Wisconsin Secretary of State
| Wisconsin Secretary of State | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $78,583 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $281,600 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Wisconsin State Code, Chapter 14.36 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski | |
| 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 | |
TheWisconsin Secretary of State is an elected executive official in theWisconsin state government. Thesecretary keeps a record of all official acts of the legislature and executive department of the state.[1]
Wisconsin has a Democratictriplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current Wisconsin Secretary of State isSarah Godlewski (D). Godlewski assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The secretary of state's office is authorized by Chapter 14.36 of the Wisconsin state code.[2]
Chapter 14.36:
| Office of secretary of state; creation. There is created an office of the secretary of state under the direction and supervision of the secretary of state. |
Qualifications
While theWisconsin Constitution does not specify the qualification for the Office of Secretary of State, the secretary is second in line of succession to the governorship. UnderArticle 5 of thestate constitution, thegovernor must be a United States citizen and qualified elector inWisconsin.[3]
Vacancies
Chapter 17.19(4) of the Wisconsin state code addresses vacancies in the office of secretary of state. 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.[4]
Duties
Article 6 of thestate constitution requires the secretary of state to keep a fair record of the official acts of the legislature and executive department of the state.[3]
The specific duties of the attorney general are outlined in Chapter 14.38 of the Wisconsin state code.[5]
Chapter 14.38 - Duties. The secretary of state shall:
- Record executive acts.
- Affix great seal; register commissions.
- Have custody of books, records, etc.
- Biennial report.
- Keep enrolled laws, etc.
- Compile original laws and resolutions.
- Record fees.
- Furnish certified copies; fees.
- Notices of proposed constitutional amendments and enactments.
Elections
According toArticle 6 of thestate constitution, the secretary of state is elected every four years, in mid-term election years, to a four-year term.
Election results
See also: Wisconsin Secretary of State election, 2030
There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.
See also: Wisconsin Secretary of State 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.
General election for Wisconsin Secretary of State
Pete Karas (G) is running in the general election for Wisconsin Secretary of State on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Pete Karas (G) | ||
| There are noincumbents in this race. | |||
 = 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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Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Wisconsin Secretary of State
IncumbentSarah Godlewski (D),Collin McNamara (D),Lorenzo Southall (D), andJoCasta Zamarripa (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin Secretary of State on August 11, 2026.
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. | |||
| = 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 Wisconsin Secretary of State
Nathan Pollnow (R) andCindy Werner (R) are running in the Republican primary for Wisconsin Secretary of State on August 11, 2026.
| There are noincumbents in this race. | |||
| = 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. | ||||
See also: Wisconsin Secretary of State election, 2022
General election
General election for Wisconsin Secretary of State
IncumbentDouglas J. La Follette (D) defeatedAmy Loudenbeck (R),Neil Harmon (L), andSharyl McFarland (G) in the general election for Wisconsin Secretary of State on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Douglas J. La Follette (D) | 48.3 | 1,268,748 |
 | Amy Loudenbeck (R) | 48.0 | 1,261,306 | |
 | Neil Harmon (L) | 2.1 | 54,413 | |
 | Sharyl McFarland (G) | 1.6 | 41,532 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0% | 944 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 2,626,943 | ||
| = 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 Wisconsin Secretary of State
IncumbentDouglas J. La Follette (D) defeatedAlexia Sabor (D) in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin Secretary of State on August 9, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Douglas J. La Follette | 63.6 | 300,773 |
 | Alexia Sabor | 36.4 | 171,954 | |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 472,727 | ||
| = 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 Wisconsin Secretary of State
Amy Loudenbeck (R) defeatedJay Schroeder (R) andJustin Schmidtka (R) in the Republican primary for Wisconsin Secretary of State on August 9, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Amy Loudenbeck | 46.3 | 264,940 |
 | Jay Schroeder | 39.9 | 228,191 | |
 | Justin Schmidtka | 13.8 | 78,846 | |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 571,977 | ||
| = 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
- Dmitry Becker (R)
Libertarian Party primary
Libertarian primary for Wisconsin Secretary of State
Neil Harmon (L) advanced from the Libertarian Party primary for Wisconsin Secretary of State on August 9, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Neil Harmon | 95.8 | 769 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 4.2% | 34 | ||
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 803 | ||
| = 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. | ||||
See also: Wisconsin Secretary of State election, 2018
General election
General election for Wisconsin Secretary of State
IncumbentDouglas J. La Follette (D) defeatedJay Schroeder (R) in the general election for Wisconsin Secretary of State on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Douglas J. La Follette (D) | 52.7 | 1,380,752 |
| Jay Schroeder (R) | 47.2 | 1,235,034 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1% | 2,162 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 2,617,9480 | ||
| = 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 Wisconsin Secretary of State
IncumbentDouglas J. La Follette (D) defeatedArvina Martin (D) in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin Secretary of State on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Douglas J. La Follette | 65.9 | 327,020 |
 | Arvina Martin | 34.1 | 169,130 | |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 496,1500 | ||
| = 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 Wisconsin Secretary of State
Jay Schroeder (R) defeatedSpencer Zimmerman (R) in the Republican primary for Wisconsin Secretary of State on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jay Schroeder | 71.4 | 254,424 |
 | Spencer Zimmerman | 28.6 | 101,818 | |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 356,2420 | ||
| = 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. | ||||
Divisions
As of January 2021, there are two divisions within the Office of the Secretary of State:
- Government Records Division
- Administrative Services Division
State budget
- See also:Wisconsin state budget and finances
The budget for the Secretary of State's Office in Fiscal Year 2025 was $281,600.[6]
Budget reduction (2015)
In the 2015/2017 state budget,Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker proposed a 50 percent staff reduction to the Office of the Secretary of State. The governor intended to cut the office's full-time aides from three to one, as well as to move the secretary's office to the basement of the capital, saving a total of $490,000 dollars over the two-year proposed budget.[7] SecretaryLa Follette wrote an open letter to Governor Walker expressing his concern for the proposed budget cuts, saying the cuts would render it “impossible to maintain quality service to the public, especially in the event of employee illness, vacation or other leave."[8]
Compensation
See statutes:Chapter 20, Section 923 of the Wisconsin Statutes
The secretary of state'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."[3]
Since the 2003 approval of Wisconsin Act 33, the secretary of state's compensation has been set by the Wisconsin Office of State Employment Relations (OSER), in accordance with Section 20.923 of the Wisconsin Statutes.[9] 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, although his or her veto power is limited. Effective for the four-year term beginning January 2015, the secretary of state's salary was raised 2 percent over the prior term.[10]
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $78,583, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[11]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $72,551, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[12]
2021
In 2021, the secretary of state received a salary of $72,551, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[13]
2020
In 2020, the secretary of state received a salary of $72,551, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[14]
2019
In 2019, the secretary of state received a salary of $72,551, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[15]
2018
In 2018, the secretary of state received a salary of $69,936, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[16]
2017
In 2017, the secretary of state received a salary of $69,936, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[17]
2016
In 2016, the secretary of state received a salary of $69,936, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[18]
2015
In 2015, the secretary of state received a salary of $69,936, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[19]
2014
In 2014, the secretary received a salary of $68,566, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[20]
2013
In 2013, the secretary's salary remained at $68,566.[21]
2012
In 2012, the secretary received a salary of$68,566, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[22]
Historical officeholders
There have been 31 Wisconsin Secretaries of State since 1848. Of the 31 officeholders, 20 were Republican, 10 were Democrat and one was Progressive.[23]
| List of officeholders from 1848-present | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | Party | ||
| 1 | Thomas McHugh | 1848-1850 |  Democratic | ||
| 2 | William A. Barstow | 1850-1852 | Democratic | ||
| 3 | Charles D. Robinson | 1852-1854 | Democratic | ||
| 4 | Alexander T. Gray | 1854-1856 | Democratic | ||
| 5 | David W. Jones | 1856-1860 | Democratic | ||
| 6 | Lewis P. Harvey | 1860-1862 |  Republican | ||
| 7 | James T. Lewis | 1862-1864 | Republican | ||
| 8 | Lucius Fairchild | 1864-1866 | Republican | ||
| 9 | Thomas S. Allen | 1866-1870 | Republican | ||
| 10 | Llywelyn Breese | 1870-1874 | Republican | ||
| 11 | Peter Doyle | 1874-1878 | Democratic | ||
| 12 | Hans B. Warner | 1878-1882 | Republican | ||
| 13 | Ernst G. Timme | 1882-1891 | Republican | ||
| 14 | Thomas J. Cunningham | 1891-1895 | Democratic | ||
| 15 | Henry Casson | 1895-1899 | Republican | ||
| 16 | William H. Froehlich | 1899-1903 | Republican | ||
| 17 | Walter L. Houser | 1903-1907 | Republican | ||
| 18 | James A. Frear | 1907-1913 | Republican | ||
| 19 | John S. Donald | 1913-1917 | Republican | ||
| 20 | Merlin Hull | 1917-1921 | Republican | ||
| 21 | Elmer S. Hall | 1921-1923 | Republican | ||
| 22 | Fred R. Zimmerman | 1923-1927 | Republican | ||
| 23 | Theodore Dammann | 1927-1935 | Republican | ||
| 24 | Theodore Dammann | 1935-1939 | Progressive | ||
| 25 | Fred R. Zimmerman | 1939-1954 | Republican | ||
| 26 | Louis Allis | 1954-1955 | Republican | ||
| 27 | Mrs. Glenn M. Wise | 1955-1957 | Republican | ||
| 28 | Robert C. Zimmerman | 1957-1975 | Republican | ||
| 29 | Douglas J. La Follette | 1975-1979 | Democratic | ||
| 30 | Mrs. Vel R. Phillips | 1979-1983 | Democratic | ||
| 31 | Douglas La Follette | 1983-2023 | Democratic | ||
State profile
| Demographic data for Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 5,767,891 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 54,158 | 3,531,905 |
| 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
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.[24]
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
- Elections in Wisconsin
- United States congressional delegations from Wisconsin
- Public policy in Wisconsin
- Endorsers in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin fact checks
- More...
Recent news
Contact information
Wisconsin Secretary of State
B41 West, State Capitol
Madison WI 53702
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 7848
Madison, WI 53707-7848
Phone: (608) 266-8888 (ext 2)
Fax: (608) 266-3159
E-mail:statesec@wi.gov
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑Wisconsin Secretary of State, "Home," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑Wisconsin state code, "Chapter 14: Constitutional Offices and Interstate Bodies (page 6)," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑3.03.13.2Wisconsin.gov, "Wisconsin Constitution," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑Wisconsin state code, "Chapter 17: Resignations, vacancies, and removals from office (page 7)," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑Wisconsin state code, "Chapter 14: Constitutional Offices and Interstate Bodies (page 6)," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑Wisconsin Legislature, "2023 Wisconsin Act 19, accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑Fox 11 Online, "Longtime Secretary of State opposes proposed budget cut to his office," February 17, 2015
- ↑MacIver Institute, "As responsibilities dwindle, does Wisconsin need a Secretary of State?" February 27, 2015
- ↑Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes: 20.923(2)(a)," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑Wisconsin Legislature, "Wisconsin Briefs from the Legislative Reference Bureau: SALARIES OF STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 2015," updated January 2015
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑Wisconsin Blue Book 2007-2008, "Statistical Information on Wisconsin: History," accessed January 28, 2021
- ↑The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip ofAtlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
