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16 of 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate 17 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1996 Wisconsin Senate election were held on Tuesday, November 5, 1996. Sixteen of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election—the even-numbered districts. At the time, Democrats held 17 seats while the Republicans held 16, having lost their majority only months prior due to the recalling of Senator George Petak.
Summary
| Seats | Party(majority caucus shading) | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | |||
| Last election (1994) | 7 | 10 | 17 | |
| Total after last election (1994) | 16 | 17 | 33 | |
| Total before this election | 17 | 16 | 33 | |
| Up for election | 9 | 7 | 16 | |
| of which: | Incumbent retiring | 1 | 1 | |
| Vacated | ||||
| Unopposed | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| This election | 9 | 7 | 16 | |
| Change from last election |  2
|
 3
|
||
| Total after this election | 17 | 16 | 33 | |
| Change in total | 
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Close races
- State Senate district 30, 3.58%
- State Senate district 28, 4.08%
- State Senate district 10, 8.24%
- State Senate district 16, 8.97%
Outgoing incumbents
Retiring
- Joseph F. Andrea (D–Kenosha), representing district 22 since 1984, decided to retire.
Recall election
Background
In October 1995, Senator, George Petak, faced controversy when he changed his vote on a funding bill for the Miller Park stadium. Miller Park was being planned to replace the forty-year-old Milwaukee County Stadium and was being pushed by Republican Governor Tommy Thompson and Milwaukee Brewers owner and future-Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig. Petak had promised his constituents that he would vote against the bill, but changed his mind based on the belief that the Brewers would leave Wisconsin if a new stadium wasn't built.
Petak's change in vote supported a 0.1% increase in sales tax for five counties in the vicinity of the proposed stadium, which included Petak's home county of Racine. His actions caused outrage and frustration in his home district, and local Democrats were energized to collect signatures for a recall petition. After collecting 15,050 signatures, or 130% of the required 11,577 signatures, the recall was certified on March 26, 1996, and a recall election was ordered for June.
Petition
| Dist. | Incumbent | Recall petition | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | First elected | Signatures required | Signatures approved (%) | Status | |
| 21 | George Petak | Rep. | 1990 | 11,577 | 15,050 (130%) | Petition certified on March 26, 1996. Recall held on June 4, 1996. |
Results
Nine months after his vote on the stadium tax, Petak became the first Wisconsin state legislator to be removed from office in a recall election, when he was defeated by Democratic State Representative Kimberly Plache. As a result of the recall, control of the state Senate flipped to Democratic control for the rest of the session.
| Dist. | Incumbent | This race | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | First elected | Primary | General | Result | |
| 21 | George Petak | Republican | 1990 |
|
|
Incumbent recalled. Democratic gain. |
Y Results summary
| Dist. | Incumbent | This race | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | First
elected |
Status | Candidates | Results | |
| 02 | Robert Cowles | Rep. | 1987
(special) |
Incumbent Running |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
| 04 | Gwen Moore | Dem. | 1988 | Incumbent Running |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
| 06 | Gary George | Dem. | 1980 | Incumbent Running |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
| 08 | Alberta Darling | Rep. | 1992 | Incumbent Running |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
| 10 | Alice Clausing | Dem. | 1992 | Incumbent Running |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
| 12 | Roger Breske | Dem. | 1990 | Incumbent Running |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
| 14 | Robert Welch | Rep. | 1995
(special) |
Incumbent Running |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
| 16 | Charles Chvala | Dem. | 1984 | Incumbent Running |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
| 18 | Carol Buettner | Rep. | 1987
(special) |
Incumbent Running |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
| 20 | Mary Panzer | Rep. | 1993
(special) |
Incumbent Running |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
| 22 | Joseph F. Andrea | Dem. | 1984 | Incumbent Retiring |
|
New member elected. Democratic hold |
| 24 | Kevin Shibilski | Dem. | 1995
(special) |
Incumbent Running |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
| 26 | Fred Risser | Dem. | 1962
(special) |
Incumbent Running |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
| 28 | Lynn Adelman | Dem. | 1976 | Incumbent Running |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
| 30 | Gary Drzewiecki | Rep. | 1992 | Incumbent Running |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
| 32 | Brian Rude | Rep. | 1984
(special) |
Incumbent Running |
|
Incumbent re-elected |
Notes
- Scattered votes omitted
References
- Sandomir, Richard (May 7, 1998). "Stadiums Are Proposed, but Public Isn't Always Disposed to Pay Price". The New York Times. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
- Bowers, Faye (June 3, 1996). "Wisconsin state senator faces recall over stadium vote". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- "Recall gets green light". Racine Journal Times. Madison. March 27, 1996. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
- "Plache sworn in as state senator". Racine Journal Times. June 14, 1996. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
- "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. p. 888. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. p. 889. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. pp. 889–890. Retrieved March 24, 2024.