Wisconsin 2022 State Elections: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Results
The November 2022 elections in Wisconsin served as a critical juncture for the state's governance, with all partisan executive offices, the entire State Assembly, and a significant portion of the State Senate up for grabs. These elections were shaped by new district maps following the 2020 United States census and a series of high-stakes contests across the executive and judicial branches.
Key Facts
- Governor Tony Evers (Democrat) was re-elected to a second four-year term.
- Republicans secured a supermajority in the Wisconsin State Senate.
- Republicans gained three seats in the State Assembly, totaling 64 seats.
- Josh Kaul (Democrat) and Doug La Follette (Democrat) retained their positions as Attorney General and Secretary of State, respectively.
- John Leiber (Republican) was elected State Treasurer, flipping the seat from Democratic control.
- The 2022 legislative elections were the first held under the "maps of least change" selected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Executive Branch Results
Wisconsin's partisan executive offices held elections in November 2022, following primaries on August 9. The results saw a mix of incumbency and party shifts.
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Incumbent Democratic Governor Tony Evers, first elected in 2018, won re-election to a second four-year term, defeating Republican nominee Tim Michels. In the Republican primary, Michels had prevailed over former lieutenant governor Rebecca Kleefisch, state representative Timothy Ramthun, and former police officer Adam J. Fischer.
The Lieutenant Governor's office saw a change in personnel. Incumbent Mandela Barnes did not seek re-election, opting instead to run for the U.S. Senate. State representative Sara Rodriguez won the Democratic nomination and was elected alongside Governor Evers. On the Republican side, State Senator Roger Roth won the primary.
Attorney General and Secretary of State
Democratic incumbent Josh Kaul secured a second four-year term as Attorney General, defeating Republican Eric Toney. Toney had previously defeated Adam Jarchow and Karen Mueller in the Republican primary.
Doug La Follette, a long-serving Democratic Secretary of State first elected in 1974, narrowly won his 12th four-year term. He defeated Republican state representative Amy Loudenbeck. Other candidates in the general election included Sharyl R. McFarland (Green Party) and Neil Harmon (Libertarian Party).
State Treasurer
The Treasurer's office shifted to Republican control. Incumbent Democrat Sarah Godlewski did not run for re-election, pursuing a U.S. Senate bid instead. Republican John Leiber, a lawyer from Racine County, won the seat, defeating Democrat Aaron Richardson.
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Legislative Branch and Redistricting
The 2022 legislative elections were the first conducted under new districts reflecting the 2020 census. The Wisconsin Supreme Court selected the "maps of least change" provided by the Republican Legislature.
Wisconsin State Senate
Seventeen of the 33 Senate seats were up for election. Republicans won 12 of these 17 seats, resulting in a net gain of one seat. This gave Republicans a supermajority (a threshold of seats that allows a party to override a veto or pass certain measures without the minority party) in the chamber for the 106th Wisconsin Legislature.
Wisconsin State Assembly
All 99 seats in the State Assembly were contested. Republicans won 64 seats, a net gain of three. While this strengthened their position, they fell short of the 66 seats required for a supermajority in the Assembly.
| Chamber | Total Seats | Republican Seats | Democratic Seats | Republican Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Senate | 33 | 22 | 11 | +1 |
| State Assembly | 99 | 64 | 35 | +3 |
Judiciary Elections
Judicial elections took place in April 2022, covering the Court of Appeals and various Circuit Courts.
Court of Appeals
Three seats were contested. In District II, Judge Maria S. Lazar defeated appointed Judge Lori Kornblum. Judges Thomas Hruz (District III) and Brian Blanchard (District IV) both won re-election unopposed.
State Circuit Courts
Forty-six of the 257 circuit court seats were up for election, with nine being contested. Most incumbents were re-elected, but Judge LaKeisha Haase of Winnebago County was defeated by Mike Gibbs. Other notable wins included Matt Allen in Iowa County and Jeffrey R. Wisnicky in Kewaunee County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Wisconsin gubernatorial election in 2022?
Incumbent Democratic Governor Tony Evers was re-elected to a second four-year term, defeating Republican Tim Michels.
Did Republicans achieve a supermajority in the legislature?
Republicans achieved a supermajority in the State Senate but fell short of a supermajority in the State Assembly, where they won 64 of the 99 seats.
What were the "maps of least change"?
These were the redistricting maps for the State Senate and Assembly, based on the 2020 census, which were selected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court for the 2022 elections.
Which executive office changed party control in 2022?
The State Treasurer's office changed from Democratic to Republican control, with Republican John Leiber winning the election.
How many seats in the State Assembly were up for election?
All 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly were up for election in 2022.