# Wisconsin's 6th congressional district

Wisconsin's 6th congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in eastern Wisconsin. It is based in the rural, suburban and exurban communities between Madison, Milwaukee, and Green Bay. It also includes the village of River Hills in far northern Milwaukee County. The district is currently represented by Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeaulah) who took office in January 2015.
The 6th district has a long history of farming livestock in rural areas, and is a major producer of both milk and grains.
The 6th district has been a Republican stronghold for most of its history; since the 1930s, only one Democrat, John A. Race, represented the district between 1965 and 1967. With a Cook PVI of R+10, it is tied with the 8th district as the third-most Republican district in Wisconsin. The 6th district's Republican lean extends to presidential races; since 1952, only three Democrats have carried it: Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, Bill Clinton in 1996, and Barack Obama in 2008, all three of whom swept the state of Wisconsin in landslides. In the 2020 Presidential Election, the district voted 57% for Donald Trump and 42% for Joe Biden.

## Counties and municipalities within the district

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties, towns, and municipalities:
Calumet County (4)
    Brothertown, Kiel (shared with Manitowoc County), New Holstein (city), New Holstein (town)
Columbia County (35)
    All 35 towns and municipalities
Dodge County (17)
    Beaver Dam, Brownsville, Burnett, Chester, Fox Lake (city), Fox Lake (town), Kekoskee, LeRoy, Lomira (town), Lomira (village), Mayville, Randolph (shared with Columbia County), Theresa (town) (part; also 5th), Theresa (village), Trenton, Waupun (shared with Fond du Lac County), Westford
Fond du Lac County (34)
    All 34 towns and municipalities
Green Lake County (16)
    All 16 towns and municipalities
Manitowoc County (30)
    All 30 towns and municipalities
Marquette County (19)
    All 19 towns and municipalities
Ozaukee County (16)
    All 16 towns and municipalities
Sheboygan County (25)
    All 25 towns and municipalities
Waushara County (26)
    All 19 towns and municipalities
Winnebago County (22)
    Algoma, Appleton (part; also 8th; shared with Calumet and Outagamie counties), Black Wolf, Clayton (part; also 8th), Fox Crossing, Menasha (part; also 8th; shared with Calumet County), Neenah (city), Neenah (town), Nekimi, Nepeuskun, Omro (city), Omro (town), Oshkosh (city), Oshkosh (town), Poygan, Rushford, Utica, Vinland, Winchester (part; also 8th), Winneconne (town), Winneconne (village), Wolf River

## History

Wisconsin's 6th congressional district came into existence in 1863 following the federal census of 1860. The first elected representative from the district was Walter D. McIndoe of Wausau. The district originally comprised the counties of the northern and western parts of the state. Following subsequent congressional reapportionment after each decennial census, the district's boundaries shifted eastward.

### Census of 1860

The reapportionment of Congressional districts following the federal census of 1860 gave Wisconsin three additional members in the House of Representatives. Members elected from the newly created 4th, 5th and 6th districts were chosen in the midterm elections of 1862 and took their seats in the lower house as part of the 38th United States Congress.
The 6th District originally included the counties of Adams, Ashland, Bad Ax (Vernon), Buffalo, Burnett, Dallas (Barron), Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, La Pointe, Marathon, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, St. Croix, Trempealeau, and Wood.
Areas of east central Wisconsin, which make up much of the 6th district today, were originally part of the newly created 5th district.

### Census of 1870

Following the 1870 census Wisconsin gained two seats in the House of Representatives. The new 6th District was shifted eastward and included many counties in northeast Wisconsin. It included the counties of Brown, Calumet, Door, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Outagamie, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago. Representative Philetus Sawyer of Oshkosh had been elected to Congress from Wisconsin's 5th District since 1865, was then elected from the newly configured 6th District. He later served the state as a member of the U.S. Senate.

### Census of 1880

The federal census of 1880 showed further population growth in Wisconsin and the state gained a 9th Congressional seat. Reapportionment of the state moved the 6th District to a more central location within the state, though the representatives elected from the district came from the communities along the shores of Lake Winnebago throughout the decade. The 6th District now included the counties of Adams, Green Lake, Marquette, Outagamie, Waushara and Winnebago.

### Census of 1890

Following the census of 1890 Wisconsin gained a 10th Congressional seat. The 6th District shifted eastward to a configuration that closely resembled that of today's linear east to west shape with a population of 187,001. The state population was enumerated at 1,686,880. The 6th District then included the counties of Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Marquette, Waushara and Winnebago.

### Census of 1900

The state's population reached 2,069,042 according to the 1900 federal census and Wisconsin gained an additional seat in the House of Representatives. This was the peak of Wisconsin's Congressional representation and the state maintained 11 members of the House of Representatives until the opening of the 73rd United States Congress in 1933. The 6th District shifted southward and included the counties of Dodge, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan and Washington. The counties in the vicinity of Lake Winnebago became part of the 8th District. The population of the counties making up the 6th District totaled 184,517.

### Censuses of 1910 & 1920

The 1910 census tabulated a population of 2,333,860 citizens for Wisconsin and the 1920 census saw the state's population grow to 2,632,670. As a result of this growth, the state retained its 11 seats in the House of Representatives throughout the 1910s and 1920s. Prior to congressional elections in 1912, the 6th District was reconfigured in manner closer to that of the 1893 apportionment. The district included the counties of Calument, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Manitowoc, Marquette, and Winnebago. All 11 districts continued in the same configurations until the elections of 1932. The 6th district grew from 201,637 to 214,206 between the two enumerations.

### Censuses of 1930, 1940 & 1950

Wisconsin lost a congressional seat following the census of 1930. The 6th District now included Calumet, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington, and Winnebago counties. According to the 1950 census, the population of the district was 315,666. This southeastern shift of the district remained in effect for 30 years, ending with the 1962 elections.

### Census of 1960

The state held on to all 10 of its Congressional seats following the 1960 census. As a result of changing population patterns, the districts were reapportioned. Green Lake County was added to the existing counties of the 6th District, which were Calumet, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington and Winnebago. This slight western shift gave the district a population of 391,743.
It was also during this era, that the Republican Party's domination of the district was broken. Democrat John Abner Race, represented the district from 1965 to 1967. Other than this brief interruption, a Republican has been sent to Washington, D.C. in every election since 1938.

### Census of 1970

The state of Wisconsin gained 465,318 residents for a total of 4,418,683 according to the 1970 census. Because this was a lower increase than other areas of the country, the state lost a seat in the House of Representatives, requiring the state's districts to be reapportioned.
The 6th District now extended farther west than at any time other since its original configuration in 1860. It now included all or portions of Adams, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Juneau, Manitowoc, Marquette, Monroe, Sheboygan, Waushara, and Winnebago counties.
This was the first time, other than in Milwaukee County, that districts did not follow county borders throughout the state. The Town of Waupun in Fond du Lac County was included in the 2nd District. Only the five easternmost towns in Monroe County were included in the 6th District.

### Census of 1980

Following the 1980 census the 6th District again expanded in size. All of Monroe County now became part of the district, which was a further westward expansion. All of Waupaca County and the southwest corner of Wood County expanded the district to the north. Southern towns in Adams, Juneau, Fond du Lac and Sheboygan counties, as well as the city of Sheboygan, were removed from the district and included in the 2nd District and 9th District. In addition, the counties of Calumet, Green Lake, Manitowoc, Marquette, Waushara and Winnebago were included in their entirety. The population of the 6th District according to the 1980 census was 522,546.

### Census of 1990

The 1990 census saw Wisconsin retain its nine seats in the House of Representatives and created only minor changes to the 6th District. All or portions of Adams, Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Juneau, Manitowoc, Marquette, Monroe, Outagamie, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago counties were part of the Sixth.

### Census of 2000

Following the 2000 census, Wisconsin's population rose to 5,363,675. Because this growth was not as large as in other parts of the nation, Wisconsin lost a congressional seat. Now with only eight seats, a major redistricting took place in the state for the first time since the state's loss of its 10th seat following the census of 1970. The new 6th District included the counties of Adams, Calumet, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Manitowoc, Waushara and Winnebago, in addition to small sections of Outagamie and Jefferson counties.

### Census of 2010

Wisconsin held on to its eight seats in the House of Representatives following the census of 2010, although the district boundaries were changed by the state legislature to include Columbia and Ozaukee County, while no longer including Adams, Calumet, and most of Dodge County. This isn't the first time the 6th congressional district included Ozaukee County. However this is the first time it include a portion of Milwaukee County. It included the northern suburb River Hills.

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history |
| District established March 4, 1863 |||||
| Walter D. McIndoe (Wausau) | Republican | March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1867 | 38th 39th | Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1862. Re-elected in 1864. Retired. |
| Cadwallader C. Washburn (La Crosse) | Republican | March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1871 | 40th 41st | Elected in 1866. Re-elected in 1868. Retired. |
| Jeremiah McLain Rusk (Viroqua) | Republican | March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873 | 42nd | Elected in 1870. Redistricted to the 7th district. |
| Philetus Sawyer (Oshkosh) | Republican | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | 43rd | Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1872. Retired. |
| Alanson M. Kimball (Pine River) | Republican | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 | 44th | Elected in 1874. Lost re-election. |
| Gabriel Bouck (Oshkosh) | Democratic | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1881 | 45th 46th | Elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Lost re-election. |
| Richard W. Guenther (Oshkosh) | Republican | March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1887 | 47th 48th 49th | Elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Redistricted to the 2nd district. |
| Charles B. Clark (Neenah) | Republican | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891 | 50th 51st | Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Lost re-election. |
| Lucas M. Miller (Oshkosh) | Democratic | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 | 52nd | Elected in 1890. Lost renomination. |
| Owen A. Wells (Fond du Lac) | Democratic | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 | 53rd | Elected in 1892. Lost re-election. |
| Samuel A. Cook (Neenah) | Republican | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897 | 54th | Elected in 1894. Retired to run for U.S. senator. |
| James H. Davidson (Oshkosh) | Republican | March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1903 | 55th 56th 57th | Elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Redistricted to the 8th district. |
| Charles H. Weisse (Sheboygan Falls) | Democratic | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1911 | 58th 59th 60th 61st | Elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Retired. |
| Michael E. Burke (Beaver Dam) | Democratic | March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1913 | 62nd | Elected in 1910. Redistricted to the 2nd district. |
| Michael Reilly (Fond du Lac) | Democratic | March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1917 | 63rd 64th | Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Lost re-election. |
| James H. Davidson (Oshkosh) | Republican | March 4, 1917 – August 6, 1918 | 65th | Elected in 1916. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | August 6, 1918 – November 5, 1918 | 65th | |
| Florian Lampert (Oshkosh) | Republican | November 5, 1918 – July 18, 1930 | 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st | Elected to finish Davidson's term. Also elected to the next full term. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | July 18, 1930 – November 4, 1930 | 71st | |
| Michael Reilly (Fond du Lac) | Democratic | November 4, 1930 – January 3, 1939 | 71st 72nd 73rd 74th 75th | Elected to finish Lampert's term. Also elected to the next full term. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Lost re-election. |
| Frank Bateman Keefe (Oshkosh) | Republican | January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1951 | 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st | Elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Retired. |
| William Van Pelt (Fond du Lac) | Republican | January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1965 | 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th | Elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Lost re-election. |
| John Abner Race (Fond du Lac) | Democratic | January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967 | 89th | Elected in 1964. Lost re-election. |
| William A. Steiger (Oshkosh) | Republican | January 3, 1967 – December 4, 1978 | 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th | Elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978 but died before next term began. |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 4, 1978 – April 3, 1979 | 95th 96th | |
| Tom Petri (Fond du Lac) | Republican | April 3, 1979 – January 3, 2015 | 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th | Elected to finish Steiger's term. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Retired. |
| Glenn Grothman (Glenbeulah) | Republican | January 3, 2015 – present | 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. |

## Recent election results
### 2002 district boundaries (2002–2011)

| Year | Date | Elected | Elected | Elected | Elected | Defeated | Defeated | Defeated | Defeated | Total | Plurality |
| 2002 | Nov. 5 | Tom Petri (inc) | Republican | 169,834 | 99.22% | --unopposed-- | --unopposed-- | --unopposed-- | --unopposed-- | 171,161 | 168,507 |
| 2004 | Nov. 2 | Tom Petri (inc) | Republican | 238,620 | 67.03% | Jef Hall | Dem. | 107,209 | 30.12% | 355,995 | 131,411 |
| 2004 | Nov. 2 | Tom Petri (inc) | Republican | 238,620 | 67.03% | Carol Ann Rittenhouse | Grn. | 10,018 | 2.81% | 355,995 | 131,411 |
| 2006 | Nov. 7 | Tom Petri (inc) | Republican | 201,367 | 98.92% | --unopposed-- | --unopposed-- | --unopposed-- | --unopposed-- | 203,557 | 199,177 |
| 2008 | Nov. 4 | Tom Petri (inc) | Republican | 221,875 | 63.71% | Roger A. Kittelson | Dem. | 126,090 | 36.21% | 348,264 | 95,785 |
| 2010 | Nov. 2 | Tom Petri (inc) | Republican | 183,271 | 70.66% | Joseph C. Kallas | Dem. | 90,634 | 27.36% | 259,367 | 107,345 |

### 2011 district boundaries (2012–2021)

| Year | Date | Elected | Elected | Elected | Elected | Defeated | Defeated | Defeated | Defeated | Total | Plurality |
| 2012 | Nov. 6 | Tom Petri (inc) | Republican | 223,460 | 62.12% | Dave Heaster | Dem. | 135,921 | 37.78% | 359,745 | 87,539 |
| 2014 | Nov. 4 | Glenn Grothman | Republican | 169,767 | 56.77% | Chris Rockwood | Dem. | 122,212 | 40.87% | 299,033 | 47,555 |
| 2014 | Nov. 4 | Glenn Grothman | Republican | 169,767 | 56.77% | Gus Fahrendorf | Ind. | 6,865 | 2.30% | 299,033 | 47,555 |
| 2016 | Nov. 8 | Glenn Grothman (inc) | Republican | 204,147 | 57.15% | Sarah Lloyd | Dem. | 133,072 | 37.26% | 357,183 | 71,075 |
| 2016 | Nov. 8 | Glenn Grothman (inc) | Republican | 204,147 | 57.15% | Jeff Dahlke | Lib. | 19,716 | 5.52% | 357,183 | 71,075 |
| 2018 | Nov. 6 | Glenn Grothman (inc) | Republican | 180,311 | 55.47% | Dan Kohl | Dem. | 144,536 | 44.46% | 325,065 | 35,775 |
| 2020 | Nov. 3 | Glenn Grothman (inc) | Republican | 238,874 | 59.23% | Jessica King | Dem. | 164,239 | 40.72% | 403,333 | 74,635 |

### 2022 district boundaries (2022–2031)

| Year | Date | Elected | Elected | Elected | Elected | Defeated | Defeated | Defeated | Defeated | Total | Plurality |
| 2022 | Nov. 8 | Glenn Grothman (inc) | Republican | 239,231 | 94.93% | Tom Powell (write-in) | Ind. | 340 | 0.13% | 251,999 | 238,891 |

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | Obama 49.21% - 49.16% |
| 2010 | Senate | Johnson 61% - 38% |
| 2010 | Governor | Walker 61% - 38% |
| 2010 | Secretary of State | King 56% - 44% |
| 2010 | Attorney General | Van Hollen 67% - 33% |
| 2010 | Treasurer | Schuller 61% - 39% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 54% - 46% |
| 2012 | Senate | Thompson 53% - 44% |
| 2012 | Governor (Recall) | Walker 62% - 38% |
| 2014 | Governor | Walker 61% - 38% |
| 2014 | Secretary of State | Bradley 54% - 42% |
| 2014 | Attorney General | Schimel 59% - 38% |
| 2014 | Treasurer | Adamczyk 56% - 37% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 55% - 38% |
| 2016 | Senate | Johnson 59% - 38% |
| 2018 | Senate | Vukmir 53% - 47% |
| 2018 | Governor | Walker 57% - 41% |
| 2018 | Secretary of State | Schroeder 55% - 44% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Schimel 57% - 41% |
| 2018 | Treasurer | Hartwig 55% - 42% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 57% - 41% |
| 2022 | Senate | Johnson 59% - 41% |
| 2022 | Governor | Michels 57% - 42% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Loudenbeck 56% - 40% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Toney 58% - 42% |
| 2022 | Treasurer | Leiber 58% - 39% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 57% - 41% |
| 2024 | Senate | Hovde 56% - 41% |