The Green Papers: Wisconsin 2012 General Election
 
Flag images courtesy of The World Flag Database. Copyright http://www.flags.net/ Wisconsin
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
Recall Primary Governor: Tuesday 8 May 2012
Recall Governor: Tuesday 5 June 2012
Primary: Tuesday 14 August 2012
General Election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Senators:2(Electoral Classes 1 and 3)
Governor:1 
2010 Census:5,698,230 (1.84% of 309,785,186)
2012, 2016, 2020 Electoral Votes:10(1.86% of 538)
2012-2020 Representatives:8(1.84% of 435)
2000 Census:5,371,210 (1.90% of 281,998,273)
2004, 2008 Electoral Votes:10(1.86% of 538)
2002-2010 Representatives:8(1.84% of 435)
Voter Registration:Wisconsin has election day registration at the polls.
Capital:Madison
Tuesday 8 May 2012 polling hours 7:00a CDT (1200 UTC) to 8:00p CDT (0100 UTC).
Tuesday 5 June 2012 polling hours 7:00a CDT (1200 UTC) to 8:00p CDT (0100 UTC).
Tuesday 14 August 2012 polling hours 7:00a CDT (1200 UTC) to 8:00p CDT (0100 UTC).
Tuesday 6 November 2012 polling hours 7:00a CST (1300 UTC) to 8:00p CST (0200 UTC).
 

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Wisconsin State and Local Government

Wisconsin 2012 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats, Republicans, Third Parties

12 October 2011 from The Republic: Federal election official presses Wisconsin lawmakers to change fall primary date

December 2011: Senate Bill 116 was approved by the Governor on 16 November 2011. The bill moves the partisan primary from the 2nd Tuesday in September to the 2nd Tuesday in August.

Wisconsin Government Accountability Board 2012 Recall Elections: Governor, Lt. Governor and State Senator.

 
           
U.S. Senate  6 year term. No Term Limit. 112th Senate  Senate Electoral Classes
Class 1
Seat up for election
Open		 Democratic Senator Herbert H. "Herb" Kohl
• First elected: 1988; re-elected: 1994, 2000, 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
• Open Seat - 13 May 2011: Media reports say Senator Kohl will not seek re-election in 2012.
  Candidate Democratic     Congressman  Tammy Baldwin
• 5 September 2011: Candidate for the U.S. Senate Class 1 Seat in 2012.
• FEC S2WI00219; 31 Dec 11; Tot $2,496,264; Dsb $1,382,736
  Candidate Democratic     Gregory Paules
• FEC S2WI00201
  Candidate Democratic     Vittorio Spadaro
• FEC S2WI00185
  Candidate Republican     state Representative  Jeff Fitzgerald
• FEC S2WI00227; 31 Dec 11; Tot $78,300; Dsb $4,951
  Candidate Republican     Eric Hovde
• FEC S2WI00268
    Republican     state Senator  Frank G. Lasee - apparently not a candidate
• 29 January 2012: "This is not the right time to run for the U-S Senate."
• FEC S2WI00243; 31 Dec 11; Tot $23,902; Dsb $20,506
  Candidate Republican     George Lucia
  Candidate Republican     former Congressman  Mark W. Neumann
• FEC S8WI00158; 31 Dec 11; Tot $825,865; Dsb $281,330
  Candidate Republican     John T. Schiess
• FEC S2WI00193
  Candidate Republican     Kip Alan Smith
• FEC S2WI00250
  Candidate Republican     former Wisconsin Governor  Tommy G. Thompson
• FEC S2WI00235; 31 Dec 11; Tot $656,504; Dsb $112,292
  Candidate Independent     Dan Mastrocola
Class 3 Republican Senator  Ronald Harold "Ron" Johnson
• First elected: 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016
Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014. Term Limit: None, All Governors
  Republican Governor  Scott Walker
• First elected: 2010
• Chair up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
    Democratic     state Senator  Timothy "Tim" Cullen - apparently not a candidate
• 1 February 2012: Dropped out due to fundraising issues.
  Candidate Democratic     former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk
  Candidate Democratic     Secretary of State Douglas "Doug" La Follette
  Candidate Democratic     state Senator  Kathleen Vinehout
  Candidate Independent     Hari Trivedi
 30 March 2012: The Government Accountability Board certified a recall election for Governor. A sufficient number of petition signatures have been validated to order to require a Gubernatorial recall election. 540,208 signatures are required to force a recall and 808,990 have been validated. The partisan recall primary will be held on 8 May and the general election on 5 June. If there is no need for a partisan primary, the General Election will be on 8 May.
Seat up for election
Special Election		 Republican
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 June 2012
• Special Election - Recall-- Governor Walker was renominated to defend himself in this Recall Election via a Special Primary on 8 May 2012
  Candidate Democratic     Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett
    Democratic     former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk - lost primary
    Democratic     Gladys R. Huber - lost primary
    Democratic     Secretary of State Douglas "Doug" La Follette - lost primary
    Democratic     Kathleen Vinehout - lost primary
    Republican     Arthur Kohl-Riggs - lost primary
  Candidate Republican     Governor  Scott Walker
 30 March 2012: The Government Accountability Board certified a recall election for Governor. A sufficient number of petition signatures have been validated to order to require a Gubernatorial recall election. 540,208 signatures are required to force a recall and 808,990 have been validated. The partisan recall primary will be held on 8 May and the general election on 5 June. If there is no need for a partisan primary, the General Election will be on 8 May.
Lieutenant Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014. Elected on a ticket with- but nominated separately from- the Governor;
  Republican Lieutenant Governor  Rebecca Kleefisch
• First elected: 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
 30 March 2012: The Government Accountability Board certified a recall election for Lieutenant Governor. A sufficient number of petition signatures have been validated to order to require a Gubernatorial recall election. The partisan recall primary will be held on 8 May and the general election on 5 June. If there is no need for a partisan primary, the General Election will be on 8 May.
Seat up for election
Special Election		 Republican
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 June 2012
• Special Election - Recall
  Candidate Democratic     Mahlon Mitchell
    Democratic     Ira Robins - lost primary
    Democratic     Isaac Weix - lost primary
  Candidate Republican     Lieutenant Governor  Rebecca Kleefisch
• Lieutenant Governor Kleefisch is the only Republican running so there will not be a primary.
 30 March 2012: The Government Accountability Board certified a recall election for Lieutenant Governor. A sufficient number of petition signatures have been validated to order to require a Gubernatorial recall election. The partisan recall primary will be held on 8 May and the general election on 5 June. If there is no need for a partisan primary, the General Election will be on 8 May.
112th U.S. House of Representatives  2-year term. Election Cycle 2010, 2012. No Term Limit. 112th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition):
5 Republican (5 Undetermined);
3 Democratic (1 Open, 2 Undetermined)
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 1
Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman  Paul D. Ryan
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic     Kenosha County Supervisor  Robert T. "Rob" Zerban
• FEC H2WI01084; 31 Dec 11; Tot $513,980; Dsb $209,648
  Candidate Republican     Congressman  Paul D. Ryan
• FEC H8WI01024; 31 Dec 11; Tot $2,425,603; Dsb $813,358
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 2
Seat up for election
Open		 Democratic Congressman  Tammy Baldwin
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
• Open Seat - 5 September 2011: Candidate for the U.S. Senate Class 1 Seat in 2012.
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic     state Representative  Mark Pocan
• FEC H2WI02124; 31 Dec 11; Tot $274,118; Dsb $69,716
  Candidate Democratic     state Representative  Kelda Helen Roys
• FEC H2WI02132; 31 Dec 11; Tot $146,619; Dsb $18,052
  Candidate Democratic     Matthew Douglas "Matt" Silverman
• FEC H2WI02157; 31 Dec 11; Tot $6,235; Dsb $1,973
    Democratic     Dane County Treasurer  David John "Dave" Worzala - apparently not a candidate
• 8 May 2012: "... after careful consideration, I believe the time is not right for my candidacy. I want to thank everyone who has supported and encouraged me."
• FEC H2WI02140; 31 Dec 11; Tot $277,983; Dsb $25,882
  Candidate Republican     Chad Lee
• FEC H0WI02060; 31 Mar 11; Tot $0; Dsb $265
  Candidate Independent     Joseph William "Joe" Kopsick
• FEC H2WI02116
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 3
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman  Ron Kind
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic     Congressman  Ron Kind
• FEC H6WI03099; 31 Dec 11; Tot $962,184; Dsb $437,534
  Candidate Republican     former state Secretary of Veterans Affairs Raymond G. "Ray" Boland
• FEC H2WI03080
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 4
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman  Gwendolynne "Gwen" Moore
• First elected: 2004
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic     Congressman  Gwendolynne "Gwen" Moore
• FEC H4WI04183; 31 Dec 11; Tot $373,127; Dsb $343,778
  Candidate Republican     Daniel P. "Dan" Sebring
• FEC H0WI04090; 31 Dec 11; Tot $1,205; Dsb $834
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 5
Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman  F. James "Jim" Sensenbrenner, Jr.
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic     Dave Heaster
  Candidate Republican     Congressman  F. James "Jim" Sensenbrenner, Jr.
• FEC H8WI09050; 31 Dec 11; Tot $231,005; Dsb $149,246
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 6
Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman  Thomas E. "Tom" Petri
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic     Joe Kallas
  Candidate Republican     Congressman  Thomas E. "Tom" Petri
• FEC H0WI06061; 31 Dec 11; Tot $355,486; Dsb $222,688
  Candidate Republican     Lauren Stephens
• FEC H2WI06059
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 7
Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman  Sean P. Duffy
• First elected: 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic     former state Senator Patrick "Pat" Kreitlow
• FEC H2WI07065; 31 Dec 11; Tot $357,257; Dsb $89,811
  Candidate Republican     Congressman  Sean P. Duffy
• FEC H0WI07051; 31 Dec 11; Tot $1,104,986; Dsb $315,306
  Candidate Independent     Dale Clifford Lehner
• FEC H2WI07073
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 8
Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman  Reid J. Ribble
• First elected: 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic     James R. "Jamie" Wall
• FEC H6WI08106; 31 Dec 11; Tot $240,045; Dsb $16,803
  Candidate Republican     Congressman  Reid J. Ribble
• FEC H0WI08075; 31 Dec 11; Tot $850,660; Dsb $261,661
Secretary of State  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014
  Democratic Secretary of State Douglas "Doug" La Follette
• First elected: 1974; elected: 1982; re-elected 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
• 30 March 2012: Running in the 5 June 2012 Special Gubernatorial recall election.
Attorney General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014
  Republican Attorney General  J.B. Van Hollen
• First elected: 2006; re-elected: 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
Treasurer  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014
  Republican Treasurer  Kurt W. Schuller
• First elected: 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
Superintendent of Public Instruction  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2009, 2013
  Nonpartisan Public Instruction Superintendent  Tony Evers
• First elected: 2009
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 April 2013
 
Political Parties    Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.
Major Parties
 • Democratic (affiliates): 5 incumbents, 18 candidates
 • Republican: 12 incumbents, 18 candidates
Major Third Parties
 • Constitution (affiliates)
 • Green (affiliates)
 • Libertarian
Other Third Parties
 • Right to Life
 • Unity
Independents
 • Independent: 4 candidates
 • Nonpartisan: 1 incumbent
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
 • Not readily classifiable
 
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.
Notes
Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.

"FEC" indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary.

When available, we post each candidate's FEC identification number, the date of their most recently filed Report of Receipts and Disbursements, their "Tot" [Total Receipts (contributions received or what came in: FEC Form 3, Line 16, Column B)] and their "Dsb" [Total Disbursements (expenditures or what was spent: FEC Form 3, Line 23, Column B)]. A link is provided to the Federal Election Commission's Summary Report for those who might wish to explore the details.

If a candidate raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not subject to FEC reporting requirements.

Links Links to other web sites
Constitution   Links to State Constitutions
 • http://www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/2wiscon.html
Election Authority
 • Government Accountability Board
 • Government Accountability Board - Elections & Voting
Legislature   Links to State Legislatures
 • Wisconsin State Legislature
 • Wisconsin State Senate
Democratic
 • The Democratic Party of Wisconsin
 • Wisconsin State Senate Democratic Committee
Republican
 • Republican Party of Wisconsin
Third Party
 • Constitution Party of Wisconsin
 • Libertarian Party of Wisconsin
 • Progressive Dane
 • The Unity Party of Wisconsin
 • Wisconsin Green Party
 • Wisconsin Right to Life
Media & others
 • DC's Political Report - Wisconsin
 • Fond du Lac Reporter
 • Greater Milwaukee Today
 • Green Bay News-Chronicle
 • Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee
 • LaCrosse Tribune
 • Leader-Telegram - Eau Claire
 • Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
 • Oshkosh Northwestern
 • Politics1.com - Wisconsin
 • Sheboygan-Press
 • Stevens Point Journal
 • The Capital Times, Wisconsin State Journal - Madison
 • The Chippewa Herald
 • The Janesville Gazette
 • The Journal Times - Racine
 • The Kenosha News
 • The Wheeler Report - Madison
 • Watertown Daily Times
 • Wausau Daily Herald
 • WISC TV - IBS - Madison
 • Wisconsin Radio Network - Madison
 • Wisconsin Vote - University of Wisconsin
 • Wisinfo
 • WisPolitics.com
 • WKOW TV - ABC - Madison
 

  2012 General Election Home  
 
  U.S. Senate Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Gubernatorial Popular Vote by Party  
  U.S. House Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Close Contests Summary - Decision by 2% or less  
  Contests Where No Candidate Received a Majority  
 
2012 Primaries and Runoffs for Statewide offices/Congress
  Alphabetically   --   Chronologically   --   Poll Closing Times  
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General Election Poll Closing Times
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  Polling Hours  
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  Governors     Senate     House  
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  Senators by 'Class'  
  Governors by election 'cycle'  
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  Gubernatorial Primaries at a Glance   --   Senatorial Primaries at a Glance  
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  Open Governor's Chairs, Senate and House Seats (the incumbent is not running for re-election)  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with no incumbent running for them  
  Uncontested Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats (one candidate running for office)  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with multiple incumbents running for them  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with only one major party candidate running for office  
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  2012 Partisan Composition by State  
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  Political Parties  
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  Senate Electoral Classes  
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History
  Political Party Floor Leaders in the Congress of the United States  
  Dates of DIRECT PRIMARY Elections re: Major Party Nominations for Statewide and/or Federal Office  
  Length of Terms of Office of STATE Governors throughout American History  

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