2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin

2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin

← 2014 November 8, 2016 2018 →
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 1,270,448 1,379,998 Percentage 45.81% 49.76% Swing 6.55% 2.95%
Election results by district Election results by county Republican   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80% Democratic   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   90>%

Elections in Wisconsin
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v t e

The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin were held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, 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 the elections of other federal and state offices, including President of the United States and U.S. Senator from Wisconsin. The primaries were held on August 9.

Wisconsin was one of two states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2016, the other state being Virginia.

2016 Wisconsin's 1st congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Paul Ryan Ryan Solen Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 230,072 107,003 Percentage 64.9% 30.2%

Results by county Results by precinct Ryan:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Solen:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Tie:      40–50%      50%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Paul Ryan Republican Elected U.S. Representative Paul Ryan Republican

Republican incumbent Paul Ryan, who had represented the 1st district since 1999, ran for re-election. This district had a PVI of R+3. Since October 29, 2015 Ryan sat as the Speaker of the House.

• Paul Ryan, incumbent U.S. Representative and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives

• Paul Nehlen, senior vice-president of operations at Neptune-Benson^[1]

Nehlen filed campaign papers to run against Ryan on April 1, 2016, and officially launched his campaign on April 14, with the opening of his first campaign office in Kenosha, Wisconsin.^[2] Nehlen claimed to have been a Paul Ryan supporter and worked for his election in earlier campaigns but at least one conservative media report questioned that claim.^[3]

According to a Janesville Gazette report about his campaign launch, "Nehlen declined to talk about issues such as abortion and would not say what presidential candidate he supports or whether he would support a Republican running for the presidency."^[4] Nehlen ran on a platform calling for secure borders, enforcement of existing immigration laws, and reduced government spending, and he opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership treaty.^[5] On May 5, 2016, Nehlen pledged to support Donald Trump for the presidency.^[6]

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on July 14, 2016, that Nehlen had hired Dan Backer as his campaign treasurer.^[7][8] Backer is nationally known for his fundraising activities.^{[9][10][11][12]}

In an August 2016 radio interview, Nehlen suggested that the United States should "have a discussion" about the possibility of deporting Sharia-adherent Muslims living in the country.^[13] The remark occurred when Nehlen was asked about his thoughts regarding the dispute between 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of Humayun Khan, an American Muslim Army captain who died in a suicide bombing while serving in Iraq in 2004. During the interview, Nehlen also said that every mosque in the United States should be monitored for signs of potential radicalization.^[14]

Because of Nehlen's support for Trump, Trump publicly thanked him on Twitter and later told The Washington Post that Nehlen was "running a very good campaign", even though he did not endorse him.^[15][16][17] On August 5, 2016, Trump endorsed Ryan's re-election after pressure from fellow Republican leaders.^[18]

Republican primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Paul Ryan (incumbent)	57,364	84.1
	Republican	Paul Nehlen	10,864	15.9
	Republican	Write-ins	15	0.0
Total votes			68,243	100

• Ryan Solen, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Veteran's Caucus Secretary/Treasurer^[24]

• Tom Breu, plumbing engineer^[25]

• Rob Zerban, former member of the Kenosha County Board and nominee for this seat in 2012 & 2014^[26]

Democratic primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ryan Solen	14,639	58.9
	Democratic	Tom Breu	10,142	40.8
	Democratic	Write-ins	86	0.3
Total votes			24,867	100.0

• Jason Lebeck, I.T. technician^[27]

Libertarian primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Jason Lebeck	195	97.5
	Libertarian	Write-ins	5	2.5
Total votes			200	100.0

• Spencer Zimmerman, appears on the ballot as "Trump Conservative"^[28]

Wisconsin's 1st congressional district, 2016^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Paul Ryan (incumbent)	230,072	64.9
	Democratic	Ryan Solen	107,003	30.2
	Independent	Spencer Zimmerman	9,429	2.7
	Libertarian	Jason Lebeck	7,486	2.1
	n/a	Write-ins	255	0.1
Total votes			354,245	100.0
	Republican hold

2016 Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Mark Pocan Peter Theron Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 273,537 124,044 Percentage 68.7% 31.2%

Results by county Results by precinct Pocan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Theron:      50–60%      60–70%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      50%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Mark Pocan Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Mark Pocan Democratic

Democratic incumbent Mark Pocan, who had represented the 2nd district since 2013, ran for re-election. This district had a PVI of D+17.

• Mark Pocan, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mark Pocan (incumbent)	71,461	99.5
	Democratic	Write-ins	395	0.5
Total votes			71,856	100

• Peter Theron, professor and nominee for this seat in 2008 & 2014^[24]

Republican primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Peter Theron	12,866	99.4
	Republican	Write-ins	79	0.6
Total votes			12,945	100.0

Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district, 2016^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mark Pocan (incumbent)	273,537	68.7
	Republican	Peter Theron	124,044	31.2
	n/a	Write-ins	479	0.1
Total votes			398,060	100.0
	Democratic hold

2016 Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Ron Kind Ryan Peterson (write-in) Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 257,401 169 Percentage 98.9% 0.1%

Results by county Results by precinct Kind:      80–90%      >90%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Ron Kind Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Ron Kind Democratic

Democratic incumbent Ron Kind, who had represented the 3rd district since 1996, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 56.5% of the vote in 2014 and the district had a PVI of D+5.

• Ron Kind, incumbent U.S. Representative

• Myron Buchholz, retired teacher^[30]

Democratic primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ron Kind (incumbent)	33,320	81.2
	Democratic	Myron Buchholz	7,689	18.8
	Democratic	Write-ins	7	0.0
Total votes			41,016	100.0

Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district, 2016^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ron Kind (incumbent)	257,401	98.9
	Republican	Ryan Peterson (write-in)	169	0.1
	n/a	Write-ins	2,800	1.0
Total votes			260,370	100.0
	Democratic hold

2016 Wisconsin's 4th congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Gwen Moore Robert Raymond Andy Craig Party Democratic Independent Libertarian Popular vote 220,181 33,494 32,183 Percentage 76.7% 11.7% 11.2%

Precinct results Moore:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Raymond:      70–80%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Gwen Moore Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Gwen Moore Democratic

Democratic incumbent Gwen Moore, who had represented the 4th district since 2005, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 70.2% of the vote in 2014 and the district had a PVI of D+23.

• Gwen Moore, incumbent U.S. Representative

• Gary George, former state senator^[31]

Democratic primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gwen Moore (incumbent)	55,256	84.5
	Democratic	Gary George	10,013	15.3
	Democratic	Write-ins	128	0.2
Total votes			65,397	100.0

• Dan Sebring, automobile repair shop owner and nominee for this seat in 2010, 2012, and 2014

• Andy Craig, political activist and 2014 candidate for Secretary of State of Wisconsin^[32][33]

Libertarian primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Andy Craig	127	100.0

Wisconsin's 4th congressional district, 2016^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gwen Moore (incumbent)	220,181	76.7
	Independent	Robert Raymond	33,494	11.7
	Libertarian	Andy Craig	32,183	11.2
	n/a	Write-ins	1,051	0.4
Total votes			286,909	100.0
	Democratic hold

2016 Wisconsin's 5th congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Jim Sensenbrenner Khary Penebaker Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 260,706 114,477 Percentage 66.7% 29.3%

Results by county Results by precinct Sensenbrenner:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Penebaker:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      >90% Tie:      40–50%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Jim Sensenbrenner Republican Elected U.S. Representative Jim Sensenbrenner Republican

Republican incumbent Jim Sensenbrenner, who had represented the 5th district since 1978, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 69.5% of the vote in 2014 and the district had a PVI of R+13.

• Jim Sensenbrenner, incumbent U.S. Representative

Republican primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James Sensenbrenner (incumbent)	34,203	99.7
	Republican	Write-ins	100	0.3
Total votes			34,303	100.0

• Khary Penebaker, businessman and entrepreneur^[34]

Democratic primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Khary Penebaker	19,353	99.4
	Democratic	Write-ins	115	0.6
Total votes			19,468	100.0

• John Arndt^[35]

Libertarian primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	John Arndt	243	98.4
	Libertarian	Write-ins	4	1.6
Total votes			247	100.0

Wisconsin's 5th congressional district, 2016^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James Sensenbrenner (incumbent)	260,706	66.7
	Democratic	Khary Penebaker	114,477	29.3
	Libertarian	John Arndt	15,324	3.9
	n/a	Write-ins	337	0.1
Total votes			390,844	100.0
	Republican hold

2016 Wisconsin's 6th congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Glenn Grothman Sarah Lloyd Jeff Dahlke Party Republican Democratic Independent Popular vote 204,147 133,072 19,716 Percentage 57.1% 37.3% 5.5%

Results by county Results by precinct Grothman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Lloyd:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      >90% Tie:      40–50%      50%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Glenn Grothman Republican Elected U.S. Representative Glenn Grothman Republican

Republican incumbent Glenn Grothman who had represented the 6th district since 2015, ran for re-election. He was elected with 56.8% of the vote in 2014 and the district has a PVI of R+5.

• Glenn Grothman, incumbent U.S. Representative

Republican primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Glenn Grothman (incumbent)	29,795	99.6
	Republican	Write-ins	105	0.4
Total votes			29,900	100.0

• Sarah Lloyd, farmer^[36]

• Michael Slattery, farmer^[37]

Democratic primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sarah Lloyd	19,652	75.1
	Democratic	Michael Slattery	6,459	24.7
	Democratic	Write-ins	43	0.2
Total votes			26,154	100.0

Wisconsin's 6th congressional district, 2016^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Glenn Grothman (incumbent)	204,147	57.1
	Democratic	Sarah Lloyd	133,072	37.3
	Independent	Jeff Dahlke	19,716	5.5
	n/a	Write-ins	248	0.1
Total votes			357,183	100.0
	Republican hold

2016 Wisconsin's 7th congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Sean Duffy Mary Hoeft Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 223,418 138,643 Percentage 61.6% 38.3%

Results by county Results by precinct Duffy:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Hoeft:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      40–50%      50%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Sean Duffy Republican Elected U.S. Representative Sean Duffy Republican

Republican incumbent Sean Duffy, who had represented the 7th district since 2011, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 59.3% of the vote in 2014 and the district has a PVI of R+2.

• Sean Duffy, incumbent U.S. Representative

• Don Raihala, small business owner^[38]

Republican primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sean Duffy (incumbent)	29,501	89.4
	Republican	Don Raihala	3,456	10.5
	Republican	Write-ins	24	0.1
Total votes			32,981	100.0

• Mary Hoeft, university professor^[38]

• Joel Lewis, Marathon County Board Supervisor^[38]

• Kirk Bangstad, political consultant^[39]
• Ethel Quisler, independent contractor^[40]

• Kelly Westlund, businesswoman, Ashland City Council member and nominee for this seat in 2014^[41]

Democratic primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mary Hoeft	27,289	80.6
	Democratic	Joel Lewis	6,531	19.3
	Democratic	Write-ins	50	0.1
Total votes			33,870	100.0

Wisconsin's 7th congressional district, 2016^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sean Duffy (incumbent)	223,418	61.6
	Democratic	Mary Hoeft	138,643	38.3
	n/a	Write-ins	210	0.1
Total votes			362,271	100.0
	Republican hold

2016 Wisconsin's 8th congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Mike Gallagher Tom Nelson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 227,892 135,682 Percentage 62.6% 37.3%

Results by county Results by precinct Gallagher:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Nelson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Tie:      50%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Reid Ribble Republican Elected U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher Republican

Republican incumbent Reid Ribble, who had represented the 8th district since 2011, announced on January 30, 2016, that he would retire at the end of his third term, opening the seat for the 2016 election.^[42] The district had a PVI of R+2.

• Mike Gallagher, retired U.S. Marine and former advisor to Governor Scott Walker^[43]

• Frank Lasee, state senator from the 1st district (2011–2017)^[44]
• Terry McNulty, Forestville, Wisconsin village president, Southern Door School Board member^[45]

• Gary Schomburg, former Hilbert village board member^[46]

• Andre Jacque, state representative from the 2nd district (2011–2019)^[44]
• John Macco, state representative from the 88th district (2015–present)^[47]
• John Nygren, state representative from the 89th district (2007–2020)^[48]
• Roger Roth, state senator from the 19th district (2015–2023) and nephew of former U.S. representative Toby Roth^[49]
• David Steffen, state representative from the 4th district (2015–present)^[50]
• Jim Steineke, Majority Leader of State Assembly (2015–2022) and state representative from the 5th district (2011–2022)^[51]
• Chad Weininger, former state representative from the 4th district (2011–2015)^[52]

Republican primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Gallagher	40,322	74.5
	Republican	Frank Lasee	10,705	19.8
	Republican	Terry McNulty	3,109	5.7
	Republican	Write-ins	16	0.0
Total votes			54,152	100.0

• Tom Nelson, County Executive of Outagamie County and former state representative^[61]

• Penny Bernard Schaber, former state representative^[62]
• Eric Genrich, state representative^[51]
• Steve Kagen, former U.S. Representative^[62]
• Jamie Wall, businessman, nominee for this seat in 2012 and candidate in 2006^[63]

Democratic primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tom Nelson	20,914	99.9
	Democratic	Write-ins	28	0.1
Total votes			20,942	100.0

• Wendy Gribben, part-time grocery store employee^[64]
• Robbie Hoffman, artist and psychologist^[65]

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Mike Gallagher (R)	Tom Nelson (D)	Undecided
NMB Research[66]	October 16–18, 2016	400	± 4.9%	52%	41%	17%
Public Opinion Strategies (R)[67]	August 22, 2016	400	± 4.9%	52%	36%	12%

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[68]	Likely R	November 7, 2016
Daily Kos Elections[69]	Lean R	November 7, 2016
Rothenberg[70]	Likely R	November 3, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball[71]	Lean R	November 7, 2016
RCP[72]	Lean R	October 31, 2016

Wisconsin's 8th congressional district, 2016^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Gallagher	227,892	62.6
	Democratic	Tom Nelson	135,682	37.3
	Green	Wendy Gribben (write-in)	16	0.0
	Democratic	Jerry Kobishop (write-in)	2	0.0
	n/a	Write-ins	188	0.1
Total votes			363,280	100.0
	Republican hold

• U.S. House elections in Wisconsin, 2016 at Ballotpedia
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets