[25]
- Tommy Thompson, former governor (1987–2001), former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (2001–2005) and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2012 (endorsed Michels)[38]
- Robin Vos, Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly (2013–present) and state representative for the 63rd district (2005–present) (ran for re-election)[39]
- Scott Walker, former governor (2011–2019) (endorsed Kleefisch)[40]
Endorsements
Rebecca Kleefisch
U.S. Executive Branch officials
- Nikki Haley, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (2017–2018)[41]
- K. T. McFarland, former Deputy National Security Advisor (2017)[42]
- Mike Pence, 48th vice president of the United States (2017–2021)[43]
- Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former White House Press Secretary (2017–2019) and nominee for Governor of Arkansas in 2022[44]
Federal officials
- Ted Cruz, U.S. senator from Texas (2013–)[45]
- Jim Sensenbrenner, former U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 5th congressional district (1979–2021)[46]
- Tom Tiffany, U.S. representative from Wisconsin's 7th congressional district (2020–)[42]
State officials
- Kim Reynolds, governor of Iowa (2017–)[47]
- Scott Walker, former governor of Wisconsin (2011–2019)[48]
State legislators
- Scott Allen, state representative from the 97th district (2015–)[49]
- David Armstrong, state representative from the 75th district (2021–)[49]
- Tyler August, speaker pro tempore of the Wisconsin State Assembly[49]
- Joan Ballweg, state senator from the 14th district (2021–2025)[49]
- Elijah Behnke, state representative from the 89th district (2021–)[49]
- Mark Born, state representative from the 39th district (2013–)[49]
- Julian Bradley, state senator from the 28th district (2021–present)[24]
- Robert Brooks, state representative from the 60th district (2015–)[49]
- Rachael Cabral-Guevara, state representative from the 55th district (2021–2025)[49]
- Calvin Callahan, state representative from the 35th district (2021–)[49]
- Robert Cowles, state senator from the 2nd district (1987–2025)[49]
- Alex Dallman, state representative from the 21st district (2021–)[49]
- Alberta Darling, state senator from the 8th district (1993–2023)[49]
- Barbara Dittrich, state representative from the 38th district (2019–)[49]
- James W. Edming, state representative from the 87th district (2015–2025)[49]
- John Jagler, state senator from the 13th district (2021–)[49]
- Terry Katsma, state representative from the 26th district (2015–2025)[49]
- Joel Kitchens, state representative from the 1st district (2015–)[49]
- Dan Knodl, state representative from the 24th district (2009–2023)[49]
- Scott Krug, state representative from the 72nd district (2011–)[49]
- Tony Kurtz, state representative from the 50th district (2019–)[49]
- Devin LeMahieu, majority leader of the Wisconsin Senate[49]
- John Macco, state representative from the 88th district (2015–2025)[36]
- Gae Magnafici, state representative from the 28th district (2019–2025)[49]
- Howard Marklein, state senator from the 17th district (2015–)[49]
- Clint Moses, state representative from the 29th district (2021–)[49]
- Dave Murphy, state representative from the 56th district (2013–)[49]
- Jeffrey Mursau, state representative from the 36th district (2005–)[49]
- Stephen Nass, state senator from the 11th district (2015–)[49]
- Adam Neylon, state representative from the 98th district (2013–)[49]
- Todd Novak, state representative from the 51st district (2015–)[49]
- Loren Oldenburg, state representative from the 96th district (2019–2025)[49]
- William Penterman, state representative from the 37th district (2021–)[49]
- Kevin David Petersen, state representative from the 40th district (2007–)[49]
- Jon Plumer, state representative from the 42nd district (2018–2025)[49]
- Treig Pronschinske, state representative from the 92nd district (2017–)[49]
- Jessie Rodriguez, state representative from the 21st district (2013–)[49]
- Donna Rozar, state representative from the 69th district (2021–2025)[49]
- Michael Schraa, state representative from the 53rd district (2013–2025)[49]
- Ken Skowronski, state representative from the 82nd district (2014–2023)[49]
- Patrick Snyder, state representative from the 85th district (2017–)[49]
- Shae Sortwell, state representative from the 2nd district (2019–)[49]
- John Spiros, state representative from the 86th district (2013–)[49]
- Rob Stafsholt, state senator from the 10th district (2021–)[49]
- David Steffen, state representative from the 4th district (2015–)[49]
- Jim Steineke, majority leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly[49]
- Rob Summerfield, state representative from the 67th district (2017–)[49]
- Rob Swearingen, state representative from the 34th district (2013–)[49]
- Gary Tauchen, state representative from the 6th district (2007–2023)[49]
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt, state representative from the 52nd district (2011–2023)[49]
- Paul Tittl, state representative from the 25th district (2013–)[49]
- Travis Tranel, state representative from the 49th district (2011–)[49]
- Ron Tusler, state representative from the 3rd district (2017–)[49]
- Robin Vos, Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly[49]
- Van H. Wanggaard, state senator from the 21st district (2011–2012, 2015–)[49]
- Chuck Wichgers, state representative from the 83rd district (2017–)[49]
- Robert Wittke, state representative from the 62nd district (2019–)[49]
- Shannon Zimmerman, state representative from the 30th district (2017–)[49]
Sheriffs
- 39 county sheriffs[50]
Local officials
- 101 local officials[51]
Individuals
- Grover Norquist, founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform[52]
- Ted Nugent, singer and activist[42]
Organizations
- American Conservative Union[53]
- Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin[54]
- Milwaukee Police Association[55]
- Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America Candidate Fund[56]
- Wisconsin Family Action PAC[57]
- Wisconsin Fraternal Order of Police[58]
- Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce[59]
- Wisconsin Right to Life[60]
- Wisconsin Young Republicans[61]
Tim Michels
U.S. Executive Branch officials
- Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States (2017–2021)[62]
Statewide officials
- Tommy Thompson, former governor of Wisconsin (1987–2001)[63]
Organizations
- Save America PAC[64]
- Wisconsin Right to Life[60]
Kevin Nicholson (withdrew)
Timothy Ramthun
Federal officials
- Michael Flynn, former United States National Security Advisor (2017), former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (2012–2014) (Democrat)[citation needed]
Individuals
- Mike Lindell, founder and CEO of My Pillow[citation needed]
Declined to endorse
Organizations
Polling
Graphical summary
![]() | This graph was using the legacy Graph extension, which is no longer supported. It needs to be converted to the new Chart extension. |
Results

Michels
- 30-40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
Kleefisch
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
Nominee
- Roger Roth, state senator from the 19th district (2015–2023)[78]
Eliminated in primary
- David D. King, businessman and perennial candidate[79]
- Will Martin, former Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development official[80]
- Patrick Testin, state senator from the 24th district (2017–present)[81]
- David Varnam, mayor of Lancaster (2016–present)[79]
- Cindy Werner, businesswoman and candidate for Wisconsin's 4th congressional district in 2018 and 2020[79]
- Jonathan Wichmann, businessman[29]
- Kyle Yudes, activist[82]
Withdrawn
- Ben Voelkel, former aide to U.S. senator Ron Johnson[83][84]
Endorsements
Will Martin
Local officials
- David DeGroot, Mount Pleasant board of trustees president[85]
- Jonathan Delegrave, Racine County executive[85]
- Patricia Hansen, Racine County district attorney[85]
- Don Houston, Waterford board of trustees president[85]
- Jean Jacobson, former Racine County executive[85]
- Thomas Kramer, Racine County board vice chair[85]
- Claude Lois, former Burlington mayor[85]
- William McReynolds, former Racine County sheriff[85]
- Thomas Roanhouse, Racine County board chair[85]
- Christopher Schmaling, Racine County sheriff[85]
- Steve Wicklund, Union Grove board of trustees president[85]
Patrick Testin
State senators
- Kathy Bernier, state senator from the 23rd district (2019–2023)[86]
- Julian Bradley, state senator from the 28th district (2021–)[86]
- Alberta Darling, state senator from the 8th district (1993–2023)[86]
- Dan Feyen, state senator from the 18th district (2017–)[86]
- Sheila Harsdorf, former state senator from the 10th district (2001–2017)[86]
- John Jagler, state senator from the 13th district (2021–)[86]
- Dan Kapanke, former state senator from the 32nd district (2005–2011)[86]
- Stephen Nass, state senator from the 11th district (2015–)[86]
- Luther Olsen, former state senator from the 14th district (2005–2021)[86]
- Van Wanggaard, state senator from the 21st district (2015–)[86]
State assemblymembers
- David Armstrong, state assemblyman from the 75th district[86]
- Calvin Callahan, state assemblyman from the 35h district (2021–)[86]
- Alex Dallman, state assemblyman from the 41st district (2021–)[86]
- Barbara Dittrich, state assemblyman from the 38th district (2019–)[86]
- James W. Edming, state assemblyman from the 87th district (2015–2025)[86]
- Mike Huebsch, state assemblyman from the 94th district[86]
- Jesse James, state assemblyman from the 68th district[86]
- Joel Kitchens, state assemblyman from the 1st district (2015–)[86]
- Scott Krug, state assemblyman from the 72nd district (2011–)[86]
- Mike Kuglitsch, state assemblyman from the 84th district (2011–2022)[86]
- Bob Kulp, former state assemblyman from the 69th district (2013–2021)[86]
- Tony Kurtz, state assemblyman from the 50th district (2019–)[86]
- John Macco, state assemblyman from the 88th district (2015–2025)[86]
- Gae Magnafici, state assemblywoman from the 28th district (2019–2025)[86]
- Jeffrey Mursau, state assemblyman from the 36th district (2005–)[86]
- Todd Novak, state assemblyman from the 51st district (2015–)[86]
- Loren Oldenburg, state assemblyman from the 96th district (2019–2025)[86]
- Jon Plumer, state assemblyman from the 42nd district (2018–2025)[86]
- Jessie Rodriguez, state assemblywoman from the 21st district (2013–)[86]
- Joe Sanfelippo, state assemblyman from the 15th district (2013–2023)[86]
- Ken Skowronski, state assemblyman from the 82nd district (2014–2023)[86]
- Patrick Snyder, state assemblyman from the 85th district (2017–)[86]
- John Spiros, state assemblyman from the 86th district (2013–)[86]
- Jim Steineke, majority leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly[86]
- Rob Swearingen, state assemblyman from the 34th district (2013–)[86]
- Gary Tauchen, state assemblyman from the 6th district (2007–2023)[86]
- Paul Tittl, state assemblyman from the 25th district (2013–)[86]
- Ron Tusler, state assemblyman from the 3rd district (2017–)[86]
- Robert Wittke, state assemblyman from the 62nd district (2019–)[86]
Organizations
David Varnam
Jonathan Wichmann
Federal officials
- Michael Flynn, former United States National Security Advisor (2017), former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (2012–2014) (Democrat)[89]
Organizations
- Stand for Health Freedom[90]
Declined to endorse
Organizations
Results

Roth
- 10-20%
- 20-30%
- 30-40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
Testin
- 10–20%
- 20–30%
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
Werner
- 20–30%
Wichmann
- 10–20%
Yudes
- 20–30%
Varnam
- 10–20%
- 40–50%
Remove ads
Independents
Candidates
Withdrawn
General election
Summarize
Perspective
Predictions
Post-primary endorsements
Tony Evers (D)
U.S. Executive Branch officials
- Joe Biden, 46th president of the United States (2021–2025)[102]
- Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States (2009–2017)[103]
U.S. senators[104]
- Tammy Baldwin, U.S. senator from Wisconsin (2013–present)[105]
- Elizabeth Warren, U.S. senator from Massachusetts (2013–present)[105]
U.S. representatives
- Ron Kind, former U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district (1997–2023)[106]
- Gwen Moore, U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 4th congressional district (2005–present)[107]
- Mark Pocan, U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district (2013–present)[108]
Statewide officials
- Josh Kaul, Attorney General of Wisconsin (2019–present)[109]
- J. B. Pritzker, Governor of Illinois (2019–present)[110]
State legislators[109]
- Melissa Agard, state senator for the 16th district (2021–2025)[111]
- Jill Billings, state assembly member for the 95th district (2011–present)[112]
- Jodi Emerson, state assembly member for the 91st district (2019–present)
- Dave Hansen, state senator for the 30th district (2001–2021)[113]
- Gary Hebl, state assembly member for the 46th district (2005–2023)[111]
- Brad Pfaff, state senator for the 32nd district (2021–present)
- Jeff Smith, state senator for the 31st district (2019–present)
Local officials
- Paul Esser, Mayor of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin[111]
- Cavalier Johnson, Mayor of Milwaukee (2021–present)[107]
Organizations
- End Citizens United[114]
- Everytown for Gun Safety[115]
- Fair Wisconsin[116]
- Feminist Majority PAC[115]
- League of Conservation Voters – Wisconsin[115]
- Let America Vote[114]
- MoveOn[115]
- Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin[117]
- Working Families Party[115]
Labor unions
Newspapers
Tim Michels (R)
U.S. senators
- Ron Johnson, U.S. senator from Wisconsin (2011–present)[121]
U.S. representatives
- Bryan Steil, U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 1st congressional district (2019–present)[122]
Statewide officials
- Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida (2019–present)[123]
- Michael Gableman, Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court (2008–2018)[124]
- Rebecca Kleefisch, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin (2011–2019)[125]
- Scott Walker, Governor of Wisconsin (2011–2019)[126]
- Glenn Youngkin, Governor of Virginia (2022–present)[127]
State legislators
- Don Pridemore, state assemblymember for the 22nd district (2011–2015) and the 99th district (2005–2011)[128]
Individuals
- Joan Ellis Beglinger, retired nurse, hospital administrator, and former Independent candidate for Governor of Wisconsin in 2022[92]
- Diane Hendricks, businesswoman[129]
Organizations
- Club for Growth[130]
- Dairy Business Association[131]
- Milwaukee Police Association[132]
- National Federation of Independent Business – Wisconsin[133]
- NRA Political Victory Fund[134][135]
- Tavern League of Wisconsin[136]
- Wisconsin Farm Bureau[137]
- Wisconsin Troopers Association[138]
Polling
Aggregate polls
Graphical summary
![]() | This graph was using the legacy Graph extension, which is no longer supported. It needs to be converted to the new Chart extension. |
Hypothetical polling
Tony Evers vs. Rebecca Kleefisch
Tony Evers vs. Tim Ramthun
Tony Evers vs. Kevin Nicholson
Tony Evers vs. Jonathan Wichmann
Tony Evers vs. generic Republican
Debates
Results
By county
By congressional district
Despite losing, Michels won 5 out of 8 congressional districts. Evers won 3 of 8 congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.[177]
Remove ads
See also
Notes
Summarize
Perspective
Partisan clients
- This poll was sponsored by 314 Action Fund, which supports Rodriguez for lieutenant governor
Remove ads
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads