# 1996 Wisconsin Senate election

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
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
1968
2012 (recall)
Secretary of State elections
1978
2014
2018
2022
2026
Attorney General elections
2014
2018
2022
Treasurer elections
2014
2022
Superintendent elections
2013
2017
2021
2025
State Senate elections
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
2008
2009
2011
2013
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2023
2025 :
Ballot measures
2006Referendum 1 :
Green Bay
Mayoral elections
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
Madison
Mayoral elections
1997 sp
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
Milwaukee
Mayoral elections
1910
1912
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2022 sp
2024 :
Kenosha
Mayoral elections
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024 :
vte :
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 from office.

## Summary

| Seats | Seats | Party(majority caucus shading) | Party(majority caucus shading) | Total |
| Seats | Seats | Democratic | Republican | Total |
| Last election (1994) | Last election (1994) | 7 | 10 | 17 |
| Total after last election (1994) | Total after last election (1994) | 16 | 17 | 33 |
| Total before this election | Total before this election | 17 | 16 | 33 |
| Up for election | Up for election | 9 | 7 | 16 |
| of which: | Incumbent retiring | 1 | | 1 |
| of which: | Vacated | | | |
| of which: | Unopposed | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| This election | This election | 9 | 7 | 16 |
| Change from last election | Change from last election | 2 | 3 | |
| Total after this election | Total after this election | 17 | 16 | 33 |
| Change in total | Change in total | | | |
Popular vote
Democratic
49.25%
Republican
48.53%
Taxpayers
1.55%
Libertarian
0.67% :
Senate seats won
Democratic
56%
Republican
44% :

### 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 | Incumbent | Incumbent | Recall petition | Recall petition | Recall petition |
| Dist. | 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 | Incumbent | Incumbent | This race | This race | This race |
| Dist. | Member | Party | First elected | Primary | General | Result |
| 21 | George Petak | Republican | 1990 | George Petak (Rep.) William A. Pangman (Rep.) Kimberly Plache (Dem.) | ▌Y Kimberly Plache (Dem.) 51.22% ▌George Petak (Rep.) 47.02% ▌Todd Mascaretti (Lib.) 1.76% | Incumbent recalled. Democratic gain. |

## Results summary

| Dist. | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | This race | This race |
| Dist. | Member | Party | First elected | Status | Candidates | Results |
| 02 | Robert Cowles | Rep. | 1987 (special) | Incumbent Running | ▌YRobert Cowles (Rep.) 62.92% ▌Patricia Buss (Dem.) 37.08% | Incumbent re-elected |
| 04 | Gwen Moore | Dem. | 1988 | Incumbent Running | ▌YGwen Moore (Dem.) 100% | Incumbent re-elected |
| 06 | Gary George | Dem. | 1980 | Incumbent Running | ▌YGary George (Dem.) 100% | Incumbent re-elected |
| 08 | Alberta Darling | Rep. | 1992 | Incumbent Running | ▌Y Alberta Darling (Rep.) 58.78% ▌Randy Nash (Dem.) 38.62% ▌Tim Gallert (Tax.) 2.60% | Incumbent re-elected |
| 10 | Alice Clausing | Dem. | 1992 | Incumbent Running | ▌YAlice Clausing (Dem.) 54.12% ▌Jay Griggs (Rep.) 45.88% | Incumbent re-elected |
| 12 | Roger Breske | Dem. | 1990 | Incumbent Running | ▌YRoger Breske (Dem.) 57.39% ▌Nancy Levanetz (Rep.) 42.57% | Incumbent re-elected |
| 14 | Robert Welch | Rep. | 1995 (special) | Incumbent Running | ▌YRobert Welch (Rep.) 100% | Incumbent re-elected |
| 16 | Charles Chvala | Dem. | 1984 | Incumbent Running | ▌Y Charles Chvala (Dem.) 53.67% ▌Tom Metcalfe (Rep.) 44.70% ▌Mike Oprish (Lib.) 1.63% | Incumbent re-elected |
| 18 | Carol Buettner | Rep. | 1987 (special) | Incumbent Running | ▌YCarol Buettner (Rep.) 73.77% ▌Fred Frederickson (Dem.) 26.23% | Incumbent re-elected |
| 20 | Mary Panzer | Rep. | 1993 (special) | Incumbent Running | ▌Y Mary Panzer (Rep.) 84.83% ▌Kevin Scheunemann (Lib.) 8.18% ▌Barry Moder (Tax.) 6.98% | Incumbent re-elected |
| 22 | Joseph F. Andrea | Dem. | 1984 | Incumbent Retiring | ▌YRobert Wirch (Dem.) 56.81% ▌Bruno Rizzo (Rep.) 43.19% | New member elected. Democratic hold |
| 24 | Kevin Shibilski | Dem. | 1995 (special) | Incumbent Running | ▌Y Kevin Shibilski (Dem.) 84.08% ▌Wayne Wiedeman (Tax.) 15.92% | Incumbent re-elected |
| 26 | Fred Risser | Dem. | 1962 (special) | Incumbent Running | ▌YFred Risser (Rep.) 100% | Incumbent re-elected |
| 28 | Lynn Adelman | Dem. | 1976 | Incumbent Running | ▌YLynn Adelman (Dem.) 52.04% ▌Lisa Soik (Rep.) 47.96% | Incumbent re-elected |
| 30 | Gary Drzewiecki | Rep. | 1992 | Incumbent Running | ▌YGary Drzewiecki (Rep.) 51.79% ▌Barbara Lawton (Dem.) 48.21% | Incumbent re-elected |
| 32 | Brian Rude | Rep. | 1984 (special) | Incumbent Running | ▌YBrian Rude (Rep.) 75.10% ▌David Wulf (Dem.) 24.90% | Incumbent re-elected |