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1996 Wisconsin Senate election

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1996 Wisconsin State Senate election

← 1994 November 5, 1996 1998 →

16 of 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate
17 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Charles Chvala Michael Ellis
Party Democratic Republican
Leader's seat 16thMadison 19thNeenah
Last election 7 seats, TBD% 10 seats, TBD%
Seats before 17 16
Seats won 9 7
Seats after 17 16
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 475,226 468,238
Percentage 49.25% 48.53%
Seats up 9 7

President before election

Fred Risser
Democratic

Elected President

Fred Risser
Democratic

The 1996 Wisconsin Senate election were held on Tuesday, November 5, 1996. Sixteen of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election—the even-numbered districts. At the time, Democrats held 17 seats while the Republicans held 16, having lost their majority only months prior due to the recalling of Senator George Petak.

Summary

[edit]
Seats Party
(majority caucus shading)
Total
Democratic Republican
Last election (1994) 7 10 17
Total after last election (1994) 16 17 33
Total before this election 17 16 33
Up for election 9 7 16
of which: Incumbent retiring 1 1
Vacated
Unopposed 3 1 4
This election 9 7 16
Change from last election Increase 2 Decrease 3
Total after this election 17 16 33
Change in total Steady Steady
Popular vote
Democratic
49.25%
Republican
48.53%
Taxpayers
1.55%
Libertarian
0.67%
Senate seats won
Democratic
56%
Republican
44%

Close races

[edit]
  • State Senate district 30, 3.58%
  • State Senate district 28, 4.08%
  • State Senate district 10, 8.24%
  • State Senate district 16, 8.97%

Outgoing incumbents

[edit]

Retiring

[edit]

Recall election

[edit]

Background

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In October 1995, Senator, George Petak, faced controversy when he changed his vote on a funding bill for the Miller Park stadium. Miller Park was being planned to replace the forty-year-old Milwaukee County Stadium and was being pushed by Republican Governor Tommy Thompson and Milwaukee Brewers owner and future-Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig. Petak had promised his constituents that he would vote against the bill, but changed his mind based on the belief that the Brewers would leave Wisconsin if a new stadium wasn't built.[1]

Petak's change in vote supported a 0.1% increase in sales tax for five counties in the vicinity of the proposed stadium, which included Petak's home county of Racine. His actions caused outrage and frustration in his home district, and local Democrats were energized to collect signatures for a recall petition. After collecting 15,050 signatures, or 130% of the required 11,577 signatures,[2] the recall was certified on March 26, 1996, and a recall election was ordered for June.[3]

Petition

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Dist. Incumbent Recall petition
Member Party First elected Signatures required Signatures approved (%) Status
21 George Petak Rep. 1990 11,577 15,050 (130%) Petition certified on March 26, 1996. Recall held on June 4, 1996.

Results

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Nine months after his vote on the stadium tax, Petak became the first Wisconsin state legislator to be removed from office in a recall election, when he was defeated by Democratic State Representative Kimberly Plache.[4] As a result of the recall, control of the state Senate flipped to Democratic control for the rest of the session.

Dist. Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Primary[5] General[6] Result
21 George Petak Republican 1990
Incumbent recalled.
Democratic gain.

Results summary

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Dist. Incumbent This race[a][7]
Member Party First

elected

Status Candidates Results
02 Robert Cowles Rep. 1987

(special)

Incumbent Running
Incumbent re-elected
04 Gwen Moore Dem. 1988 Incumbent Running
Incumbent re-elected
06 Gary George Dem. 1980 Incumbent Running
Incumbent re-elected
08 Alberta Darling Rep. 1992 Incumbent Running
  • Green tickY Alberta Darling (Rep.) 58.78%
  • Randy Nash (Dem.) 38.62%
  • Tim Gallert (Tax.) 2.60%
Incumbent re-elected
10 Alice Clausing Dem. 1992 Incumbent Running
Incumbent re-elected
12 Roger Breske Dem. 1990 Incumbent Running
  • Green tickYRoger Breske (Dem.) 57.39%
  • Nancy Levanetz (Rep.) 42.57%
Incumbent re-elected
14 Robert Welch Rep. 1995

(special)

Incumbent Running
Incumbent re-elected
16 Charles Chvala Dem. 1984 Incumbent Running
  • Green tickY Charles Chvala (Dem.) 53.67%
  • Tom Metcalfe (Rep.) 44.70%
  • Mike Oprish (Lib.) 1.63%
Incumbent re-elected
18 Carol Buettner Rep. 1987

(special)

Incumbent Running
Incumbent re-elected
20 Mary Panzer Rep. 1993

(special)

Incumbent Running
  • Green tickY Mary Panzer (Rep.) 84.83%
  • Kevin Scheunemann (Lib.) 8.18%
  • Barry Moder (Tax.) 6.98%
Incumbent re-elected
22 Joseph F. Andrea Dem. 1984 Incumbent Retiring
New member elected. Democratic hold
24 Kevin Shibilski Dem. 1995

(special)

Incumbent Running
Incumbent re-elected
26 Fred Risser Dem. 1962

(special)

Incumbent Running
Incumbent re-elected
28 Lynn Adelman Dem. 1976 Incumbent Running
Incumbent re-elected
30 Gary Drzewiecki Rep. 1992 Incumbent Running
Incumbent re-elected
32 Brian Rude Rep. 1984

(special)

Incumbent Running
  • Green tickYBrian Rude (Rep.) 75.10%
  • David Wulf (Dem.) 24.90%
Incumbent re-elected

Notes

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  1. ^ Scattered votes omitted

References

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  1. ^ Sandomir, Richard (May 7, 1998). "Stadiums Are Proposed, but Public Isn't Always Disposed to Pay Price". The New York Times. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  2. ^ Bowers, Faye (June 3, 1996). "Wisconsin state senator faces recall over stadium vote". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  3. ^ "Recall gets green light". Racine Journal Times. Madison. March 27, 1996. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  4. ^ "Plache sworn in as state senator". Racine Journal Times. June 14, 1996. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  5. ^ "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. p. 888. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  6. ^ "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. p. 889. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  7. ^ "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. pp. 889–890. Retrieved March 24, 2024.