2016 Wisconsin Supreme Court election

2016 Wisconsin Supreme Court election

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Candidate Rebecca Bradley JoAnne Kloppenburg Popular vote 1,024,892 929,377 Percentage 52.35% 47.47%

County results Bradley:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Kloppenburg:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Justice before election Rebecca Bradley Elected Justice Rebecca Bradley

The 2016 Wisconsin Supreme Court election was held on April 5, 2016, to elect a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court for a ten-year term. Incumbent justice Rebecca Bradley defeated Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge JoAnne Kloppenburg.

As more than two candidates filed to run, a nonpartisan primary was held on February 17, 2016. In the primary, Milwaukee County circuit judge Joe Donald was eliminated.

Appointment

Appointee

• Rebecca Bradley, Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals (District I division) ^[1]

Considered but not appointed

• Claude Covelli, attorney ^[1]

• Jim Troupis, Judge of the Dane County Circuit (Branch 3) ^[1]

Primary election

Candidates

Advanced

• Rebecca Bradley, incumbent Supreme Court justice ^[2]
• JoAnne Kloppenburg, Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals (District IV division) ^[2]

Eliminated in primary

• M. Joseph Donald, Judge of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court (Branch 2) ^[2]

Withdrawn

• Claude Covelli, attorney ^[3]

Results

Results by county:

  Bradley

•   Bradley 30–40%
•   Bradley 40–50%
•   Bradley 50–60%
•   Bradley 60–70%
•   Bradley 70–80%

  Kloppenburg

•   Kloppenburg 40–50%
•   Kloppenburg 50–60%
•   Kloppenburg 60–70%
•   Kloppenburg 70–80%

2016 Wisconsin Supreme Court primary election ^[4]

Candidate		Votes	%
Rebecca Bradley (incumbent)		252,932	44.61%
JoAnne Kloppenburg		244,729	43.16%
Joe Donald		68,746	12.12%
Write-in		631	0.11%
Total votes		567,038	100.0%

General election

Results

2016 Wisconsin Supreme Court election ^[5]

Candidate		Votes	%
Rebecca Bradley (incumbent)		1,024,892	52.35%
JoAnne Kloppenburg		929,377	47.47%
Write-in		3,678	0.19%
Total votes		1,957,947	100.0%

See also

• 2016 Wisconsin elections
  • 2016 Wisconsin Democratic presidential primary
  • 2016 Wisconsin Republican presidential primary
  • 2016 Milwaukee mayoral election

References

1. Bauer, Scott (October 9, 2015). "Walker taps Bradley for Wisconsin Supreme Court". The Post Crescent . Retrieved April 13, 2025.
2. Marley, Patrick (January 5, 2016). "Appointed Justice Rebecca Bradley to face Joe Donald, JoAnne Kloppenburg". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel .
3. Opoien, Jessie (December 22, 2015). "Madison attorney Claude Covelli drops out of Wisconsin Supreme Court race". The Cap Times . Retrieved April 13, 2025.
4. "2016 Spring Primary Results" (PDF).
5. "2016 Spring Election and Presidential Preference Results" (PDF).