# 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin

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The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the eight U.S. representatives from Wisconsin, one from each of the state's eight congressional districts. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 113th Congress from January 2013 until January 2015. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate. Primary elections were held on August 14, 2012.
Wisconsin was one of five states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2012, the other states being Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

## Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats Before | Seats After | +/– |
| | Republican | 1,401,995 | 48.92% | 5 | 5 | - |
| | Democratic | 1,445,015 | 50.42% | 3 | 3 | - |
| | Libertarian | 6,054 | 0.20% | 0 | 0 | - |
| | Independent | 9,277 | 0.32% | 0 | 0 | - |
| | Write-In | 26 | 0.00% | 0 | 0 | - |
| | Scattering | 3,683 | 0.13% | 0 | 0 | - |
| Totals | Totals | 2,956,050 | 100.00% | 8 | 8 | - |

## District 1

Republican Paul Ryan, who has represented Wisconsin's 1st congressional district since 1999, ran for reelection after deciding not to run for the U.S. Senate or seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Paul Ryan, incumbent U.S. Representative

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Paul Ryan (Incumbent) | 65,700 | 99.6 |
| | none | Scattering | 278 | 0.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 65,978 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Rob Zerban, member of the Kenosha County Board and former small business owner

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rob Zerban | 16,265 | 99.8 |
| | none | Scattering | 27 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,292 | 100.0 |

### Libertarian primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Keith Deschler, factory worker

### General election
#### Campaign

Though Ryan was selected to be the Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States on August 11, 2012, he was allowed, and continued to, run for re-election to his House seat.

#### Endorsements

Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
* National Association of Letter Carriers
Organizations
* Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Emerging Races" Program
* Progressive Change Campaign Committee

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Paul Ryan (R) | Rob Zerban (D) | Keith Deschler (L) | Undecided |
| Public Opinion Strategies (R-Ryan) | September 9–10, 2012 | 400 | ±4.9% | 58% | 33% | 3% | 6% |
| Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (D-Zerban) | August 21–23, 2012 | 404 | ±4.9% | 47% | 39% | 4% | 11% |

#### Results

Wisconsin 1st Congressional District, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Paul Ryan (Incumbent) | 200,423 | 54.9 |
| | Democratic | Rob Zerban | 158,414 | 43.4 |
| | Libertarian | Keith Deschler | 6,054 | 1.7 |
| | none | Scattering | 167 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 365,058 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
External links
* Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
* Profile at Vote Smart

## District 2

Democrat Tammy Baldwin, who represented Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district since 1999, ran for the U.S. Senate.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Mark Pocan, state representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Dennis Hall, former member of Janesville City Council
* Kelda Roys, state representative
* Matt Silverman, attorney and decorated combat veteran

##### Withdrawn

* Dave Worzala, Dane County Treasurer

##### Declined

* Tammy Baldwin, incumbent U.S. Representative
* Jon Erpenbach, state senator

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mark Pocan | 43,171 | 72.2 |
| | Democratic | Kelda Roys | 13,081 | 21.9 |
| | Democratic | Matt Silverman | 2,365 | 4.0 |
| | Democratic | Dennis Hall | 1,163 | 1.9 |
| | none | Scattering | 46 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 59,826 | 100.0 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Chad Lee, businessman and nominee for this seat in 2010

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chad Lee | 32,813 | 99.5 |
| | none | Scattering | 158 | 0.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,971 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
* National Association of Letter Carriers
Organizations
* Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Majority Makers" Program
* Human Rights Campaign
* Progressive Change Campaign Committee

#### Results

Wisconsin 2nd Congressional District, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mark Pocan | 265,422 | 67.9 |
| | Republican | Chad Lee | 124,683 | 31.9 |
| | Write-In | Joe Kopsick | 6 | 0.0 |
| | none | Scattering | 787 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 390,898 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 3

Democrat Ron Kind, who has represented Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district since 1997, did not run for the U.S. Senate and instead ran for re-election.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Ron Kind, incumbent U.S. Representative

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ron Kind (Incumbent) | 19,755 | 99.9 |
| | none | Scattering | 27 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,782 | 100.0 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Ray Boland, former state Secretary of Veterans Affairs and former commander at Fort McCoy

##### Withdrawn

* Edward Martin, retired Army sergeant

##### Declined

* Bruce Evers, financial adviser and candidate for this seat in 2010

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ray Boland | 35,668 | 99.6 |
| | none | Scattering | 148 | 0.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,816 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Labor unions
* International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
* National Association of Letter Carriers
Organizations
* Human Rights Campaign

#### Results

Wisconsin 3rd Congressional District, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ron Kind (Incumbent) | 217,712 | 64.1 |
| | Republican | Ray Boland | 121,713 | 35.8 |
| | none | Scattering | 339 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 339,764 | 100.0 |

## District 4

Democrat Gwen Moore, who had represented Wisconsin's 4th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Gwen Moore, incumbent U.S. Representative

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gwen Moore | 34,525 | 99.7 |
| | none | Scattering | 115 | 0.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 34,640 | 100.0 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Dan Sebring, automobile repair shop owner and nominee for this seat in 2010

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dan Sebring | 19,144 | 99.0 |
| | none | Scattering | 200 | 1.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,344 | 100.0 |

### Independents

* Robert R. Raymond, perennial candidate

### General election
#### Endorsements

Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
* National Association of Letter Carriers

#### Results

Wisconsin 4th Congressional District, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gwen Moore (incumbent) | 235,257 | 72.2 |
| | Republican | Dan Sebring | 80,787 | 24.8 |
| | Independent | Robert R. Raymond | 9,277 | 2.9 |
| | none | Scattering | 467 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 325,788 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 5

Republican Jim Sensenbrenner, who has represented Wisconsin's 5th congressional district since 2003 (and previously represented Wisconsin's 9th congressional district from 1979 to 2003), ran for re-election.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Jim Sensenbrenner, incumbent U.S. Representative

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Sensenbrenner | 89,370 | 99.4 |
| | none | Scattering | 535 | 0.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 89,905 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Dave Heaster, technology employee at the Kohler Company

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Dave Heaster | 9,266 | 99.9 |
| | none | Scattering | 13 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,279 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

Wisconsin 5th Congressional District, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Sensenbrenner (Incumbent) | 250,335 | 67.7 |
| | Democratic | Dave Heaster | 118,478 | 32.1 |
| | none | Scattering | 851 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 369,664 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 6

Republican Tom Petri, who has represented Wisconsin's 6th congressional district since 1979, ran for re-election.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Tom Petri, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Lauren Stephens, founder of a conservative political action committee.

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Petri (incumbent) | 73,376 | 82.2 |
| | Republican | Lauren Stephens | 15,821 | 17.7 |
| | none | Scattering | 75 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 89,272 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Joe Kallas, former member of the Green Lake County Board and nominee for this seat in 2010

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joe Kallas | 11,285 | 99.8 |
| | none | Scattering | 18 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,303 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

Wisconsin 6th Congressional District, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Petri (Incumbent) | 223,460 | 62.1 |
| | Democratic | Joe Kallas | 135,921 | 37.8 |
| | none | Scattering | 364 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 359,745 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 7

Republican Sean Duffy, who has represented Wisconsin's 7th congressional district since 2011, ran for re-election.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Sean Duffy, incumbent U.S. Representative

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Sean Duffy | 46,987 | 99.5 |
| | none | Scattering | 252 | 0.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 47,239 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Pat Kreitlow, former state Senator

##### Declined

* Janet Bewley, state representative

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Pat Kreitlow | 16,053 | 99.9 |
| | none | Scattering | 19 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,072 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Organizations
* National Republican Congressional Committee "Patriot" Program
Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
* National Association of Letter Carriers
Organizations
* Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Red to Blue" Program

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Sean Duffy (R) | Pat Kreitlow (D) | Undecided |
| NMB Research (R-American Action Network) | September 30–October 1, 2012 | 400 | ±4.9% | 51% | 40% | 9% |
| Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (D-Kreitlow) | September 25–26, 2012 | 509 | ±4.4% | 44% | 41% | 15% |
| Public Policy Polling (D-CREDO) | September 24–25, 2012 | 694 | ±3.7% | 48% | 44% | 7% |

#### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Lean R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg | Lean R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call | Likely R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times | Lean R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP | Lean R | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |

#### Results

Wisconsin 7th Congressional District 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Sean Duffy (Incumbent) | 201,720 | 56.1 |
| | Democratic | Pat Kreitlow | 157,524 | 43.8 |
| | none | Scattering | 405 | 0.1 |
| | Write-In | Dale C. Hehner | 20 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 359,669 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 8

Republican Reid Ribble, who has represented Wisconsin's 8th congressional district since 2011, ran for re-election.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Reid Ribble, incumbent U.S. Representative

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Reid Ribble | 64,689 | 99.6 |
| | none | Scattering | 251 | 0.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 64,940 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Jamie Wall, business consultant and candidate for this seat in 2006

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jamie Wall | 11,513 | 99.8 |
| | none | Scattering | 19 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,532 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Reid Ribble (R) | Jamie Wall (D) | Undecided |
| Normington, Petts & Associates (D) | September 18–19, 2012 | 400 | ±4.9% | 47% | 41% | 12% |

#### Endorsements

Organizations
* National Republican Congressional Committee "Patriot" Program
Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
* National Association of Letter Carriers
Organizations
* Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Red to Blue" Program

#### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Likely R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg | Safe R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Likely R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times | Lean R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP | Likely R | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill | Likely R | November 4, 2012 |

#### Results

Wisconsin 8th Congressional District, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Reid Ribble (Incumbent) | 198,874 | 56.0 |
| | Democratic | Jamie Wall | 156,287 | 44.0 |
| | none | Scattering | 303 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 355,464 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
External links
* Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
* Profile at Vote Smart