2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin

The 2006 congressional elections in Wisconsin were held on November 7, 2006, to determine who would represent the state of Wisconsin in the United States House of Representatives. Representatives were elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 110th Congress from January 3, 2007, until January 3, 2009. The election coincided with the 2006 U.S. senatorial election and the 2006 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin

← 2004 November 7, 2006 2008 →
All 8 Wisconsin seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic Republican Last election 4 4 Seats won 5 3 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 1,003,156 1,040,071 Percentage 48.62% 50.41% Swing 0.32 1.91
District results County results Democratic   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90% Republican   50–60%   60–70%   80–90%   90–100%

Wisconsin had eight seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Its 2006-2007 congressional delegation consisted of four Democrats and four Republicans. That changed after the 2006 congressional elections in Wisconsin when the open 8th congressional district formerly held by Republican Mark Green, was won by Democratic Representative Steve Kagen.

Wisconsin was one of seven states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2006, the other states being Indiana, Nevada, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, and New Mexico.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, 2006[1]
Party		Votes	Percentage	Seats	+/–
	Republican	1,040,071	50.41%	3	-1
	Democratic	1,003,156	48.62%	5	+1
	Independents	20,186	0.98%	0	—
Totals		2,063,413	100.00%	8	—

District 1

2006 Wisconsin's 1st congressional district election

← 2004 2008 →

Nominee Paul Ryan Jeffrey C. Thomas Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 161,320 95,761 Percentage 62.63% 37.17%

Precinct results Ryan:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90% Thomas:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Tie:      50%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Paul Ryan Republican Elected U.S. Representative Paul Ryan Republican

See also: Wisconsin's 1st congressional district

Incumbent Republican Congressman Paul Ryan has represented this swing district in southeast Wisconsin since his initial election in 1998. Though this district only barely went to President George W. Bush in 2004, defeating Congressman Ryan was not a priority for the Democratic Party, and the Democratic nominee was former Janesville City Councilman and perennial candidate Jeff Thomas, whom Ryan was able to handily beat, even in an unfavorable election year for Republicans.

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[2]	Safe R	November 6, 2006
Rothenberg[3]	Safe R	November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4]	Safe R	November 6, 2006
Real Clear Politics[5]	Safe R	November 7, 2006
CQ Politics[6]	Safe R	November 7, 2006

Wisconsin's 1st congressional district election, 2006

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Paul Ryan (inc.)	161,320	62.63
	Democratic	Jeffrey C. Thomas	95,761	37.17
	Write-ins		515	0.20
Total votes			257,596	100.00
	Republican hold

District 2

2006 Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election

← 2004 2008 →

Nominee Tammy Baldwin Dave Magnum Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 191,420 113,015 Percentage 62.82% 37.09%

Precinct results Baldwin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Magnum:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      50%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Tammy Baldwin Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin Democratic

See also: Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, the only openly lesbian member of Congress, has represented this deep-blue district located in Madison and vicinity since 1999. This year, Baldwin was able to win a fifth term in a rematch from 2004 against Republican candidate Dave Magnum.

Endorsements

Tammy Baldwin

Individuals

• Wesley Clark General, 2004 democratic, presidential candidate^[7]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[2]	Safe D	November 6, 2006
Rothenberg[3]	Safe D	November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4]	Safe D	November 6, 2006
Real Clear Politics[5]	Safe D	November 7, 2006
CQ Politics[6]	Safe D	November 7, 2006

Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 2006

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tammy Baldwin (inc.)	191,420	62.82
	Republican	Dave Magnum	113,015	37.09
	Write-ins		259	0.20
Total votes			304,688	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 3

2006 Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district election

← 2004 2008 →

Nominee Ron Kind Paul R. Nelson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 163,322 88,523 Percentage 64.9% 35.1%

County results Kind:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Precinct results Kind:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Nelson:      50–60%      60–70%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      50%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Ron Kind Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Ron Kind Democratic

See also: Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district

Democratic Congressman Ron Kind has represented this western Wisconsin-based district since he was first elected in 1996 and sought a sixth term this year against Republican nominee Paul Nelson. Congressman Kind was successful and won another term in Congress.

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[2]	Safe D	November 6, 2006
Rothenberg[3]	Safe D	November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4]	Safe D	November 6, 2006
Real Clear Politics[5]	Safe D	November 7, 2006
CQ Politics[6]	Safe D	November 7, 2006

Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district election, 2006

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ron Kind (inc.)	163,322	64.79
	Republican	Paul R. Nelson	88,523	35.12
	Write-ins		242	0.10
Total votes			252,087	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 4

2006 Wisconsin's 4th congressional district election

← 2004 2008 →

Nominee Gwen Moore Perfecto Rivera Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 136,735 54,486 Percentage 71.31% 28.42%

Precinct results Moore:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Rivera:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Tie:      50%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Gwen Moore Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Gwen Moore Democratic

See also: Wisconsin's 4th congressional district

Freshman Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Moore ran for a second term in this district based in the city of Milwaukee. Congresswoman Moore faced Republican candidate Perfecto Rivera, whom she was easily able to dispatch with to return to Washington for another term.

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[2]	Safe D	November 6, 2006
Rothenberg[3]	Safe D	November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4]	Safe D	November 6, 2006
Real Clear Politics[5]	Safe D	November 7, 2006
CQ Politics[6]	Safe D	November 7, 2006

Wisconsin's 4th congressional district election, 2006

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gwen Moore (inc.)	136,735	71.31
	Republican	Perfecto Rivera	54,486	28.42
	Write-ins		521	0.27
Total votes			191,742	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 5

2006 Wisconsin's 5th congressional district election

← 2004 2008 →

Nominee Jim Sensenbrenner Bryan Kennedy Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 194,669 112,451 Percentage 61.76% 35.68%

Precinct results Sensenbrenner:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Kennedy:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      40–50%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Jim Sensenbrenner Republican Elected U.S. Representative Jim Sensenbrenner Republican

See also: Wisconsin's 5th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, who has represented this solidly conservative district based in the northern suburbs of Milwaukee since 1979, ran for a fifteenth term this year. Congressman Sensenbrenner faced Democratic candidate Bryan Kennedy, who was able to perform surprisingly well in this district, though he ultimately fell to Sensenbrenner in the general election.

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[2]	Safe R	November 6, 2006
Rothenberg[3]	Safe R	November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4]	Safe R	November 6, 2006
Real Clear Politics[5]	Safe R	November 7, 2006
CQ Politics[6]	Safe R	November 7, 2006

Wisconsin's 5th congressional district election, 2006

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Sensenbrenner (inc.)	194,669	61.76
	Democratic	Bryan Kennedy	112,451	35.68
	Green	Bob Levis	4,432	1.41
	Independent	Robert R. Raymond	3,525	1.12
	Write-ins		103	0.03
Total votes			315,180	100.00
	Republican hold

District 6

See also: Wisconsin's 6th congressional district

Facing no major-party opposition, incumbent Republican Congressman Tom Petri was easily able to retain his seat for a fourteenth term in this heavily conservative district located in the cities of Oshkosh and Neenah.

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[2]	Safe R	November 6, 2006
Rothenberg[3]	Safe R	November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4]	Safe R	November 6, 2006
Real Clear Politics[5]	Safe R	November 7, 2006
CQ Politics[6]	Safe R	November 7, 2006

Wisconsin's 6th congressional district election, 2006

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tom Petri (inc.)	201,367	98.92
	Write-ins		2,190	1.08
Total votes			203,557	100.00
	Republican hold

District 7

2006 Wisconsin's 7th congressional district election

← 2004 2008 →

Nominee Dave Obey Nick Reid Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 161,903 91,069 Percentage 62.17% 34.97%

County results Obey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Precinct results Obey:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Reid:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      40–50%      50%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Dave Obey Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Dave Obey Democratic

See also: Wisconsin's 7th congressional district

Long-serving Democratic Congressman Dave Obey, a high-ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee and the dean of Wisconsin's congressional delegation, ran for a twentieth term in Congress against Republican candidate Nick Reid and Green Party candidate Mike Miles. Obey has represented northwest Wisconsin for decades, and retained his seat by a large margin.

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[2]	Safe R	November 6, 2006
Rothenberg[3]	Safe R	November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4]	Safe R	November 6, 2006
Real Clear Politics[5]	Safe R	November 7, 2006
CQ Politics[6]	Safe R	November 7, 2006

Wisconsin's 7th congressional district election, 2006

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dave Obey (inc.)	161,903	62.17
	Republican	Nick Reid	91,069	34.97
	Green	Mike Miles	7,391	2.84
	Write-ins		65	0.02
Total votes			260,428	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 8

2006 Wisconsin's 8th congressional district election

← 2004 2008 →

Nominee Steve Kagen John Gard Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 141,570 135,622 Percentage 50.9% 48.8%

County results Precinct results Kagen:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Gard:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      40–50%      50%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Mark Green Republican Elected U.S. Representative Steve Kagen Democratic

See also: Wisconsin's 8th congressional district

When incumbent Republican Congressman Mark Green declined to seek a fifth term, instead opting to run for Governor, an open seat was created. Physician Steve Kagen defeated business consultant Jamie Wall and former Brown County Executive Nancy Nusbaum in the Democratic primary, while the Speaker of the State Assembly John Gard defeated fellow State Representative Terri McCormick in the Republican primary. Gard and Kagen duked it out in this marginally conservative district, with the election becoming the most expensive congressional election in Wisconsin state history. Ultimately, Kagen was able to take advantage of the Democratic wave sweeping the country and defeated Gard to seize the seat for the Democrats.

Endorsements

Steve Kagen (D)

Individuals

• Wesley Clark, General, 2004 democratic presidential candidate^[8]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[2]	Tossup	November 6, 2006
Rothenberg[3]	Tossup	November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4]	Tilt R	November 6, 2006
Real Clear Politics[5]	Lean R	November 7, 2006
CQ Politics[6]	Tossup	November 7, 2006

Wisconsin's 8th congressional district election, 2006

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Steve Kagen	141,570	50.90
	Republican	John Gard	135,622	48.76
	Write-ins		943	0.34
Total votes			278,135	100.00
	Democratic gain from Republican