2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin

← 2008 November 2, 2010 2012 →
All 8 Wisconsin seats to theUnited States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Republican Democratic Last election 3 5 Seats won 5 3 Seat change 2 2 Popular vote 1,165,761 938,690 Percentage 54.46% 43.85% Swing 8.52% 6.00%
District results County results Republican   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80% Democratic   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   80–90%

Elections in Wisconsin
Federal government Presidential elections 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Presidential primaries Democratic 2000 2004 2008 2016 2020 2024 Republican 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 U.S. Senate elections Class 1 1848 1851 1857 1863 1869 1875 1881 1887 1893 1899 1905 1911 1916 1922 1925 sp 1928 1934 1940 1946 1952 1957 sp 1958 1964 1970 1976 1982 1988 1994 2000 2006 2012 2018 2024 Class 3 1848 1849 1855 1861 1867 1872 1879 1881 sp 1885 1890 1891 1897 1903 1907 sp 1909 1914 1918 sp 1920 1926 1932 1938 1944 1950 1956 1962 1968 1974 1980 1982 1986 1992 1998 2004 2010 2016 2022 2028 U.S. House of Representatives elections 1848 1850 1852 1854 1856 1858 1860 1862 1863 2nd sp 1864 1866 1868 1870 2nd sp 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 5th sp 1887 8th sp 1888 1890 1892 1893 4th sp 1894 7th sp 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 2nd sp 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 6th sp 11th sp 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 6th sp 1931 1st sp 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1941 1st sp 1942 1944 1946 1947 2nd sp 1948 1950 1952 1953 9th sp 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1969 7th sp 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1979 6th sp 1980 1982 1984 4th sp 1986 1988 1990 1992 1993 1st sp 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 7th sp 2022 2024 8th sp 2026
State government General elections 1925 1995 2000 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Gubernatorial elections 1848 1849 1851 1853 1855 1857 1859 1861 1863 1865 1867 1869 1871 1873 1875 1877 1879 1881 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2012 (recall) 2014 2018 2022 2026 Lieutenant Gubernatorial elections 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1968 2012 (recall) Secretary of State elections 1978 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 Attorney General elections 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 Treasurer elections 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 Superintendent elections 1925 2009 2013 2017 2021 2025 State Senate elections 1934 1996 2008 2010 2011 (recall) 2012 (recall) 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 State Assembly elections 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 Supreme Court elections 1852 (3) 1855 1859 1860 sp. 1861 1863 1865 1867 1868 sp. (2) 1869 1871 1873 1875 1877 (2) 1878 1879 1881 (2) 1883 1885 1887 1889 1891 1892 sp. 1893 1895 1896 sp. 1897 1898 sp. 1899 (2) 1901 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 sp. 1909 1911 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 sp. 1919 1921 1922 sp. 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1929 1930 sp. 1931 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1939 1941 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1949 1950 sp. 1951 1952 sp. 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1989 1990 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1999 2000 2001 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2013 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2023 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2033
Ballot measures 2006 Referendum 1 2025 Question 1
Brown County County Executive elections 1995 1995 (special) 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023 Green BayMayoral elections 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Dane County County Executive elections 2001 2005 2009 2011 (special) 2013 2017 2021 2024 (special) 2025 MadisonMayoral elections 1874 1875 1876 1973 1997 sp. 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Kenosha County Executive elections 2022 Mayoral elections 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Milwaukee County Executive elections 2000 2002 (special) 2004 2008 2011 (special) 2012 2016 2020 2024 MilwaukeeMayoral elections 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2022 sp 2024
Outagamie County County Executive elections 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Winnebago County County Executive elections 2021 2025
v t e

The2010 congressional elections in Wisconsin were held on November 2, 2010, to determine who would represent thestate ofWisconsin in theUnited States House of Representatives. It coincided with the state'ssenatorial andgubernatorial elections. Representatives were elected for two-year terms; those elected would serve in the112th Congress from January 2011 until January 2013. Wisconsin has eight seats in the House, apportioned according to the2000 United States census.

Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin by district:^[2]

2010 Wisconsin's 1st congressional district election

← 2008 2012 →

Nominee Paul Ryan John Heckenlively Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 179,819 79,363 Percentage 68.21% 30.10%

Precinct results Ryan:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Heckenlively:     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

Incumbent Republican CongressmanPaul Ryan ran for a seventh term in this marginally conservative^[3] district based in southeastern Wisconsin. Congressman Ryan faced a nominal challenge from Democratic businessman John Heckenlively and Libertarian Joseph Kexel.

TheWisconsin State Journal sharply criticized Congressman Ryan, labeling him "a singularly ineffective representative" and lambasted his plans to privatizeSocial Security andMedicare, noting, "even the most anti-government extremists recognize that gambling America’s retirement security on the stock market is madness." The State Journal called for voters to vote for challenger Heckenlively, with the rationale that he "will fight for the interests of southeastern Wisconsin working families the incumbent has so neglected.^[4]

2010 Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election

← 2008 2012 →

Nominee Tammy Baldwin Chad Lee Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 191,164 118,099 Percentage 61.77% 38.16%

Precinct results Baldwin:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Lee:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Tie:     40–50%     50%     No votes

U.S. Representative before election Tammy Baldwin Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin Democratic

Incumbent Democratic CongresswomanTammy Baldwin, one of the few openly gay members of Congress, ran for a seventh term from this solidly liberal^[3] district based around the city ofMadison, and she faced Republican candidate Chad Lee in the general election.

TheCapital Times gave Congresswoman Baldwin glowing praise, observing that she "has eschewed the celebrity circuit and focused on heavy lifting in Washington and tending to the needs of her constituents in south-central Wisconsin’s 2nd district," calling the results of her work "impressive." Ultimately, the Capital Times concluded, "Baldwin’s service merits an enthusiastic endorsement, and she has it from us."^[4]

2010 Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district election

← 2008 2012 →

Nominee Ron Kind Dan Kapanke Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 126,380 116,838 Percentage 50.3% 46.5%

County results Precinct results Kind:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Kapanke:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Tie:     40–50%     50%     No votes

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

The 3rd district spans theDriftless Area in southwestern Wisconsin taking in cities such asEau Claire andLa Crosse. The incumbent was DemocratRon Kind, who was reelected with 63.19% of the vote in 2008.

• Ron Kind, incumbent U.S. Representative

• Dan Kapanke, State Senator from the32nd district (2005–2011)

• Bruce F. Evers

Democratic CongressmanRon Kind faced RepublicanState SenatorDan Kapanke in his bid for an eighth term from this liberal-leaning congressional district based that includes much of western Wisconsin.^[3] The campaign between Kapanke and Kind was brutal, with Kapanke and theNational Republican Congressional Committee accusing Kind of charging two doctors in exchange for meeting with them to discuss a bill, a claim that Kind countered with allegations that Kapanke used $32,000 from a charity to improve a baseball stadium.^[13] In their debate, Kapanke attacked Kind for having supported much of PresidentObama's agenda.

TheMilwaukee Journal Sentinel endorsed Congressman Kind for re-election, noting, "Kind is a partisan with principles instead of someone who is principally, to the virtual exclusion of reasoned compromise, partisan."^[14] TheWisconsin State Journal criticized both Kind and Kapanke, noting that while they were "unimpressed with...Ron Kind" and that Kapanke was "scandal-plagued," Kind "is preferable to his...challenger."^[4]

2010 Wisconsin's 4th congressional district election

← 2008 2012 →

Nominee Gwen Moore Dan Sebring Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 143,559 61,543 Percentage 68.98% 29.57%

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

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

CongresswomanGwen Moore ran for a fourth term from this staunchly liberal^[3] district based largely in the city ofMilwaukee. This district tends to give Democrats solid margins of victory, so Moore did not face a credible challenge from Republican candidate Dan Sebring or independent candidate Eddie Ayyash.

TheWisconsin State Journal strongly endorsed Congresswoman Moore in her bid for re-election, calling her "a gem with a terrific voting record and an accessible style that will earn her easy re-election."^[4]

2010 Wisconsin's 5th congressional district election

← 2008 2012 →

Nominee Jim Sensenbrenner Todd P. Kolosso Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 229,642 90,634 Percentage 69.32% 27.36%

Precinct results Sensenbrenner:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Kolosso:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Tie:     40–50%     50%     No votes

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

This solidly conservative^[3] district based in the northern and western suburbs ofMilwaukee, has been represented by Republican CongressmanJim Sensenbrenner since he was first elected in1978. Running for a seventeenth term, Sensenbrenner faced a nominal challenge from Democratic businessman Todd Kolosso and independent candidate Robert R. Raymond, who had run against the Congressman in previous elections.

TheWisconsin State Journal soured on Congressman Sensenbrenner, calling him "irascible" and announcing that he "has reached his 'sell-by' date." The State Journal endorsed Kolosso, who they claimed "would be a more engaged representative."^[4]

2010 Wisconsin's 6th congressional district election

← 2008 2012 →

Nominee Tom Petri Joseph C. Kallas Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 183,271 75,926 Percentage 70.66% 29.27%

Precinct results Petri:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Kallas:     40–50%     50–60% Tie:     50%     No votes

U.S. Representative before election Tom Petri Republican Elected U.S. Representative Tom Petri Republican

Incumbent Republican CongressmanTom Petri has represented this conservative-leaning^[3] district based in east-centralWisconsin since he was first elected in a 1979 special election. Petri built a reputation as a moderate in Congress^[15] and was well-liked by the constituents of his district. Though he faced a challenge from Democratic candidate Joseph Kallas, Petri was in no real danger of losing his seat.

TheWisconsin State Journal has high praise for Congressman Petri, referring to him as a "moderate...who builds bipartisan coalitions on education issues and brings a thoughtful take to foreign policy debates."^[4]

2010 Wisconsin's 7th congressional district election

← 2008 2012 →

Nominee Sean Duffy Julie Lassa Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 132,551 113,018 Percentage 52.1% 44.4%

County results Precinct results Duffy:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Lassa:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Tie:     40–50%     50%     No votes

U.S. Representative before election Dave Obey Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Sean Duffy Republican

• Julie Lassa, State Senator from the24th district (2003–2017)^[16]

• Don Raihala

• Dave Obey, incumbent U.S. Representative^[17]

• Sean Duffy,Ashland County District Attorney (2002–2010)^[19]

• Dan Mielke

When long-serving Democratic CongressmanDave Obey, the dean of the Wisconsin congressional delegation and the chairman of theHouse Appropriations Committee, declined to seek another term in this liberal-leaning district based in northwestern Wisconsin.^[3] DemocraticState SenatorJulie Lassa emerged as her party's nominee, whileAshland County District AttorneySean Duffy, who had starred onMTV’sThe Real World: Boston became the Republican nominee. A contentious general election ensued, in which the candidates traded barbs and personal attacks against each other.

Duffy alleged that as a State Senator, Lassa accepted a $2,530 pay increase, even while the state was losing jobs and undergoing a budget deficit.Politifact, however, questioned the accuracy of this attack, noting that Lassa had given back half of the pay increase.^[21] Lassa returned fire with a hard-hitting television advertisement alleging that Duffy skimped on his responsibilities as a District Attorney and the quality of his office’s services declined as a result.Politifact again investigated this claim and rated it as "Barely true."^[22]

TheMilwaukee Journal Sentinel praised both candidates in the race, observing, "both...candidates are a good fit for the district and would make able representatives." They praised Lassa for her "good work on several issues in the legislature," but ultimately endorsed Duffy, calling him, "the kind of independent thinker who might just shake things up in Washington."^[23] TheWisconsin State Journal, on the other hand, endorsed Lassa as a "more experienced and a more independent thinker than former MTV star Sean Duffy."^[4]

2010 Wisconsin's 8th congressional district election

← 2008 2012 →

Nominee Reid Ribble Steve Kagen Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 143,998 118,646 Percentage 54.77% 45.12%

County results Precinct results Ribble:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Kagen:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Tie:     40–50%     50%     No votes

U.S. Representative before election Steve Kagen Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Reid Ribble Republican

The 8th district is located in northeastern Wisconsin and includesGreen Bay andAppleton. The incumbent was DemocratSteve Kagen, who was reelected with 54% of the vote in 2008.

• Steve Kagen, incumbent U.S. Representative

• Reid Ribble,De Pere businessman^[25]

• Terri McCormick, former state representative from the56th district (2001–2007) and candidate for this district in2006
• Roger Roth, state representative from the56th district (2007–2011) and nephew of former U.S. representativeToby Roth^[26]

• Marc Savard, farmer(remained on ballot; endorsed Ribble)^[26]

Seeking a third term in this marginally conservative^[3] district based in northeastern Wisconsin and theGreen Bay metropolitan area, incumbent Democratic CongressmanSteve Kagen faced a stiff challenge from RepublicanReid Ribble, a roofing contractor and former minister fromKaukauna. Kagen and Ribble engaged in a bitterly fought general election, with Kagen accusing Ribble of wanting to privatizeSocial Security^[28] and Ribble responded by accusing Kagen of sending American jobs to China through his votes in Congress.^[29]

TheMilwaukee Journal Sentinel had praise for both the Democratic and Republican candidates, describing them as "pragmatic and able, well suited to a district that skews conservative," but ultimately endorsed Congressman Kagen for re-election, observing, "he has a reliably independent streak" and noting that Kagen "got it right" on many of the issues that Ribble attacked him over, "and that makes him the better pick."^[30] TheWisconsin State Journal concurred, urging voters to "proudly re-elect" Congressman Kagen due to his opposition to the "bank bailout and bad trade deals" and his objections "to surging more troops into Afghanistan."^[4] TheGreen Bay Press-Gazette, however, disagreed, endorsing Ribble as a person who "would approach the major challenges facing our country with a set of fresh eyes" and criticizing Congressman Kagen because "there are no significant pieces of legislation or contributions that stand out to convince us he deserves a third term."^[31]

• Elections & VotingArchived 2012-11-07 at theWayback Machine at the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board
  • Candidate listArchived 2010-08-26 at theWayback Machine
• U.S. Congress Candidates for Wisconsin atProject Vote Smart
• Wisconsin U.S. House from OurCampaigns.com
• Campaign contributions for U.S. Congressional races in Wisconsin fromOpenSecrets
• 2010 Wisconsin General Election graph of multiple polls fromPollster.com
• House - Wisconsin from theCook Political Report
• Election 2010 at theMilwaukee Journal Sentinel

• 2010 Wisconsin elections
• United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin
• 2010 United States House of Representatives elections

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