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16 of 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate 17 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Map of the incumbents: Democratic hold Republican hold No election | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Wisconsin |
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The 2008 Wisconsin Senate election was held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. Sixteen of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election—the even-numbered districts. Prior to the election 17 seats were held by Democrats, 14 were held by Republicans, and 2 seats were vacant.
The primary was held on September 9, 2008, and the filing deadline was July 8, 2008.
Summary
Seats | Party (majority caucus shading)
|
Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Republican | |||
Last election (2006) | 9 | 8 | 17 | |
Total after last election (2006) | 18 | 15 | 33 | |
Total before this election | 18 | 15 | 33 | |
Up for election | 8 | 8 | 16 | |
of which: | Incumbent retiring | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Vacated | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Unopposed | 4 | 2 | 6 | |
This election | 8 | 8 | 16 | |
Change from last election | ![]() |
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Total after this election | 18 | 15 | 33 | |
Change in total | ![]() |
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Close races
Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
- State Senate district 18, 0.19%
- State Senate district 8, 1.01%
- State Senate district 12, 2.48%
- State Senate district 32, 2.85%
Outgoing incumbents
Vacated
- Roger Breske (D–Eland), first elected to the 12th district in a 1990 special election, resigned his seat on June 4, 2008, after being appointed Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner by governor Jim Doyle.[1]
- Carol Roessler (R–Oshkosh), first elected to the 18th district in a 1987 special election, resigned her seat on July 4, 2008, after being appointed Administrator of State and Local Finance by governor Jim Doyle.
Results summary
Dist. | Incumbent | This race[a][2] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Member | Party | First
elected |
Status | Candidates | Results | |
02 | Robert Cowles | Rep. | 1987 (special) |
Incumbent Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
04 | Lena Taylor | Dem. | 2004 | Incumbent Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
06 | Spencer Coggs | Dem. | 2003 (recall) | Incumbent Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
08 | Alberta Darling | Rep. | 1992 | Incumbent Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
10 | Sheila Harsdorf | Rep. | 2000 | Incumbent Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
12 | --Vacant[b]-- |
|
New member elected. Democratic hold | |||
14 | Luther Olsen | Rep. | 2004 | Incumbent Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
16 | Mark Miller | Dem. | 2004 | Incumbent Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
18 | --Vacant[c]-- |
|
New member elected. Republican hold | |||
20 | Glenn Grothman | Rep. | 2004 | Incumbent Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
22 | Robert Wirch | Dem. | 1996 | Incumbent Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
24 | Julie Lassa | Dem. | 2003 (special) |
Incumbent Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
26 | Fred Risser | Dem. | 1962 (special) |
Incumbent Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
28 | Mary Lazich | Rep. | 1998 (special) |
Incumbent Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
30 | Dave Hansen | Dem. | 2000 | Incumbent Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
32 | Dan Kapanke | Rep. | 2004 | Incumbent Ran |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
Notes
- ^ Not all totals add up to 100% due to scattering
- ^ Roger Breske (D) resigned June 4, 2008
- ^ Carol Roessler (R) resigned July 4, 2008
References
- ^ Richmond, Todd (May 20, 2008). "Rail commissioner named". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 5. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wisconsin Bluebook 2009/2010". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. p. 911. Retrieved March 22, 2024.