The 2008 Wisconsin Senate election was held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. Sixteen of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election—the even-numbered districts. Prior to the election 17 seats were held by Democrats, 14 were held by Republicans, and 2 seats were vacant.
The primary was held on September 9, 2008, and the filing deadline was July 8, 2008.
Summary SeatsParty(majority caucus shading)TotalDemocraticRepublicanLast election (2006)9817Total after last election (2006)181533Total before this election181533Up for election8816of which:Incumbent retiring112Vacated112Unopposed426This election8816Change from last electionTotal after this election181533Change in total
Close races Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
Outgoing incumbents
Vacated
Roger Breske (D–Eland), first elected to the 12th district in a 1990 special election, resigned his seat on June 4, 2008, after being appointed Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner by governor Jim Doyle. Carol Roessler (R–Oshkosh), first elected to the 18th district in a 1987 special election, resigned her seat on July 4, 2008, after being appointed Administrator of State and Local Finance by governor Jim Doyle.
Predictions SourceRankingAs of Stateline | October 15, 2008
Results summary Dist.IncumbentThis raceMemberPartyFirst electedStatusCandidates02Rep.Incumbent re-electedRobert Cowles (Rep.) 99.35%04Dem.2004Incumbent re-electedLena Taylor (Dem.) 98.82%06Dem.2003 Incumbent RanSpencer Coggs (Dem.) 98.85%08Rep.1992 Incumbent re-electedAlberta Darling (Rep.) 50.46% Sheldon Wasserman (Dem.) 49.45%10Rep.2000Incumbent re-electedSheila Harsdorf (Rep.) 56.40% Alison H. Page (Dem.) 43.49%12 --Vacant--Previous incumbent resigned Jun. 4, 2008New member elected. Democratic holdJim Holperin (Dem.) 51.21% Tom Tiffany (Rep.) 48.73%14Rep.2004Incumbent re-electedLuther Olsen (Rep.) 99.36%16Dem.2004Incumbent re-electedMark Miller (Dem.) 99.29%18 --Vacant--Previous incumbent resigned Jul. 4, 2008New member elected. Republican holdRandy Hopper (Rep.) 50.05% Jessica King (Dem.) 49.86%20Rep.2004Incumbent re-electedGlenn Grothman (Rep.) 80.26% Clyde Winter (Ind.) 19.64%22Dem.1996Incumbent re-electedRobert Wirch (Dem.) 66.65% Benjamin Lee Bakke (Rep.) 33.21%24Dem.2003 Incumbent re-electedJulie Lassa (Dem.) 67.67% Tom Kimmet (Rep.) 32.28%26Dem.1962 Incumbent re-electedFred Risser (Rep.) 99.13%28Rep.1998 Incumbent re-electedMary Lazich (Rep.) 99.24%30Dem.2000Incumbent re-electedDave Hansen (Dem.) 66.06% Chad Fradette (Rep.) 33.88%32Rep.2004Incumbent re-electedDan Kapanke (Rep.) 51.38% Tara Johnson (Dem.) 48.53% Notes
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