2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin

2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin

← 2016 November 6, 2018 2020 →
All 8 Wisconsin seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Republican Democratic Last election 5 3 Seats won 5 3 Seat change Popular vote 1,172,993 1,367,497 Percentage 45.61% 53.18% Swing 0.20% 3.42%
Republican   50–60%   60–70% Democratic   50–60%   70–80%   90>%

Elections in Wisconsin
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The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin were held on November 6, 2018, to elect the eight U.S. Representatives from the state of Wisconsin, one from each of the state's eight congressional districts. The elections coincided with other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The Wisconsin Partisan Primary was held on August 14, 2018, with the governor, U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, odd-numbered Wisconsin State Senate seats, and all Wisconsin Assembly seats on the ballot.^[1] Wisconsin was notable in 2018 for being the only state in which the party receiving the majority of votes held a minority of congressional seats.^[2]

Results summary[]

Statewide[]

Party		Candi- dates	Votes		Seats
			No.	%	No.	+/–	%
	Democratic Party	8	1,367,492	53.18%	3		37.50%
	Republican Party	7	1,172,964	45.61%	5		62.50%
	Independent	3	21,592	0.84%	0		0.00%
	Write-in	6	49	0.00%	0		0.00%
	Scattering		9,558	0.37%	0		0.00%
Total		24	2,571,655	100.00%	8		100.00%

Popular vote Democratic   53.18% Republican   45.61% Other   1.21%

House seats Republican   62.50% Democratic   37.50%

District[]

Results of the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin by district:^[3]

District	Democratic		Republican		Others		Total		Result
	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%
District 1	137,508	42.27%	177,492	54.56%	10,317	3.17%	325,317	100.00%	Republican Hold
District 2	309,116	97.42%	0	0.00%	8,179	2.58%	317,295	100.00%	Democratic Hold
District 3	187,888	59.65%	126,980	40.31%	121	0.04%	314,989	100.00%	Democratic Hold
District 4	206,487	75.61%	59,091	21.64%	7,509	2.75%	273,087	100.00%	Democratic Hold
District 5	138,385	37.99%	225,619	61.93%	284	0.08%	364,288	100.00%	Republican Hold
District 6	144,536	44.46%	180,311	55.47%	218	0.07%	325,065	100.00%	Republican Hold
District 7	124,307	38.50%	194,061	60.11%	4,472	1.39%	322,840	100.00%	Republican Hold
District 8	119,265	36.28%	209,410	63.69%	99	0.03%	328,774	100.00%	Republican Hold
Total	1,367,492	53.18%	1,172,964	45.61%	31,199	1.21%	2,571,655	100.00%

District 1[]

The 1st congressional district is located in southeastern Wisconsin, covering Kenosha County, Racine County and most of Walworth County, as well as portions of Rock County, Waukesha County and Milwaukee County. The district's Representative was Republican, Paul Ryan, then Speaker of the House of Representatives and Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States in the 2012 U.S. presidential election. The district's Partisan Voter Index is R+5, indicating a slight Republican lean.

Ryan could potentially have seen a close race; in hypothetical polling, his main Democratic challenger, Randy Bryce, was behind Ryan by only seven points. Ryan was also facing challenges in the Republican primary from Paul Nehlen, who also challenged Ryan in 2016, and from Nick Polce. Ryan announced on April 11, 2018, that he is not seeking re-election.^[4][5][6] On April 22, Bryan Steil, member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents and former personal driver to Ryan, announced his bid for the seat, with news outlets reporting Steil as the Republican Party nominee front-runner.^[7][8]

Two Democrats announced; ironworker Randy Bryce and Janesville school board member Cathy Myers.

Democratic primary[]

Nominee

• Randy Bryce, Ironworker, union activist^[9]

Eliminated in primary

• Cathy Myers, Janesville School Board member (endorsed Randy Bryce)^[10][11]

Declined

• Peter Barca Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, and former U.S. Representative^[12]

Endorsements[]

Polling[]

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Randy Bryce	Cathy Myers	Undecided
Remington (R-CLF)	July 8–9, 2018	1,020	± 3.1%	33%	34%	33%

Primary results[]

Democratic primary results^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Randy Bryce	36,397	59.6
	Democratic	Cathy Myers	24,690	40.4
Total votes			61,087	100.0

Republican primary[]

Nominee

• Bryan Steil, University of Wisconsin Board of Regents member^[17][18][7]

Eliminated in primary

• Paul Nehlen, businessman and white nationalist^{[19][20][21][22]}
• Nick Polce, businessman and former Green Beret^[23][24][25]
• Jeremy Ryan, activist^[26][27]
• Kevin Adam Steen, applications engineer^[26]

Withdrew

• Brad Boivin, psychologist^[28] (endorsed Steil)^[29]
• Jeff Wamboldt, county supervisor and police officer^[30][31]

Declined

• Tyler August, Speaker Pro-Tempore of the Wisconsin State Assembly^[17][32]
• Dave Craig, State Senator^[17][33]
• Samantha Kerkman, Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly^[17][34]
• Steve Nass, state senator^[17]
• Mark Neumann, former U.S. Representative and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1998^[35]
• Reince Priebus, former White House Chief of Staff, former chairman of the Republican National Committee and former chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin^[17]
• Paul Ryan, incumbent representative and 54th Speaker of the House^[4][5][6]
• Robin Vos, Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly^[17]
• Van Wanggaard, state senator^[17]

Endorsements[]

Primary results[]

Republican primary results^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bryan Steil	30,883	51.6
	Republican	Nick Polce	8,945	14.9
	Republican	Paul Nehlen	6,635	11.1
	Republican	Kevin Adam Steen	6,262	10.5
	Republican	Jeremy Ryan	6,221	10.4
	Republican	Brad Boivin	924	1.5
Total votes			59,870	100.0

General election[]

Predictions[]

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[47]	Lean R	August 24, 2018
Sabato's Crystal Ball[48]	Lean R	August 23, 2018

Endorsements[]

Polling[]

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bryan Steil (R)	Randy Bryce (D)	Undecided
Change Research (D-Bryce)	October 19–21, 2018	551	–	44%	45%	–
NYT Upshot/Siena College	September 11–13, 2018	500	± 4.7%	50%	44%	6%
Global Strategy Group (D-Bryce)	September 4–8, 2018	400	± 4.9%	45%	45%	10%
Global Strategy Group (D-Bryce)	July 11–15, 2018	401	± 4.9%	40%	41%	—

Results[]

Wisconsin's 1st congressional district, 2018

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bryan Steil	177,492	54.6
	Democratic	Randy Bryce	137,508	42.2
	Independent	Ken Yorgan	10,006	3.1
	Independent	Joseph Kexel (write-in)	7	0.0
	N/A	Write-ins	304	0.1
Total votes			325,317	100.0
	Republican hold

District 2[]

The 2nd congressional district covers Dane County, Iowa County, Lafayette County, Sauk County and Green County, as well as portions of Richland County and Rock County. The district includes Madison, the state's capital, its suburbs and some of the surrounding areas. The district is currently represented by Democrat Mark Pocan, who succeeded current Senator Tammy Baldwin in 2013. The PVI is D+18.

Democratic primary[]

Declared

• Mark Pocan, incumbent representative

Primary results[]

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mark Pocan (incumbent)	115,246	100.0
Total votes			115,246	100.0

General election[]

Results[]

Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district, 2018

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mark Pocan (incumbent)	309,116	97.4
	Republican	Joey Wayne Reed (write-in)	29	0.0
	Independent	Rick Cruz (write-in)	8	0.0
	Democratic	Bradley Jason Burt (write-in)	1	0.0
	N/A	Write-ins	8,141	2.6
Total votes			317,295	100.0
	Democratic hold

District 3[]

The 3rd congressional district covers much of the Driftless Area in southwestern and western Wisconsin; The district includes the cities of La Crosse and Eau Claire. It borders the states of Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. Democrat Ron Kind has represented the district since 1997. The PVI of the third district is EVEN, indicating an almost equal support of Democrats and Republicans. Kind is running for reelection. Steve Toft, a retired Army Colonel, is running for the Republican nomination.

Democratic primary[]

Declared

• Ron Kind, incumbent representative^[58]

Primary results[]

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ron Kind (incumbent)	59,643	100.0
Total votes			59,643	100.0

Republican primary[]

Declared

• Steve Toft, retired Army Colonel^[59]

Primary results[]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Steve Toft	35,768	100.0
Total votes			35,768	100.0

General election[]

Results[]

Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district, 2018

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ron Kind (incumbent)	187,888	59.7
	Republican	Steve Toft	126,980	40.3
	N/A	Write-ins	121	0.0
Total votes			314,989	100.0
	Democratic hold

District 4[]

The 4th congressional district encompasses a part of Milwaukee County and including all of the city of Milwaukee and its working-class suburbs of Cudahy, St. Francis, South Milwaukee, and West Milwaukee. Recent redistricting has added the Milwaukee County North Shore communities of Glendale, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Fox Point, Bayside, and Brown Deer to the district. It is currently represented by Gwen Moore, a Democrat. The PVI of the district is D+25.

Democratic primary[]

Declared

• Gwen Moore, incumbent representative
• Gary George, former state senator

Primary results[]

Democratic primary results^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gwen Moore (incumbent)	76,971	89.0
	Democratic	Gary George	9,466	11.0
Total votes			86,437	100.0

Republican primary[]

Declared

• Cindy Werner, army veteran
• Tim Rogers, deliveryman

Primary results[]

Republican primary results^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tim Rogers	8,912	55.6
	Republican	Cindy Werner	7,121	44.4
Total votes			16,033	100.0

Independent candidates[]

Declared

• Robert Raymond

General election[]

Results[]

Wisconsin's 4th congressional district, 2018

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gwen Moore (incumbent)	206,487	75.6
	Republican	Tim Rogers	59,091	21.7
	Independent	Robert Raymond	7,170	2.6
	N/A	Write-ins	339	0.1
Total votes			273,087	100.0
	Democratic hold

District 5[]

The 5th congressional district covers all of Washington and Jefferson counties, some of Waukesha and Dodge counties, and portions of Milwaukee and Walworth counties. It is currently represented by Republican Jim Sensenbrenner, who has held the seat since 1978. The PVI is R+13. Sensenbrenner is running for reelection. Tom Palzewicz, a small business owner, is running for the Democratic nomination.

Democratic primary[]

Declared

• Tom Palzewicz, small businessman^[60]

Primary results[]

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tom Palzewicz	43,192	100.0
Total votes			43,192	100.0

Republican primary[]

Declared

• Jim Sensenbrenner, incumbent representative
• Jennifer Hoppe Vipond, pediatrician^[61][62]

Primary results[]

Republican primary results^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Sensenbrenner (incumbent)	73,397	81.2
	Republican	Jennifer Hoppe Vipond	17,010	18.8
Total votes			90,407	100.0

General election[]

Results[]

Wisconsin's 5th congressional district, 2018

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Sensenbrenner (incumbent)	225,619	61.9
	Democratic	Tom Palzewicz	138,385	38.0
	Democratic	Ramon Garcia (write-in)	1	0.0
	N/A	Write-ins	283	0.1
Total votes			364,288	100.0
	Republican hold

District 6[]

The 6th congressional district is located in eastern Wisconsin, including the outer suburbs of Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay, it includes all or portions of the following counties: Adams, Columbia, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Jefferson, Manitowoc, Marquette, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Waushara, and Winnebago. It also includes a small portion of far northern Milwaukee County around River Hills. The district is represented by Glenn Grothman (R-Campbellsport) who came to office in January 2015. The PVI is R+8. Grothman ran for reelection. Dan Kohl, an attorney and former executive for the Milwaukee Bucks, won the Democratic nomination.

Democratic primary[]

Declared

• Dan Kohl, attorney, former Milwaukee Bucks executive^[63]

Primary results[]

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dan Kohl	41,862	100.0
Total votes			41,862	100.0

Republican primary[]

Declared

• Glenn Grothman, incumbent representative

Primary results[]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Glenn Grothman (incumbent)	60,485	100.0
Total votes			60,485	100.0

General election[]

Polling[]

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Glenn Grothman (R)	Dan Kohl (D)	Undecided
JMC Analytics/Bold Blue Campaigns	October 29 – November 3, 2018	500	± 4.5%	61%	33%	6%
Change Research (D)	October 27–29, 2018	525	–	50%	48%	–

Results[]

Wisconsin's 6th congressional district, 2018

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Glenn Grothman (incumbent)	180,311	55.4
	Democratic	Dan Kohl	144,536	44.5
	N/A	Write-ins	218	0.1
Total votes			325,065	100.0
	Republican hold

District 7[]

The 7th congressional district is located in northern and western Wisconsin, and is the largest congressional district in the state geographically, covering 20 counties (in whole or part), for a total of 18,787 sq mi. The district contains the following counties: Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark (partial), Douglas, Iron, Langlade (partial), Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Polk, Portage, Price, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer, Taylor, Washburn and Wood. The district is currently represented by Sean Duffy, a Republican. The PVI of the district is R+8. Duffy is running for reelection.

Democratic primary[]

Declared^[64]

• Brian Ewert, Doctor
• Margaret Ruth Engebretson, Polk County Attorney

Primary results[]

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Margaret Ruth Engebretson	27,179	57.3
	Democratic	Brian Ewert	20,257	42.7
Total votes			47,436	100.0

Republican primary[]

Declared

• Sean Duffy, incumbent representative^[65]

Primary results[]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sean Duffy (incumbent)	60,708	100.0
Total votes			60,708	100.0

General election[]

Results[]

Wisconsin's 7th congressional district, 2018

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sean Duffy (incumbent)	194,061	60.1
	Democratic	Margaret Engebretson	124,307	38.5
	Independent	Ken Driessen	4,416	1.4
	Democratic	Bob Look (write-in)	3	0.0
	N/A	Write-ins	53	0.0
Total votes			322,840	100.0
	Republican hold

District 8[]

The 8th congressional district includes Green Bay and Appleton. It is currently represented by Mike Gallagher, a Republican. Gallagher won the open seat vacated by Reid Ribble. It is also one of two Congressional Districts to ever elect a Catholic Priest, Robert John Cornell. The PVI is R+7, and Gallagher won election to his first term with 62.65% of the vote. Gallagher is running for reelection. Beau Liegeois, a Brown County assistant district attorney, is running for the Democratic nomination.^[66]

Democratic primary[]

Declared

• Beau Liegeois, Brown County assistant district attorney^[66]

Primary results[]

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Beau Liegeois	38,450	100.0
Total votes			38,450	100.0

Republican[]

Declared

• Mike Gallagher, incumbent representative^[66]

Primary results[]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Gallagher (incumbent)	62,524	100.0
Total votes			62,524	100.0

General election[]

Results[]

Wisconsin's 8th congressional district, 2018

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Gallagher (incumbent)	209,410	63.7
	Democratic	Beau Liegeois	119,265	36.3
	N/A	Write-ins	99	0.0
Total votes			328,774	100.0
	Republican hold

References[]

External links[]

• Wisconsin Elections Commission
  • Candidates on ballot for primary
• Candidates at Vote Smart
• Candidates at Ballotpedia
• Campaign finance at FEC
• Campaign finance at Center for Responsive Politics

Official campaign websites of first district candidates

• Randy Bryce (D) for Congress
• Bryan Steil (R) for Congress
• Ken Yorgan (I) for Congress

Official campaign websites of second district candidates

• Mark Pocan (D) for Congress

Official campaign websites of third district candidates

• Ron Kind (D) for Congress
• Steve Toft (R) for Congress

Official campaign websites of fourth district candidates

• Gwen Moore (D) for Congress
• Robert Raymond (I) for Congress

Official campaign websites of fifth district candidates

• Jim Sensenbrenner (R) for Congress
• Tom Palzewicz (D) for Congress

Official campaign websites of sixth district candidates

• Glenn Grothman (R) for Congress
• Dan Kohl (D) for Congress

Official campaign websites of seventh district candidates

• Sean Duffy (R) for Congress
• Margaret Ruth Engebretson (D) for Congress

Official campaign websites of eighth district candidates

• Mike Gallagher (R) for Wisconsin
• Beau Liegeois (D) for Wisconsin