WISCONSIN 10 Electoral Votes 
link to clickable map
Population 
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau, State Elections Board)
Total Resident Population, July 1, 2016 est.                  5,778,708
Voter Registration, Nov. 2, 2016                                      3,558,877* 
Wisconsin has: 72 counties.
Largest counties: Milwaukee, Dane, Waukesha, Brown, Racine.
Largest cities: Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine. 

Government
Governor: Scott Walker (R) elected in 2010, re-elected in 2014. 
State Legislature: Wisconsin Legislature   Assembly: 99 seats  Senate: 33 seats
Local: Towns, Cities and Counties, Tribes   NACO
U.S. House: 5R, 3D - 1.P.Ryan (R) | 2. M.Pocan (D) | 3. R.Kind (D) | 4. G.Moore (D) | 5. J .Sensenbrenner (R) | 6. G.Grothman (R) | 7. S.Duffy (R) | 8. R.Ribble (R)
U.S. Senate: T. Baldwin (D) elected in 2012, Ron Johnson (R) re-elected in 2016.
2016
  



U.S. Senate: The re-match between Sen. Ron Johnson (R) and former Sen. Russ Feingold (D) was targeted by Democrats, who hoped to pick up a seat.  Johnson prevailed by 1,479,471 votes (50.2%) to 1,380,335 (46.8%) for Feingold and 87,531 (2.97%) for Phil Anderson (L).
U.S. House: In WI-8 (Northeast Wisconsin), Rep. Reid Ribble (R)'s retirement opened the seat.  Mike Gallagher (R), a former congressional staffer and veteran, defeated Outgamie County Executive Tom Nelson (D) by 62.7% to 37.3%, keeping the balance at 5R, 3D.
State Legislature:
All 99 Assembly seats and 16 of 33 Senate seats were up (even numbered districts). Republicans increased their majorities slightly, going from 63R, 36D to 64R, 35D in the Assembly and from 18R, 14D and 1v to 20R, 13D in the Senate.

State of Wisconsin
Gov't Accountability Board

Democratic Party of WI
Libertarian Party of WI
Republican Party of WI
WI Green Party
Constitution Party of WI

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, p
WSJ/Capital Times
Newspapers
TV, Radio

wispolitics.com

Politics1-WI
Ballotpedia-WI

wiflag
 The Badger State
General Election -- Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Voting Eligible Population*: 4,295,057.
VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 69.3%. (fifth highest after MN, ME, NH and CO).



*In Wisconsin one can register at the polling place on Election Day with proof of residence.  Nov. 2, 2016 registration: 3,558,877.
Late registrations: 61,505 (2.05%).
Election Day registrations: 381,444 (12.70%).
1, 2





Results (post-recount) >

 
+Trump/Pence (R)
1,405,284
(47.22)
Clinton/Kaine (D)
1,382,536 (46.45)
Johnson/Weld (L)
106,674
(3.58)
Stein/Baraka (G)
31,072
(1.04)
Castle/Bradley (C)
12,162
(0.41)
McMullin/Johnson (w/in)
11,855
(0.40)
Moorehead/Lilly (Ind.)
1,770

De La Fuente/Steinberg (Ind.)
1,502

more w/in candidates (8)
531

Scattering
22,764
(0.76)
Total........2,976,150

___________

Results (pre-recount)

 
+Trump/Pence (R)
1,404,000
(47.19)
Clinton/Kaine (D)
1,381,823 (46.44)
Johnson/Weld (L)
106,585
(3.58)
Stein/Baraka (G)
31,006
(1.04)
Castle/Bradley (C)
12,156
(0.41)
McMullin/Johnson (w/in)
9,998
(0.34)
Moorehead/Lilly (Ind.)
1,769

De La Fuente/Steinberg (Ind.)
1,514

more w/in candidates (8)
460

Scattering
26,002
(0.87)
Total........2,975,313


Total voters: 3,004,051.
Absentee electors: 819,316  ...27.27%.

Overview: Donald Trump achieved a surprise victory in Wisconsin, becoming the first Republican nominee tto carry the Badger State since Ronald Reagan in 1980 and 1984. 
   Although Clinton lost the April 5 primary to Sen. Bernie Sanders by 56.6% to 43.0%, she did not make a single post-primary visit while Trump and Pence stopped in periodically throughout the fall.  The Trump campaign also made a late digital and TV advertising push here and in Michigan.  The Clinton campaign and the pro-Clinton Priorities USA Action invested relatively little in advertising in Wisconsin.
    In 2016 provisions of the
controversial voter ID measure signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker back in May 2011 finally took effect even as the measure was enmeshed in ongoing litigation .
    Turnout (highest office as a share of voting eligible population), although the fifth highest of any state, was down 3.3% from 2012 and was the lowest since 2000. 

   There was a recount, but it affected the results only marginally.  Trump finished with a plurality of 22,748 votes (0.74 percentage points), carrying 60 counties to 12 for the Democratic ticket.  Wisconsin was the third closest state after Michigan and New Hampshire.
General Election Details
Clinton  |  Trump
BALLOT [PDF]
[State Primary: August 9, 2016]
Presidential Preference Primary -- Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Democrats
96 Delegates: 57 District, 19 At-Large, 10 PLEO and 10 Unpledged.

details


Republicans
42 Delegates: 3 RNC; 15 At-Large; 24 by CD (3 x 8).

details



General Election Winners in Wisconsin, 1992-2012
1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012
Clinton
41.13%
Clinton
48.81%
Gore
47.83%
Kerry
49.70%
Obama
56.22%
Obama
52.83%
  and the details...
 
General Election -- Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Voting Eligible Population*: 4,120,694.
VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 72.4%.


In Wisconsin one can register at the polling place on Election Day with proof of residence.






Official Results >

 
Romney/Ryan (Rep.)
1,407,966
(45.89)
+Obama/Biden (Dem.)
1,620,985
(52.83)
Goode/Clymer (Const.)
4,930
(0.16)
Johnson/Gray (Ind.)
20,439
(0.67)
La Riva/Ramirez (Ind.)
526
(0.02)
White/Scherrer (Ind.)
533
(0.02)
Stein/Manski (Ind.) 7,665
(0.25)
Anderson/Rodriguez (w/in)
112

Barr/Sheehan (w/in) 88

Scattering
5,170
(0.17)
Total........3,068,434

"scattering" refers to write-in votes for unregistered candidates.
2012 Overview
Republicans saw encouraging signs in their success in the June 5 recall election and Romney's selection of Rep. Paul Ryan put the state in play, but when the votes were counted the Obama-Biden ticket won with a plurality of 213,019 votes (7.06 percentage points), carrying 35 counties to 37 for Romney-Ryan.  Wisconsin had the second highest turnout as a percentage of voting eligilble population, trailing only Minnesota.
General Election Details
Obama  |  Romney
BALLOT [PDF]

General Election -- Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Voting Eligible Population*: 4,113,565.
VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 72.5%.


As of Oct. 31, 2008 there were 3,502,196 registered voters.  In Wisconsin one can register at the polling place on Election Day with proof of residence.

Registered voters can vote absentee and are not required to provide any reason.



+
Official Results >


+Obama/Biden (Dem.)
1,677,211
(56.22)
McCain/Palin (Rep.)
1,262,393
(42.31)
McKinney/Clemente (Grn.)
4,216
(0.14)
Barr/Root (Lib.)
8,858
(0.30)
Moore/Alexander (Ind.)
540
(0.02)
La Riva/Moses (Ind.)
237
(0.01)
Nader/Gonzalez (Ind.)
17,605
(0.59)
Baldwin/Castle (Ind.)
5,072
(0.17)
Wamboldt/Klimisch
764
(0.03)
Scattering
6,521
(0.22)
Total........2,983,417


On Sept. 9, 2008 Kevin J. Kennedy, Director and General Counsel of the Government Accountability Board certified nine candidates for the presidential ballot.
2008 Overview
In both 2004 and 2000, the Democratic margin of victory in the presidential race had been less than one percentage point; indeed in 2004 Wisconsin had the smallest margin of any state.  2008 was a very different story as the Obama-Biden ticket won by a comfortable margin, gaining a plurality of 414,818 votes (13.91 percentage points) and carrying 59 counties to 13 for McCain-Palin.
General Election Details
Obama/Allies  |  McCain/Allies  Nader


General Election -- Tuesday, November 2, 2004
Voting Eligible Population*: 4,006,948.
VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 74.8%.


Wisconsin has Election Day registration at polling place with verification of residence (since 1976).


Total voters: 3,003,083.

No early voting; people can request an absentee ballot from their municipal clerk without providing an explanation.  Municipal clerks (there are 1,850) can start sending out absentee ballots to people who have requested them 30 days before the election. 
Absentee vote: 364,639.
Official Results

+Kerry/Edwards (Dem.)
1,489,504 (49.70)
Bush/Cheney (Rep.) 1,478,120 (49.32)
Badnarik/Campagna (Lib.) 6,464 (0.22)
Cobb/LaMarche (Grn.) 2,661 (0.09)
Nader/Camejo (Ind.) 16,390 (0.55)
Harris/Trowe (SWP) 411 (0.01)
Brown/Hebert (Soc.) 471 (0.02)
Scatter 2,986 (0.1)
Total........2,997,007  

2004 Overview
As in 2000 the race in Wisconsin was tightly fought to the end and as in 2000 the Democratic ticket narrowly prevailed.  Kerry-Edwards secured a plurality of 11,384 votes (0.38 percentage points).  Bush carried 45 counties to 27 for Kerry.  Wisconsin received numerous visits from the candidates and their wives, and intense advertising (Milwaukee Mix: The Ad Campaign).
General Election Details  |  Photos
Kerry/Allies  |  Bush-Cheney '04

General Election -- Tuesday, November 7, 2000
Voting Eligible Population*: 3,842,044.
VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 67.6%.



Total voters: 2,619,184.
Absentee vote: 160,425.

Official Results


Bush/Cheney (Rep.)  1,237,279 (47.61)
+Gore/Lieberman (Dem.)  1,242,987 (47.83)
Browne/Olivier (Lib.)  6,640 (0.26)
Phillips/Frazier (Const.)  2,042 (0.07)
Nader/LaDuke (Grn.)  94,070 (3.62)
Moorehead/LaRiva(WWP)  1,063 (0.04)
Harris/Trowe (SWP) 306  - 
Hagelin/Goldhaber (Ref.) 878 (0.03)
Buchanan-Foster (Ref.) 11,446 (0.44)
Scattering 1,896 (0.07)
Total........2,598,607

2000 Overview
Both major campaigns poured significant resources into the battleground state of Wisconsin.  Ralph Nader's appeal in this state gave the Bush forces grounds for optimism, but on Election Day the Gore-Lieberman ticket eked out a narrow win, gaining a plurality of 5,708 votes (0.22 percentage points) over Bush-Cheney.  Bush carried 46 counties to Gore's 26.  By comparison, in 1996, when Dole did not actively compete in the state, the Dole-Kemp ticket carried just 11 counties, while Clinton-Gore won in 61.  Four-term Gov. Tommy Thompson was an ardent Bush supporter, and his organization provided a foundation for Bush's strong showing as the state's electors nearly went into the Republican column for the first time since 1984.
General Election Activity  |  Photos

1992 and 1996 General Elections

1992
Clinton (Dem.)....1,041,066 (41.13)
Bush (Rep.)..........930,855 (36.78)
Perot (Ind.)............544,479
 (21.51)
Others (11+scat).....14,714
(0.58)
Total........2,531,114

1996
Clinton (Dem.).....1,071,971 (48.81)
Dole (Rep.)............845,029  (38.48)
Perot (Ref.)............227,339
 (10.35)
Nader (Ind.).............28,723
(1.31)
Others (6+scat).......23,107
(1.05)
Total........2,196,169
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