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Attorney General of Wisconsin

From Ballotpedia
Wisconsin Attorney General

WI Attorney Gen logo.JPG

General information
Office Type:  Partisan
Office website:  Official Link
Compensation:  $160,680
2025 FY Budget:  $167,361,200
Term limits:  None
Structure
Length of term:   4 years
Authority:  Wisconsin State Code, Chapter 15.25
Selection Method:  Elected
Current Officeholder(s)

Attorney General of Wisconsin Josh Kaul
Democratic Party
Assumed office: January 7, 2019

Elections
Next election:  2026
Last election:  2022
Other Wisconsin Executive Offices
Governor •Lieutenant Governor •Secretary of State •Attorney General •Treasurer •Auditor •Superintendent of Education •Agriculture Commissioner •Insurance Commissioner •Natural Resources Commissioner •Labor Commissioner •Public Service Commission

TheAttorney General of Wisconsin is an elected position in theWisconsin state government. Theattorney general is the head of the state Department of Justice and the chief legal officer for the state. He or she provides legal advice and representation for all state agencies.

Wisconsin has a Democratictriplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

Current officeholder

The current Attorney General of Wisconsin isJosh Kaul (D). Kaul assumed office in 2019.

Authority

The attorney general's office is authorized by Chapter 15.25 of the Wisconsin state code.[1]

Chapter 15.25:

Department of justice; creation. There is created a department of justice under the direction and supervision of the attorney general.

Qualifications

State code does not specify any qualifications to hold this office.

Elections

According toArticle 6 of thestate constitution, the attorney general is elected every four years, in mid-term election years, to a four-year term.

Election results

See also: Wisconsin Attorney General election, 2030


There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.


See also: Wisconsin Attorney General election, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on August 11, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin

IncumbentJosh Kaul (D) is running in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin on August 11, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Josh Kaul
Josh Kaul

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Incumbents arebolded and underlined.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin

Eric Toney (R) is running in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin on August 11, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Eric Toney
Eric Toney

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There are noincumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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See also: Wisconsin Attorney General election, 2022

General election

General election for Attorney General of Wisconsin

IncumbentJosh Kaul (D) defeatedEric Toney (R) in the general election for Attorney General of Wisconsin on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Josh Kaul
Josh Kaul (D)
 
50.6
 
1,333,369
Image of Eric Toney
Eric Toney (R)
 
49.3
 
1,298,369
  Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1%
 
1,539

Ballotpedia Logo

Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,633,277
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin

IncumbentJosh Kaul (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin on August 9, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Josh Kaul
Josh Kaul
 
99.8
 
461,024
  Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2%
 
751

Ballotpedia Logo

Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 461,775
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Republican primary

Republican primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin

Eric Toney (R) defeatedAdam Jarchow (R) andKaren Mueller (R) in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin on August 9, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Eric Toney
Eric Toney
 
37.4
 
222,902
Image of Adam Jarchow
Adam Jarchow
 
36.9
 
220,045
Image of Karen Mueller
Karen Mueller
 
25.6
 
152,581

Ballotpedia Logo

There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 595,528
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

See also: Wisconsin Attorney General election, 2018

General election

General election for Attorney General of Wisconsin

Josh Kaul (D) defeated incumbentBrad Schimel (R) andTerry Larson (Constitution Party) in the general election for Attorney General of Wisconsin on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Josh Kaul
Josh Kaul (D)
 
49.4
 
1,305,902
Image of Brad Schimel
Brad Schimel (R)
 
48.8
 
1,288,712
Terry Larson (Constitution Party)
 
1.8
 
47,038
  Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0%
 
1,199

Ballotpedia Logo

Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,642,851
(100% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin

Josh Kaul (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Josh Kaul
Josh Kaul
 
100.0
 
432,954

Ballotpedia Logo

There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 432,954
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Republican primary

Republican primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin

IncumbentBrad Schimel (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Brad Schimel
Brad Schimel
 
100.0
 
394,799

Ballotpedia Logo

Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 394,799
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Constitution Party primary

Constitution primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin

Terry Larson (Constitution Party) advanced from the Constitution Party primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔Terry Larson
 
100.0
 
354

Ballotpedia Logo

There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 354
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Previous election results


Vacancies

Chapter 17.19(4) of the Wisconsin state code addresses vacancies in the office of attorney general. In the event of a vacancy for any reason, the governor shall appoint a successor to serve until a special election can be held. If no such election is held, the appointee holds office for the remainder of the unexpired term.[2]

Duties

The department of justice provides legal advice and representation for various state officers and agencies in civil cases and criminal cases in the state's appellate courts.[3]

The specific duties of the attorney general are outlined in Chapter 165.015 of the Wisconsin state code.[4]

“Chapter 165.015 - Duties. The attorney general shall:
  1. Give opinion to officers. Give his or her opinion in writing, when required, without fee, upon all questions of law submitted to him or her by the legislature, either house thereof or the senate or assembly committee on organization, or by the head of any department of state government.
  2. Protect trust funds. Examine all applications for loans from any of the trust funds, and furnish to the commissioners of public lands his or her opinion in writing as to the regularity of each such application, and also of the validity of any bonds or other securities purchased for the benefit of such funds.
  3. Certify bonds. Examine a certified copy of all proceedings preliminary to any issue of state bonds or notes, and, if found regular and valid, endorse on each bond or note his or her certificate of such examination and validity. The attorney general shall also make similar examinations and certificates respecting municipal bonds in the cases specified in s. 67.025.
  4. Keep statement of fees. Keep a detailed statement of all fees, including his or her fees as commissioner of public lands, received by him or her during the preceding year, and file such statement with the department of administration on or before June 30 in each year.
  5. Report to legislature. Upon request of the legislature or either house thereof, submit a report upon any matters pertaining to the duties of his or her office to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2).
  6. Perform other duties. Perform all other duties imposed upon the attorney general by law.[5]
”

Divisions

As of January 12, 2021, divisions within the Wisconsin Department of Justice included:[3]

  • Division of Law Enforcement Services
  • Division of Legal Services
  • Division of Management Services
  • Division of Criminal Investigation
  • Division of Forensic Sciences
  • Office of Crime Victim Services

State budget

See also:Wisconsin state budget and finances

The budget for the Department of Justice in Fiscal Year 2025 was $167,361,200.[6]

Compensation

See also:Compensation of state executive officers

DocumentIcon.jpgSee statutes:Chapter 20, Section 923 of the Wisconsin Statutes

The attorney general's annual salary is fixed by law, pursuant toArticle IV, Section 26 of theWisconsin Constitution, which states that "the compensation of a public officer may not be increased or diminished during the term of office."

Since the 2003 approval of Wisconsin Act 33, the attorney general's compensation has been set by the Wisconsin Office of State Employment Relations (OSER), in accordance with Section 20.923 of the Wisconsin Statutes.[7] Under the amended version of §20.923, the director of OSER submits biennial proposals for adjustments to compensation plan to the Wisconsin Legislature. Changes are subject to approval by the legislature's joint committee on employment relations and, if passed by the committee, the governor.

2023

In 2023, the officer's salary was $160,680, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[8]

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $148,242, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[9]

2021

In 2021, the attorney general received a salary of $148,242, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[10]

2020

In 2020, the attorney general received a salary of $148,242 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[11]

2019

In 2019, the attorney general received a salary of $148,242 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[12]

2018

In 2018, the attorney general received a salary of $142,966 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[13]

2017

In 2017, the attorney general received a salary of $142,966 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[14]

2016

In 2016, the attorney general received a salary of $142,966 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[15]

2015

In 2015, the attorney general received a salary of $142,966 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[16]

2014

In 2014, the attorney general received a salary of $140,147 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[17]

2013

In 2013, the attorney general received a salary of $140,147.[18]

2012

In 2012, the attorney geneal was paid an estimated$140,147. This figure comes from theCouncil of State Governments.

Historical officeholders

Since 1848, Wisconsin has had 44 attorneys general. Bronson C. LaFollette served twice, non-consecutively.

Click"show" for former officeholders.[19]

#NameTook officeLeft officeParty
1James S. Brown18481850Democratic
2S. Park Coon18501852Democratic
3Experience Estabrook18521854Democratic
4George B. Smith18541856Democratic
5William R. Smith18561858Democratic
6Gabriel Bouck18581860Democratic
7James H. Howe18601862Republican
8Winfield Smith18621866Republican
9Charles R. Gill18661870Republican
10Stephen Steele Barlow18701874Republican
11Andrew Scott Sloan18741878Republican
12Alexander Wilson18781882Republican
13Leander F. Frisby18821887Republican
14Charles E. Estabrook18871891Republican
15James L. O'Connor18911895Democratic
16William H. Mylrea18951899Republican
17Emmett R. Hicks18991903Republican
18Lafayette M. Sturdevant19031907Republican
19Frank L. Gilbert19071911Republican
20Levi H. Bancroft19111913Republican
21Walter C. Owen19131918Republican
22Spencer Haven19181919Republican
23John J. Blaine19191921Republican
24William J. Morgan19211923Republican
25Herman L. Ekern19231927Republican
26John W. Reynolds19271933Republican
27James E. Finnegan19331937Democratic
28Orlando S. Loomis19371939Progressive
29John E. Martin1939June 1, 1948Republican
30Grover L. BroadfootJune 5, 1948November 12, 1948Republican
31Thomas E. FairchildNovember 12, 19481951Democratic
32Vernon W. Thomson19511957Republican
33Stewart G. Honeck19571959Republican
34John W. Reynolds19581963Democratic
35George Thompson19631965Republican
36Bronson C. LaFollette19651969Democratic
37Robert W. Warren1969October 8, 1974Republican
38Victor A. MillerOctober 8, 1974November 25, 1974Democratic
39Bronson C. LaFolletteNovember 25, 19741987Democratic
40Donald J. Hanaway19871991Republican
41James E. Doyle19912002Democratic
42Peg A. Lautenschlager20022006Democratic
43J.B. Van Hollen20062014Republican
44Brad Schimel20152019Republican
45Josh Kaul2019presentDemocratic

State profile

Demographic data for Wisconsin
 WisconsinU.S.
Total population:5,767,891316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):54,1583,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:86.5%73.6%
Black/African American:6.3%12.6%
Asian:2.5%5.1%
Native American:0.9%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
Two or more:2.1%3%
Hispanic/Latino:6.3%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:91%86.7%
College graduation rate:27.8%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$53,357$53,889
Persons below poverty level:15%11.3%
Source:U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Clickhere for more information on the 2020 census andhere for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Wisconsin.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the censushere.

Presidential voting pattern

See also:Presidential voting trends in Wisconsin

Wisconsinvoted for the Democratic candidate in five out of the seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted forDonald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting forBarack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won thesePivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, 23 are located in Wisconsin, accounting for 11.17 percent of the total pivot counties.[20]

Pivot Counties (2020)

In2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won asRetained Pivot Counties and those won byJoe Biden (D) asBoomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Wisconsin had 21 Retained Pivot Counties and two Boomerang Pivot Counties, accounting for 11.60 and 8.00 percent of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respectively.

More Wisconsin coverage on Ballotpedia

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsWisconsin Attorney General. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Contact information

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Department of Justice
P.O. Box 7857
Madison, WI 53707-7857

Phone: 608-266-1221
Fax: 608-267-2779

See also

WisconsinState Executive ElectionsNews and Analysis
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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑Wisconsin State Code, "Chapter 15: Structure of the Executive Branch (page 18)," accessed January 12, 2021
  2. ↑Wisconsin State Code, "Chapter 17: Resignations, vacancies, and removals from office (page 7)," accessed January 12, 2021
  3. ↑3.03.1aspAttorney General of Wisconsin, "Home," accessed January 12, 2021
  4. ↑Wisconsin State Code, "Chapter 165: Department of Justice (page 1)," accessed January 12, 2021
  5. ↑Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  6. ↑Wisconsin Legislature, "2023 Wisconsin Act 19, accessed December 6, 2023
  7. ↑Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes: 20.923(2)(a)," accessed January 12, 2021
  8. ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
  9. ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
  10. ↑Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
  11. ↑Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 12, 2021
  12. ↑Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 12, 2021
  13. ↑Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 12, 2021
  14. ↑Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 12, 2021
  15. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
  16. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
  17. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
  18. ↑Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 31, 2014
  19. ↑Wisconsin Blue Book 2019-2020, "Historical Lists," accessed January 12, 2021
  20. ↑The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip ofAtlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
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