Mayoral elections in Madison, Wisconsin

Last updated

Nonpartisan elections are currently held every four years to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin.

Contents

Elections before 1997

1997 (special)

Madison mayoral special election, 1997
Flag of Madison, Wisconsin (1962-2018).svg
 1995February 17, 1997 (primary) [1]
April 1, 1997 (general) [2]
1999  
Turnout26% reg. voters [a] Increase2.svg3 pp (primary)
32% reg. voters Decrease2.svg 2 pp (general)
 
Candidate Susan J. M. Bauman Wayne Bigelow
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote25,45525,389
Percentage49.23%49.10%

Mayor before election

Paul Soglin
Democratic

Elected mayor

Susan J. M. Bauman
Democratic

The 1997 Madison mayoral special election was held February 17 and April 1, 1997, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It was held after the resignation of incumbent mayor Paul Soglin. It saw the election of Susan J. M. Bauman.

Candidates

Results

The February county and city primaries saw 42,483 ballots cast in Madison, reported as a turnout of 26% [7] (compared to election-eve voter registration).

1997 Madison mayoral primary results [7] [1]
CandidateVotes %
Wayne Bigelow 9,33222.38
Susan J. M. Bauman 9,10021.82
Ray Allen7,95419.07
John Hendrick6,87516.49
David Travis 4,58811.00
Mary Lang-Sollinger 3,5138.42
Richard H. Anderson1980.48
Tom Neale1450.35
Total votes41,695 100
Undervotes7881.85
Voter turnout25%

The April county and city general elections saw 52,619 ballots cast in Madison, reported as a turnout of 32% [7] (compared to election-eve voter registration).

1997 Madison mayoral general election results [7] [2]
CandidateVotes %
Susan J. M. Bauman 25,45549.23
Wayne Bigelow 25,38949.10
Denis Collins write-in4620.89
Other write-ins3980.76
Total votes51,704 100
Undervotes9151.74
Voter turnout32%

1999

Madison mayoral election, 1999
Flag of Madison, Wisconsin (1962-2018).svg
  1997 (special) April 9, 1999 [8] 2003  
Turnout31% reg. voters [a] Decrease2.svg1 pp
 
Candidate Susan J. M. Bauman Eugene Parks
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote35,2048,294
Percentage80.04%18.85%

Mayor before election

Susan J. M. Bauman
Democratic

Elected mayor

Susan J. M. Bauman
Democratic

The 1999 Madison mayoral election was held April 9, 1999, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Susan J. M. Bauman.

Since only two candidates ran, no primary was held.

Results

The April county and city general saw 45,248 ballots cast in Madison, reported as a turnout of 31% [7] (compared to election-eve voter registration).

1999 Madison mayoral general election results [7] [9]
CandidateVotes %
Susan J. M. Bauman (incumbent)35,20480.04
Eugene Parks8,29418.85
Write-ins 4831.09
Total votes43,981 100
Undervotes1,2672.80
Voter turnout31%

2003

2003 Madison mayoral election
Flag of Madison, Wisconsin (1962-2018).svg
  1999 February 20, 2003 (primary) [8]
April 4, 2003 (general) [8]
2007  
Turnout26% reg. voters [a] Steady2.svg (primary)
38% reg. voters Increase2.svg7 pp (general)
  Dave Cieslewicz (4077437123) (1).jpg Mayor Soglin (16213420123) (1).jpg
Candidate Dave Cieslewicz Paul Soglin
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote29,71728,528
Percentage50.76%48.73%

Mayor before election

Susan J. M. Bauman
Democratic

Elected mayor

Dave Cieslewicz
Democratic

The 2003 Madison mayoral election was held February 20 and April 4, 2003, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw the election of Dave Cieslewicz. Incumbent mayor Susan J. M. Bauman was eliminated in the primary.

Candidates

Results

2003 Madison mayoral primary results [7] [10]
CandidateVotes %
Dave Cieslewicz 14,32635.16
Paul R. Soglin 14,14434.72
Bert G. Zipperer6,61016.22
Susan J. M. Bauman (incumbent)4,68111.49
Will Sandstrom4921.20
Davy Mayer3890.95
Write-ins 920.22
Total votes40,734 100
Undervotes2450.60
Voter turnout26%
2003 Madison mayoral general election results [7] [11]
CandidateVotes %
Dave Cieslewicz 29,71750.76
Paul R. Soglin 28,52848.73
Write-ins 2910.49
Total votes58,536 100
Undervotes5551.35
Voter turnout38%

2007

2007 Madison mayoral election
Flag of Madison, Wisconsin (1962-2018).svg
  2003 February 22, 2007 (primary) [8]
April 5, 2007 (general) [8]
2011  
Turnout17% reg. voters [a] Decrease2.svg9 pp (primary)
30% reg. voters Decrease2.svg 2 pp (general)
  Dave Cieslewicz (4077437123) (1).jpg 3x4.svg
Candidate Dave Cieslewicz Ray Allen
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote30,81218,816
Percentage61.78%37.72%

Mayor before election

Dave Cieslewicz
Democratic

Elected mayor

Dave Cieslewicz
Democratic

The 2007 Madison mayoral election was held February 22 and April 5, 2007, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Dave Cieslewicz.

Candidates

Results

2007 Madison mayoral primary results [7] [12]
CandidateVotes %
Dave Cieslewicz (incumbent)15,48857.50
Ray Allen8,04229.86
Peter Munoz2,6619.88
Will Sandstrom6412.38
Write-ins 1000.37
Total votes26,932 100
Undervotes3001.10
Voter turnout17%
2007 Madison mayoral general election results [7] [13]
CandidateVotes %
Dave Cieslewicz (incumbent)30,81261.78
Ray Allen18,81637.72
Write-ins 2440.48
Total votes49,872 100
Undervotes1,5193.14
Voter turnout30%

2011

2011 Madison mayoral election
Flag of Madison, Wisconsin (1962-2018).svg
  2007 February 15, 2011 (primary) [8]
April 5, 2011 (general) [8]
2015  
Turnout22% reg. voters [a] Increase2.svg5 pp (primary)
54% reg. voters Increase2.svg 24 pp (general)
  Mayor Soglin (16213420123) (1).jpg Dave Cieslewicz (4077437123) (1).jpg
Candidate Paul Soglin Dave Cieslewicz
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote44,54243,829
Percentage49.76%48.96%

Mayor before election

Dave Cieslewicz
Democratic

Elected mayor

Paul Soglin
Democratic

The 2011 Madison mayoral election was held April 4, 2003, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw former mayor Paul Soglin return to the mayoralty by unseating incumbent mayor Dave Cieslewicz.

The primary and general election both coincided with those for a high-profile state supreme court race.

Candidates

Results

2011 Madison mayoral primary results [7] [14]
CandidateVotes %
Paul R. Soglin 18,69349.49
Dave Cieslewicz (incumbent)17,50046.33
Nick Hart5981.58
John Blotz5691.50
Dennis Amadeus de Nure2740.72
Write-ins 1370.36
Total votes37,771 100
Undervotes8182.12
Voter turnout22%
2011 Madison mayoral general election results [7] [15]
CandidateVotes %
Paul R. Soglin 44,54249.76
Dave Cieslewicz (incumbent)43,82948.96
Write-ins 1,1331.26
Total votes89,504 100
Undervotes4,4724.76
Voter turnout54%

2015

2015 Madison mayoral election
Flag of Madison, Wisconsin (1962-2018).svg
  2011 February 17, 2015 (primary) [8]
April 7, 2015 (general) [8]
2019  
Turnout12% reg. voters [a] Decrease2.svg10 pp (primary)
30% reg. voters Decrease2.svg 20 pp (general)
  Mayor Soglin (16213420123) (1).jpg 3x4.svg
Candidate Paul Soglin Scott Resnick
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote37,73414,195
Percentage72.0%27.1%

Mayor before election

Paul Soglin
Democratic

Elected mayor

Paul Soglin
Democratic

The 2015 Madison mayoral election was held February 17 and April 7, 2015, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Paul Soglin.

Candidates

Results

2015 Madison mayoral primary results [7] [18]
CandidateVotes %
Paul R. Soglin (incumbent)11,85652.8
Scott Resnick 5,22323.3
Bridget Maniaci3,31114.7
Richard V. Brown, Sr.1,0344.6
Christopher Daly9734.3
Write-ins 630.3
Total votes22,460 100
Undervotes
Voter turnout12%
2015 Madison mayoral general election results [7] [19]
CandidateVotes %
Paul R. Soglin (incumbent)37,73472.0
Scott Resnick 14,19527.1
Write-ins 5061.0
Total votes52,435 100
Undervotes1,8123.34
Voter turnout30%

2019

2019 Madison mayoral election
Flag of Madison, Wisconsin (2018).svg
  2015 February 19, 2019 (primary) [8]
April 2, 2019 (general) [8]
2023  
Turnout21% reg. voters [a] Increase2.svg9 pp (primary)
44% reg. voters Increase2.svg14 pp (general)
  Satya Rhodes-Conway 191109-Z-HD478-979 (1).jpg Mayor Soglin (16213420123) (1).jpg
Candidate Satya Rhodes-Conway Paul Soglin
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote47,91529,150
Percentage61.9%37.7%

Mayor before election

Paul Soglin
Democratic

Elected mayor

Satya Rhodes-Conway
Democratic

The 2019 Madison mayoral election was held February 19 and April 2, 2019, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw the election of Satya Rhodes-Conway, who unseated incumbent mayor Paul Soglin. Conway became the second woman and the first openly-gay individual elected mayor in the city's history. [20] [21]

Candidates

Results

2019 Madison mayoral primary results [7] [23]
CandidateVotes %
Paul R. Soglin (incumbent)10,77128.6
Satya Rhodes-Conway 10,44827.7
Mo Cheeks8,80123.3
Raj Shukla6,95418.4
Nick Hart3861.0
Write-ins 3460.9
Total votes37,706 100
Undervotes470.12
Voter turnout21%
2019 Madison mayoral general election results [7] [24]
CandidateVotes %
Satya Rhodes-Conway 47,91561.9
Paul R. Soglin (incumbent)29,15037.7
Write-ins 3110.4
Total votes77,376 100
Undervotes2,0772.61
Voter turnout44%

2023

2023 Madison mayoral election
Flag of Madison, Wisconsin (2018).svg
  2019 February 21, 2023 (primary)
April 4, 2023 (general)
2027 
Turnout21% reg. voters [a] Increase2.svg18 pp (primary)
63% reg. voters Increase2.svg19 pp (general)
  Satya Rhodes-Conway IMG 4059 (1) 3x4b.jpg Gloria Reyes at Mayoral Candidacy Announcement (1).webp
Candidate Satya Rhodes-Conway Gloria Reyes
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote63,06650,402
Percentage55.2%44.1%

2023 Madison, Wisconsin mayoral election results by Alderman district.svg
Results by alderman district

Mayor before election

Satya Rhodes-Conway
Nonpartisan

Elected mayor

Satya Rhodes-Conway
Nonpartisan

Rhodes-Conway at a campaign party on the night of the primary election Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway (52704039382).jpg
Rhodes-Conway at a campaign party on the night of the primary election

The 2023 Madison mayoral election was held on April 4, 2023, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin.

A primary election was held on February 21, 2023, to narrow down the candidates to two. It saw record turnout due to the concurrent primary for the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Satya Rhodes-Conway and Gloria Reyes qualified for the general election, while Scott Kerr was eliminated. Daniel Howell Jr., a write-in candidate, planned on running as a write-in candidate for the general election in addition to the primary. [25]

Candidates

Forums

2023 Madison mayoral candidate forums [31]
No.DateHostLink Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Key:

 P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited O Out of race

Daniel Howell Jr.Scott KerrGloria Reyes Satya Rhodes-Conway
1January 30, 2023Community associations [b] YouTube NPPP
2January 31, 2023 Urban League of Greater Madison [c] YouTube NPPP
3February 27, 2023Wisconsin Policy Forum [d] YouTube NOPP

Endorsements

Satya Rhodes-Conway

U.S. Representatives

County officials

Madison alders

  • Juliana Bennett, 8th ward (2021–present) [33]
  • Patrick Heck, 2nd ward (2019–present) [33]
  • Sabrina Madison, 17th ward (2022–present) [32]
  • Erik Paulson, 3rd ward (2022–present) [33]
  • Mike Verveer, 4th ward (1995–present) [33]

Madison school board members

  • Savion Castro, 2nd ward (2019–present) [32]
  • Ali Muldrow, 4th ward (2019–present) [32]
  • Nicki Vander Meulen, 7th ward (2017–present) [32]

Editorial boards

Labor unions

Organizations

Political Parties

Gloria Reyes

County officials

Local officials

Editorial boards

Labor unions

  • Madison Professional Police Officers Association [49]

Political parties

Results

2023 Madison mayoral primary results [7] [50]
CandidateVotes %
Satya Rhodes-Conway (incumbent)43,82259.5
Gloria Reyes20,50727.9
Scott Kerr8,65811.8
Write-ins [e] 6080.8
Total votes73,595 100
Undervotes2,1412.83
Voter turnout39%
2023 Madison mayoral runoff results [7] [51]
CandidateVotes %
Satya Rhodes-Conway (incumbent)63,06655.2
Gloria Reyes50,40244.1
Write-ins 7550.7
Total votes114,223 100
Undervotes6,1705.12
Voter turnout63%

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Wisconsin allows same-day voter registration. "Registered voters" election turnout is calculated by dividing the ballots cast (a figure that includes ballots cast voters who registered day-of on Election Day) by the voter registration as it stood on the eve of Election Day (a total which excludes day-of voters).
  2. Hosted by Midvale Heights Community Association, Sunset Village Community Association, Regent Neighborhood Association, Westmorland Neighborhood Association, Summit Woods Neighborhood Association, University Hill Farms Association, and Crawford Marlborough Nakoma Neighborhood.
  3. Co-hosted by NAACP Dane County Branch, 100 Black Men of Madison, and Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement.
  4. Co-hosted by Downtown Madison, Inc.
  5. Includes Daniel Howell Jr., who ran as a write-in candidate.

References

  1. 1 2 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/19/1997
  2. 1 2 "1997 April 1 General Election Results from Unofficial Canvass". Dane County Clerk's Office. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Lueders, Bill (February 15, 2007). "Did he or didn't he?". Isthmus. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  4. Scherling, Matt (October 1, 2002). "Wayne Bigelow no longer mayoral gigolo". The Badger Herald. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  5. Becker, Abigail (August 14, 2017). "Dane County Board Supervisor John Hendrick will not seek re-election in 2018". The Cap Times. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  6. Nichols, John (January 14, 2009). "FRIEND OF BARACK MADISON'S MARY LANG SOLLINGER, AN EARLY SUPPORTER OF OBAMA, HELPED RAISE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THE PRESIDENT-ELECT". Madison.com. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Madison Election Turnout History". Madison City Clerk. Retrieved February 19, 2025. accessed by way of "Election Day 2024". City of Madison.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Past Elections". Dane County Clerk's Office. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  9. "1999 Spring Election". Dane County Clerk's Office. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  10. "2003 February Primary Results from Official Canvass". Dane County Clerk's Office. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  11. "2003 Spring Election Results from Official Canvass". Dane County Clerk's Office. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  12. "Spring Primary Election Results from Official Canvass". Dane County Clerk's Office. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  13. "Spring Election Results from Official Canvass". Dane County Clerk's Office. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  14. "2011 Spring Primary Results from Official Canvass". Dane County Clerk's Office. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  15. "2011 Spring Election Results from Official Canvass". Dane County Clerk's Office. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  16. Tarr, Joe (July 15, 2014). "Bridget Maniaci criticizes Paul Soglin's style and agenda in her run for mayor of Madison". Isthmus. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  17. Maniaci, Bridget (July 24, 2018). "Bridget Maniaci: Madison deserves a real race for mayor, not a candidate picked by the elite". The Capital Times. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  18. "2015 Spring Primary". Dane County Clerk's Office. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  19. "2015 Spring Election". Dane County Clerk's Office. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  20. "Rhodes-Conway ousts longtime Madison Mayor Soglin". Star Tribune. Associated Press. April 2, 2019. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019 via Journal Times.
  21. Mosiman, Dean (April 3, 2019). "Satya Rhodes-Conway trounces Paul Soglin to become Madison's mayor". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  22. "Madison Alder Mo Cheeks running for mayor". Channel 3000. July 12, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  23. "2019 Spring Primary". Dane County Clerk's Office. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  24. "2019 Spring Election". Dane County Clerk's Office. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  25. Garfield, Allison (February 22, 2023). "Madison primary results: Rhodes-Conway, Reyes advance to April mayoral election". The Cap Times. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  26. Journal, Dean Mosiman | Wisconsin State (February 2, 2023). "Former Badger football player running for Madison mayor as write-in candidate". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  27. Affair, A. Public (January 11, 2023). "Scott Kerr is Running for Madison Mayor". WORT-FM 89.9. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  28. Garfield, Allison (March 21, 2023). "Gloria Reyes is wrong about BRT, Madison Metro leader says". The Capital Times . Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  29. 1 2 "OUR VIEW: Give Gloria Reyes a chance to lead Madison". Wisconsin State Journal . March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  30. Girard, Allison Garfield and Scott (November 10, 2022). "Former school board president Gloria Reyes will run for Madison mayor". The Cap Times. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  31. "Mayoral Forums 2023". Madison Public Library . January 31, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Brogan, Dylan (March 9, 2023). "The Madison mayor's race is a referendum on the last four years". Isthmus . Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "RESCHEDULED – BUILDING AN EQUITABLE MADISON – EVENT AT NORTH STREET CABARET". Our Lives Wisconsin. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  34. "The Badger Herald Editorial Board endorses Mayor Rhodes-Conway for second term". The Badger Herald . March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  35. "Editorial | We endorse Satya Rhodes-Conway and her vision for the future". The Capital Times . March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  36. "Spring 2023 Endorsements". AFT Wisconsin. February 8, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  37. "The MTI-Voters Committee Endorsed Candidates". MTI Madison Teachers Inc. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  38. "Spring 2023 Election - Endorsed Candidates". Wisconsin State AFL-CIO . Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  39. @314Action (March 15, 2023). ""Meet Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway of Madison, WI! She uses her STEM background daily to analyze data and choose evidence-based solutions, whether it's to build more housing or combat climate change. Her election is on April 4th - join us in supporting her!"". Twitter . Retrieved March 23, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  40. "Citizen Action 2023 Spring Election Endorsements". Citizen Action of Wisconsin. March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  41. "EMILY's List Endorses Satya Rhodes-Conway for Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin". EMILY's List . January 18, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  42. "Fair Wisconsin PAC endorsements for the spring 2023 election cycle". Fair Wisconsin . Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  43. ""Our Candidates: We work to build long-term LGBTQ+ political power by helping elect LGBTQ+ leaders at every level of government."". LGBTQ Victory Fund. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  44. 1 2 Kelly, Jack; Garfield, Allison; Girard, Scott (March 22, 2023). "Madison voting guide: Wisconsin Supreme Court, mayor and more". The Capital Times . Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  45. "Endorsed Candidates". Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  46. @BoldProgressive (March 16, 2023). "During her first term as Mayor, @SatyaForMadison fought special interests & won – making it easier for Madison, WI families to find affordable housing & get on a pathway to homeownership. The fight is far from over, though, and that's why we're endorsing Satya for re-election.'". Twitter . Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  47. "Press Releases: Wisconsin Conservation Voters: Endorses three mayoral candidates for the Spring Election". WisPolitics. February 15, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  48. 1 2 "Spring 2023 endorsements". DaneDems. March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  49. Viviani, Nick (March 20, 2023). "Madison police union endorses challenger Reyes for mayor". NBC News 15 Madison. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  50. "2023 Spring Primary". Dane County Clerk's Office. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  51. "2023 Spring Election". Dane County Clerk's Office. Retrieved April 5, 2023.

Official campaign websites