The Green Papers: Wisconsin 2012 General Election
 
This page is for offices up for election in 2012. Find 2013 elections here.
 
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.

5 June 2012 recall election returns from the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.


6 November 2012 Fall 2012 General Election and Registered Write-In CANDIDATES from the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.

6 November 2012 General Election returns from the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.

 
           

President  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2012, 2016. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime. Electors: 10 (Winner-take-all), How Appointed, Meeting Place, Duly Appointed Presidential Electors, List of Presidential Candidates.
Up for election in 2012
  Elected Democratic 1,620,985 52.83% President Barack Hussein Obama
(10 Electoral Votes)
Vice President: Vice President Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr.

FEC P80003338; 26 Nov 12; Tot $732,741,988; Dsb $729,647,987
  Candidate Republican 1,407,966 45.89% former Massachusetts Governor Willard "Mitt" Romney
Vice President: Wisconsin Congressman Paul D. Ryan

FEC P80003353; 26 Nov 12; Tot $478,704,347; Dsb $465,787,141
  Candidate Libertarian 20,439 0.67% former New Mexico Governor Gary Earl Johnson
Vice President: James P. "Jim" Gray

FEC P20002671; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,575,529; Dsb $2,572,585
  Candidate Green 7,665 0.25% Jill E. Stein
Vice President: Ben Manski

FEC P20003984; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,005,788; Dsb $1,093,022
  Candidate Scattering 5,170 0.17% SCATTERING
  Candidate Constitution 4,930 0.16% former Congressman Virgil Hamlin Goode, Jr.
Vice President: James N. "Jim" Clymer

FEC P20004685; 26 Nov 12; Tot $202,258; Dsb $202,253
  Candidate Socialist Equality 553 0.02% Jerome S. "Jerry" White
For Vice-President, Phyllis Scherrer

FEC P20004677; 26 Nov 12; Tot $18,854; Dsb $18,854
  Candidate Socialism and Liberation 526 0.02% Gloria Estela La Riva
Vice President: Filberto Ramirez, Jr.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation petitioned Gloria LaRiva rather than the party's nominee, Peta Lindsey. Mr. Lindsey is under 35 years old and does not meet the Constitutional requirements to be President.

FEC P80005572
  Candidate Write-in; (Justice Party) 112 0.00% former Salt Lake City Mayor Ross Carl "Rocky" Anderson
Vice President: Luis J. Rodriguez

FEC P20004263; 31 Dec 11; Tot $7,954; Dsb $10,084
  Candidate Write-in; (Americans Elect) 88 0.00% Roseanne Cherri Barr
Vice President: Cindy Lee Sheehan

FEC P20002804; 26 Nov 12; Tot $56,337; Dsb $53,474
Total 3,068,434 100.00%  

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.
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
  Elected Democratic 1,547,104 51.41% Congressman Tammy Baldwin
5 September 2011: Candidate for the U.S. Senate Class 1 Seat in 2012.

FEC S2WI00219; 26 Nov 12; Tot $15,063,115; Dsb $15,333,064
  Candidate Republican 1,380,126 45.86% former Wisconsin Governor Tommy G. Thompson
FEC S2WI00235; 26 Nov 12; Tot $9,801,827; Dsb $9,653,975
  Candidate Libertarian 62,240 2.07% Joseph Kexel
FEC S2WI00284
  Candidate Independent 16,455 0.55% Nimrod Y. U. Allen, III
I.D.E.A.

FEC S2WI00292
  Candidate Scattering 3,373 0.11% SCATTERING
  Candidate Write-in; (Constitution) 70 0.00% Riley J. "Jon" Hood
  Candidate Write-in; (Independent) 43 0.00% Diane E. Lorbiecki
Total 3,009,411 100.00%  

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
  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
  Elected Republican 1,335,585 53.08% Governor Scott Walker
  Candidate Democratic 1,164,480 46.28% Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett
  Candidate Independent 14,463 0.57% Hari Trivedi
  Candidate Scattering 1,537 0.06% Scattering
Total 2,516,065 100.00%  
 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
  Elected Republican 1,301,739 52.89% Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch
Lieutenant Governor Kleefisch is the only Republican running so there will not be a primary.
  Candidate Democratic 1,156,520 46.99% Mahlon Mitchell
  Candidate Scattering 3,077 0.13% Scattering
Total 2,461,336 100.00%  
 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 Renominated);
3 Democratic (1 Open, 2 Renominated)

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 1
Seat up for election
Republican Congressman Paul D. Ryan
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary.
11 August 2012: Mitt Romney announced Congressman Paul D. Ryan as his running mate.
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Elected Republican 200,423 54.90% Congressman Paul D. Ryan
FEC H8WI01024; 26 Nov 12; Tot $4,976,476; Dsb $6,556,234
  Candidate Democratic 158,414 43.39% former Kenosha County Supervisor Robert T. "Rob" Zerban
FEC H2WI01084; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,383,956; Dsb $2,282,929
  Candidate Libertarian 6,054 1.66% Keith Deschler
FEC H2WI01092
  Candidate Scattering 167 0.05% SCATTERING
Total 365,058 100.00%  

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.
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Elected Democratic 265,422 67.90% state Representative Mark Pocan
FEC H2WI02124; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,153,220; Dsb $1,062,870
  Candidate Republican 124,683 31.90% Chad Lee
FEC H0WI02060; 31 Dec 12; Tot $91,144; Dsb $90,402
  Candidate Scattering 787 0.20% SCATTERING
  Candidate Write-in; (Independent) 6 0.00% Joseph William "Joe" Kopsick
Independent: (Liberty, Sovereignty, Independence, Social Liberalism)

FEC H2WI02116
Total 390,898 100.00%  

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 3
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Ron Kind
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Elected Democratic 217,712 64.08% Congressman Ron Kind
FEC H6WI03099; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,971,475; Dsb $1,472,858
  Candidate Republican 121,713 35.82% former state Secretary of Veterans Affairs Raymond G. "Ray" Boland
FEC H2WI03080; 26 Nov 12; Tot $117,775; Dsb $112,246
  Candidate Scattering 339 0.10% SCATTERING
Total 339,764 100.00%  

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 4
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Gwendolynne "Gwen" Moore
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Elected Democratic 235,257 72.21% Congressman Gwendolynne "Gwen" Moore
FEC H4WI04183; 26 Nov 12; Tot $807,866; Dsb $792,008
  Candidate Republican 80,787 24.80% Daniel P. "Dan" Sebring
FEC H0WI04090; 26 Nov 12; Tot $40,052; Dsb $39,700
  Candidate Independent 9,277 2.85% Robert R. Raymond
FEC H8WI05124
  Candidate Scattering 467 0.14% SCATTERING
Total 325,788 100.00%  

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 5
Seat up for election
Republican Congressman F. James "Jim" Sensenbrenner, Jr.
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Elected Republican 250,335 67.72% Congressman F. James "Jim" Sensenbrenner, Jr.
FEC H8WI09050; 26 Nov 12; Tot $554,880; Dsb $611,079
  Candidate Democratic 118,478 32.05% David Lemaire "Dave" Heaster
FEC H2WI05259
  Candidate Scattering 851 0.23% SCATTERING
Total 369,664 100.00%  

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 6
Seat up for election
Republican Congressman Thomas E. "Tom" Petri
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Elected Republican 223,460 62.12% Congressman Thomas E. "Tom" Petri
FEC H0WI06061; 26 Nov 12; Tot $742,623; Dsb $650,291
  Candidate Democratic 135,921 37.78% Joseph C. "Joe" Kallas
FEC H0WI06152; 06 Dec 12; Tot $7,408; Dsb $7,408
  Candidate Scattering 364 0.10% SCATTERING
Total 359,745 100.00%  

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 7
Seat up for election
Republican Congressman Sean P. Duffy
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2010
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Elected Republican 201,720 56.08% Congressman Sean P. Duffy
FEC H0WI07051; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,645,819; Dsb $2,502,988
  Candidate Democratic 157,524 43.80% former state Senator Patrick "Pat" Kreitlow
FEC H2WI07065; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,281,552; Dsb $1,254,881
  Candidate Scattering 405 0.11% SCATTERING
  Candidate Write-in; (Independent) 20 0.01% Dale Clifford Lehner
FEC H2WI07073; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,118; Dsb $842
Total 359,669 100.00%  

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 8
Seat up for election
Republican Congressman Reid J. Ribble
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2010
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 14 August 2012 Primary
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Elected Republican 198,874 55.95% Congressman Reid J. Ribble
FEC H0WI08075; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,323,592; Dsb $2,140,527
  Candidate Democratic 156,287 43.97% James Richard "Jamie" Wall
FEC H6WI08106; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,066,991; Dsb $1,044,639
  Candidate Scattering 303 0.09% SCATTERING
Total 355,464 100.00%  

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, 15 candidates
  Republican: 12 incumbents, 12 candidates
Major Third Parties
  Constitution (affiliates): 2 candidates
  Green (affiliates): 1 candidate
  Libertarian: 3 candidates
Other Third Parties
  Americans Elect: 1 candidate
  Justice Party: 1 candidate
  Socialism and Liberation: 1 candidate
  Socialist Equality: 1 candidate
Independents
  Independent: 7 candidates
  Nonpartisan: 1 incumbent
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
  Scattering: 12 candidates
  Write-in: 6 candidates
 
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.


 


  2012 General Election Home  
 
  President Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  113th U.S. Senate Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Gubernatorial Popular Vote by Party  
  113th 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
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  2012 Partisan Composition by State  
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  Senate Electoral Classes  
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  Explanation of the Debate Scoring System  
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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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  Dates of U.S. Presidential Election "Events": 1789 to present  
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Electoral College
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