2022 Wisconsin Senate election

Not to be confused with 2022 United States Senate election in Wisconsin.

2022 Wisconsin Senate election

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17 of 33 seats in the Wisconsin State Senate 17 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Devin LeMahieu Janet Bewley (retired) Party Republican Democratic Leader since January 4, 2021 April 24, 2020 Leader's seat 9th – Oostburg 25th – Mason Last election 10 seats, 53.8% 6 seats, 45.3% Seats before 21 12 Seats won 12 5 Seats after 22 11 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 772,131 475,900 Percentage 61.1% 37.68% Swing 7.3 pp 7.6 pp
Results of the elections:      Republican hold     Republican gain      Democratic hold      No election
President before election Chris Kapenga Republican Elected President Chris Kapenga Republican

The 2022 Wisconsin Senate elections were held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. 17 of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin State Senate were up for election—the odd-numbered districts. This was the first election to take place after redistricting following the 2020 United States census. This was the only election to take place under the redistricting plan set out in 2022. Before the election, 21 Senate seats were held by Republicans, and 12 seats were held by Democrats. 11 Republican seats and six Democratic seats were up in this election. The primary election took place on August 9, 2022. ^[1]

Republicans flipped one Democratic-held Senate seat and achieved a two-thirds supermajority, entering the 106th Wisconsin Legislature with 22 of 33 State Senate seats.

Results summary

Seats		Party (majority caucus shading)		Total
		Democratic	Republican
Last election (2020)		6	10	16
Total after last election (2020)		12	21	33
Total before this election		12	21	33
Up for election		6	11	17
of which:	Incumbent retiring	3	4	7
	Vacated	0	0	0
	Unopposed	1	2	3
This election		5	12	17
Change from last election		1	1
Total after this election		11	22	33
Change in total		1	1

Source: https://elections.wi.gov/elections/election-results#accordion-5601

Close races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

1. State Senate district 31, 0.9%
2. State Senate district 5, 6.52%
3. State Senate district 19, 8.12%

Outgoing incumbents

Retiring

• Kathy Bernier (R–Chippewa Falls), representing District 23 since 2018, announced in January 2022 that she would not seek reelection. Bernier had made news in 2021 by opposing her party's attempts to undermine the validity of the 2020 United States presidential election. Prominent Republicans loyal to Donald Trump had called for her to resign or be defeated. ^[2]
• Janet Bewley (D–Mason), representing District 25 since 2014, announced on February 6, 2022, that she would not seek reelection.
• Jon Erpenbach (D–West Point), representing District 27 since 1998, announced on December 9, 2021, that he would not seek reelection.
• Dale Kooyenga (R–Brookfield), representing District 5 since 2018, announced in April 2022 that he would not run for a second term.
• Jerry Petrowski (R–Marathon), representing District 29 since 2012, announced on March 10, 2022, that he would not seek reelection.
• Janis Ringhand (D–Evansville), representing District 15 since 2014, announced on March 9, 2022, that she would not seek reelection.

Seeking other office

• Roger Roth (R–Appleton), representing District 19 since 2014, ran instead for lieutenant governor of Wisconsin.

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball [3]	Safe R	May 19, 2022

Race summary

Dist.	Incumbent				This race [4]
	Member	Party	First elected	Status	Primary	General	Result
01	André Jacque	Republican	2018	Running	André Jacque (Rep.) Andrea Gage-Michaels (Dem.)	Y André Jacque (Rep.) 59.49% Andrea Gage-Michaels (Dem.) 40.45%	Incumbent re-elected
03	Tim Carpenter	Democratic	2002	Running	Tim Carpenter (Dem.) Angel Sanchez (Rep.)	Y Tim Carpenter (Dem.) 68.98% Angel Sanchez (Rep.) 30.93%	Incumbent re-elected
05	Dale Kooyenga	Republican	2018	Not running [5]	Jessica Katzenmeyer (Dem.) Tom Palzewicz (Dem.) Rob Hutton (Rep.)	Y Rob Hutton (Rep.) 53.24% Jessica Katzenmeyer (Dem.) 46.66%	New member elected. Republican hold.
07	Chris Larson	Democratic	2010	Running	Peter Gilbert (Rep.) Red Arnold (Rep.) Chris Larson (Dem.)	Y Chris Larson (Dem.) 67.25% Peter Gilbert (Rep.) 32.64%	Incumbent re-elected
09	Devin LeMahieu	Republican	2014	Running	Devin LeMahieu (Rep.) Ruth Villareal (Rep.) Jeanette Deschene (Rep.)	Y Devin LeMahieu (Rep.) 93.64%	Incumbent re-elected
11	Stephen Nass	Republican	2014	Running	Stephen Nass (Rep.) Steven J. Doelder (Dem.)	Y Stephen Nass (Rep.) 58.31% Steven J. Doelder (Dem.) 41.6%	Incumbent re-elected
13	John Jagler	Republican	2021 (special)	Running	John Jagler (Rep.)	Y John Jagler (Rep.) 96.69%	Incumbent re-elected
15	Janis Ringhand	Democratic	2014	Not running [6]	Mark Spreitzer (Dem.) [7] Mark Trofimchuck (Rep.)	Y Mark Spreitzer (Dem.) 61.38% Mark Trofimchuck (Rep.) 38.54%	New member elected. Democratic hold.
17	Howard Marklein	Republican	2014	Running	Howard Marklein (Rep.) Pat Skogen (Dem.)	Y Howard Marklein (Rep.) 60.15% Pat Skogen (Dem.) 39.82%	Incumbent re-elected
19	Roger Roth	Republican	2014	Running for lieutenant governor [8]	Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Rep.) Andrew K. Thomsen (Rep.) Kristin M. Alfheim (Dem.)	Y Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Rep.) 54.02% Kristin M. Alfheim (Dem.) 45.94%	New member elected. Republican hold.
21	Van H. Wanggaard	Republican	2014	Running	Van H. Wanggaard (Rep.) Jay Stone (Rep.)	Y Van H. Wanggaard (Rep.) 94.14%	Incumbent re-elected
23	Kathy Bernier	Republican	2018	Not running [9]	Jesse James (Rep.) [10] Brian Westrate (Rep.) [11] Sandra Scholz (Rep.)	Y Jesse James (Rep.) 94.73%	New member elected. Republican hold.
25	Janet Bewley	Democratic	2014	Not running [12]	Romaine Quinn (Rep.) [13] Kelly Westlund (Dem.)	Y Romaine Quinn (Rep.) 56.99% Kelly Westlund (Dem.) 42.96%	New member elected. Republican gain.
27	Jon Erpenbach	Democratic	1998	Not running [14]	Dianne Hesselbein (Dem.) [15] Robert Relph (Rep.)	Y Dianne Hesselbein (Dem.) 67.97% [15] Robert Relph (Rep.) 31.97%	New member elected. Democratic hold.
29	Jerry Petrowski	Republican	2021 (recall)	Not running [16]	Jonathan Kaiser (Rep.) Brent Jacobson (Rep.) Cory Tomczyk (Rep.) Bob Look (Dem.)	Y Cory Tomczyk (Rep.) 62.43% Bob Look (Dem.) 37.5%	New member elected. Republican hold.
31	Jeff Smith	Democratic	2018	Running	Jeff Smith (Dem.) David Estenson (Rep.)	Y Jeff Smith (Dem.) 50.42% David Estenson (Rep.) 49.52%	Incumbent re-elected
33	Chris Kapenga	Republican	2015	Running	Chris Kapenga (Rep.)	Y Chris Kapenga (Rep.) 96.4%	Incumbent re-elected

Detailed results

District 1

Incumbent Republican André Jacque ran for re-election. He defeated attorney Andrea Gage-Michaels by a 19-point margin.

District 2 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	André Jacque (incumbent)	52,009	59.49
	Democratic	Andrea Gage-Michaels	35,363	40.45
	Write-in		48	0.05
Total votes			87,420	100.0

District 3

Incumbent Democrat Tim Carpenter ran for re-election. He defeated Republican and perennial candidate Angel Sanchez by a wide margin.

District 3 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tim Carpenter (incumbent)	27,958	68.98
	Republican	Angel Sanchez	12,536	30.93
	Write-in		39	0.10
Total votes			40,533	100.0

District 5

Incumbent Republican Dale Kooyenga declined to run for re-election. Former state legislator Rob Hutton defeated Democrat Jessica Katzenmeyer.

District 5 Democratic primary ^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jessica Katzenmeyer	9,086	54.24
	Democratic	Tom Palzewicz	7,651	45.67
	Write-in		15	0.09
Total votes			16,752	100.0

District 5 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rob Hutton	49,025	53.24
	Democratic	Jessica Katzenmeyer	42,962	46.66
	Write-in		97	0.11
Total votes			92,084	100.0

District 7

Incumbent Democrat Chris Larson ran for re-election. He defeated Republican Peter Gilbert.

District 7 Republican primary ^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Peter Gilbert	5,080	54.35
	Republican	Red Arnold	4,209	45.03
	Write-in		58	0.62
Total votes			9,347	100.0

District 7 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Chris Larson (incumbent)	54,252	67.25
	Republican	Peter Gilbert	26,333	32.64
	Write-in		85	0.11
Total votes			80,670	100.0

District 9

Incumbent Republican Devin LeMahieu ran for re-election unopposed. In the primary election he faced candidates Ruth Villareal and Jeanette Deschene in the primary.

District 9 Republican primary ^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Devin LeMahieu (incumbent)	16,963	71.36
	Republican	Ruth Villareal	4,342	18.27
	Republican	Jeanette Deschene	2,431	10.23
	Write-in		34	0.14
Total votes			23,770	100.0

District 9 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Devin LeMahieu (incumbent)	57,836	93.64
	Democratic	Jarrod Schroeder (write-in)	1,237	2.00
	Write-in		2,692	4.36
Total votes			61,765	100.0

District 11

Incumbent Republican Stephen Nass ran for re-election. He defeated Democrat Steven J. Doelder by a 17-point margin.

District 11 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Stephen Nass (incumbent)	44,974	58.31
	Democratic	Steven J. Doelder	32,087	41.60
	Write-in		62	0.08
Total votes			77,123	100.0

District 13

Incumbent Republican John Jagler ran for re-election unopposed.

District 13 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Jagler (incumbent)	61,817	96.69
	Write-in		2,118	3.31
Total votes			63,935	100.0

District 15

Incumbent Democrat Janis Ringhand declined to seek re-election. State legislator Mark Spreitzer defeated Republican Mark Trofimchuck by a wide margin.

District 15 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mark Spreitzer	46,192	61.38
	Republican	Mark Trofimchuck	29,006	38.54
	Write-in		62	0.08
Total votes			75,260	100.0

District 17

Incumbent Republican Howard Marklein ran for re-election. He defeated Democrat Pat Skogen by a wide margin.

District 17 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Howard Marklein (incumbent)	44,405	60.15
	Democratic	Pat Skogen	29,398	39.82
	Write-in		22	0.03
Total votes			73,825	100.0

District 19

Incumbent Republican Roger Roth declined to seek re-election, instead running for Lieutenant governor. State representative Rachael Cabral-Guevara defeated Appleton Common Councilmember Kristin Alfheim by a nine-point margin.

District 19 Republican primary ^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rachael Cabral-Guevara	11,905	63.57
	Republican	Andrew K. Thomsen	6,806	36.34
	Write-in		16	0.09
Total votes			18,727	100.0

District 19 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rachael Cabral-Guevara	42,858	54.02
	Democratic	Kristin Alfheim	36,447	45.94
	Write-in		33	0.04
Total votes			79,338	100.0

District 21

Incumbent Republican Van H. Wanggaard ran for re-election unopposed.

District 21 Republican primary ^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Van H. Wanggaard (incumbent)	20,194	74.56
	Republican	Jay Stone	6,831	25.22
	Write-in		58	0.21
Total votes			27,083	100.0

District 21 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Van H. Wanggaard (incumbent)	61,621	94.14
	Write-in		3,838	5.86
Total votes			65,459	100.0

District 23

Incumbent Republican Kathy Bernier declined to seek re-election. Republican Jesse James defeated challengers Brian Westrate and Sandra Scholz. James was unopposed in the general election.

District 23 Republican primary ^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jesse James	10,411	49.99
	Republican	Brian Westrate	7,809	37.50
	Republican	Sandra Scholz	2,588	12.43
	Write-in		18	0.09
Total votes			20,826	100.0

District 23 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jesse James	56,391	94.73
	Write-in		3,136	5.27
Total votes			59,527	100.0

District 25

Incumbent Democrat Janet Bewley declined to seek re-election. Former Republican legislator Romaine Quinn defeated Democrat Kelly Westlund by a 14-point margin.

District 25 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Romaine Quinn	47,293	56.99
	Democratic	Kelly Westlund	35,652	42.96
	Write-in		39	0.05
Total votes			82,984	100.0

District 27

Incumbent Democrat Jon Erpenbach declined to seek re-election. Democratic state representative Dianne Hesselbein defeated Republican Robert Relph by a wide margin.

District 27 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dianne Hesselbein	65,618	67.97
	Republican	Robert Relph	30,863	31.97
	Write-in		53	0.05
Total votes			96,534	100.0

District 29

Incumbent Republican Jerry Petrowski declined to seek re-election. Republican Cory Tomczyk defeated Mosinee mayor Brent Jacobson and realtor Jon P. Kaiser in the primary. Tomczyk defeated Democrat Bob Look in the general election by a wide margin.

District 29 Republican primary ^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Cory Tomczyk	10,419	43.11
	Republican	Brent Jacobson	9,302	38.49
	Republican	Jon P. Kaiser	4,428	18.32
	Write-in		18	0.07
Total votes			24,167	100.0

District 29 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Cory Tomczyk	49,602	62.43
	Democratic	Bob Look	29,798	37.50
	Write-in		54	0.07
Total votes			79,454	100.0

District 31

Incumbent Republican Jeff Smith ran for re-election. He defeated Republican David Estenson by a 0.9% margin.

District 31 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jeff Smith (incumbent)	38,936	50.42
	Republican	David Estenson	38,239	49.52
	Write-in		48	0.06
Total votes			77,223	100.0

District 33

Incumbent Republican Chris Kapenga ran for re-election unopposed.

District 31 general election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chris Kapenga (incumbent)	67,323	96.40
	Write-in		2,515	3.60
Total votes			69,838	100.0

See also

• Republican efforts to restrict voting following the 2020 presidential election: Wisconsin
• 2022 Wisconsin elections
  • 2022 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
  • 2022 Wisconsin Attorney General election
  • 2022 Wisconsin State Assembly election
  • 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin
• 2022 United States elections
• Wisconsin Senate
• Elections in Wisconsin
• Redistricting in Wisconsin

References

1. Wisconsin Elections Commission Calendar of Election Events: November 2021 –December 2023 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. October 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
2. "Republican critic of election probe, State Sen. Kathy Bernier, retiring from Senate". WTMJ-TV . January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
3. Jacobson, Louis (May 19, 2022). "The Battle for State Legislatures" . Retrieved May 19, 2022.
4. Candidate Tracking by Office 2022 General Election - 11/8/2022 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. May 31, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
5. "Statement on Decision to Not Seek Re-Election" (PDF). Office of State Senator Dale Kooyenga (Press release). April 26, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022– via Wispolitics.com.
6. "Janis Ringhand won't seek reelection to state Senate". FOX6 News Milwaukee. March 10, 2022.
7. "Spreitzer campaign: Announces campaign for state Senate". WisPolitics.com. March 10, 2022.
8. Zimmerman, Jason (February 17, 2022). "Wisconsin Senator Roger Roth running for lieutenant governor". www.wsaw.com. WSAW-TV . Retrieved March 8, 2022.
9. Bosk, Felicity (January 7, 2022). "State Sen. Kathy Bernier announces she will not seek reelection". www.wqow.com. WQOW . Retrieved March 8, 2022.
10. Bosk, Felicity (January 21, 2022). "Altoona's Jesse James announces bid for State Senate". www.wqow.com. WQOW . Retrieved March 8, 2022.
11. Lopez, Julia (January 8, 2022). "Brian Westrate announces candidacy for state senate". www.wqow.com. WQOW . Retrieved March 8, 2022.
12. Kowles, Naomi (February 6, 2022). "For the Record: Sen. Janet Bewley on stepping down, future for Democrats in legislature". www.channel3000.com. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
13. "Former Rep. Romaine Quinn to run for state senate, District 25". www.apg-wi.com. October 12, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
14. "Longtime Democratic Wisconsin Sen. Erpenbach to retire". www.wxpr.org. WXPR. December 9, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
15. "Hesselbein announces state Senate campaign". www.hngnews.com. December 16, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
16. "Sixth Wisconsin state senator won't seek reelection". Associated Press . March 10, 2022.
17. "Canvass Results for 2022 General Election - 11/8/2022" (PDF). Wisconsin Elections Commission . November 30, 2022.
18. "Canvass Results for 2022 Partisan Primary - 8/9/2022" (PDF). Wisconsin Elections Commission . August 26, 2022.

External links

• Wisconsin Elections Commission
• Wisconsin at Ballotpedia
• Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association, "Wisconsin", Voting & Elections Toolkits
• "Wisconsin: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links", Vote.org , Oakland, CA
• "League of Women Voters of Wisconsin". September 7, 2017. (state affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)
• Wisconsin 2021 & 2022 Elections, OpenSecrets