# 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin

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The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin were held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, to elect the eight U.S. representatives from the state of Wisconsin, one from each of the state's eight congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including President of the United States and U.S. Senator from Wisconsin. The primaries were held on August 9.
Wisconsin was one of two states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2016, the other state being Virginia.

## District 1

Republican incumbent Paul Ryan, who had represented the 1st district since 1999, ran for re-election. This district had a PVI of R+3. Since October 29, 2015 Ryan sat as the Speaker of the House.

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

* Paul Ryan, incumbent U.S. Representative and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives

##### Eliminated in primary

* Paul Nehlen, senior vice-president of operations at Neptune-Benson

#### Campaign

Nehlen filed campaign papers to run against Ryan on April 1, 2016, and officially launched his campaign on April 14, with the opening of his first campaign office in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Nehlen claimed to have been a Paul Ryan supporter and worked for his election in earlier campaigns but at least one conservative media report questioned that claim.
According to a Janesville Gazette report about his campaign launch, "Nehlen declined to talk about issues such as abortion and would not say what presidential candidate he supports or whether he would support a Republican running for the presidency." Nehlen ran on a platform calling for secure borders, enforcement of existing immigration laws, and reduced government spending, and he opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership treaty. On May 5, 2016, Nehlen pledged to support Donald Trump for the presidency.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on July 14, 2016, that Nehlen had hired Dan Backer as his campaign treasurer. Backer is nationally known for his fundraising activities.
In an August 2016 radio interview, Nehlen suggested that the United States should "have a discussion" about the possibility of deporting Sharia-adherent Muslims living in the country. The remark occurred when Nehlen was asked about his thoughts regarding the dispute between 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of Humayun Khan, an American Muslim Army captain who died in a suicide bombing while serving in Iraq in 2004. During the interview, Nehlen also said that every mosque in the United States should be monitored for signs of potential radicalization.
Because of Nehlen's support for Trump, Trump publicly thanked him on Twitter and later told The Washington Post that Nehlen was "running a very good campaign", even though he did not endorse him. On August 5, 2016, Trump endorsed Ryan's re-election after pressure from fellow Republican leaders.

#### Endorsements

Statewide officials
* Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska and the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in 2008
Organizations
* Tea Party Patriots
Individuals
* Ann Coulter, political commentator and author
* Ronald F. Maxwell, film director and writer
U.S. Executive Branch officials
* Donald Trump, businessman and 2016 Republican Presidential Nominee

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Paul Ryan (incumbent) | 57,364 | 84.1 |
| | Republican | Paul Nehlen | 10,864 | 15.9 |
| | Republican | Write-ins | 15 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 68,243 | 100 |

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

* Ryan Solen, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Veteran's Caucus Secretary/Treasurer

##### Eliminated in primary

* Tom Breu, plumbing engineer

##### Declined

* Rob Zerban, former member of the Kenosha County Board and nominee for this seat in 2012 & 2014

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ryan Solen | 14,639 | 58.9 |
| | Democratic | Tom Breu | 10,142 | 40.8 |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 86 | 0.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,867 | 100.0 |

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

* Jason Lebeck, I.T. technician

#### Results

Libertarian primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Libertarian | Jason Lebeck | 195 | 97.5 |
| | Libertarian | Write-ins | 5 | 2.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 200 | 100.0 |

### Independents

* Spencer Zimmerman, appears on the ballot as "Trump Conservative"

### General election
#### Results

Wisconsin's 1st congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Paul Ryan (incumbent) | 230,072 | 64.9 |
| | Democratic | Ryan Solen | 107,003 | 30.2 |
| | Independent | Spencer Zimmerman | 9,429 | 2.7 |
| | Libertarian | Jason Lebeck | 7,486 | 2.1 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 255 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 354,245 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 2

Democratic incumbent Mark Pocan, who had represented the 2nd district since 2013, ran for re-election. This district had a PVI of D+17.

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

* Mark Pocan, incumbent U.S. Representative

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mark Pocan (incumbent) | 71,461 | 99.5 |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 395 | 0.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 71,856 | 100 |

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

* Peter Theron, professor and nominee for this seat in 2008 & 2014

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Peter Theron | 12,866 | 99.4 |
| | Republican | Write-ins | 79 | 0.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,945 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mark Pocan (incumbent) | 273,537 | 68.7 |
| | Republican | Peter Theron | 124,044 | 31.2 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 479 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 398,060 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 3

Democratic incumbent Ron Kind, who had represented the 3rd district since 1996, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 56.5% of the vote in 2014 and the district had a PVI of D+5.

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

* Ron Kind, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Myron Buchholz, retired teacher

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ron Kind (incumbent) | 33,320 | 81.2 |
| | Democratic | Myron Buchholz | 7,689 | 18.8 |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 7 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,016 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ron Kind (incumbent) | 257,401 | 98.9 |
| | Republican | Ryan Peterson (write-in) | 169 | 0.1 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 2,800 | 1.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 260,370 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 4

Democratic incumbent Gwen Moore, who had represented the 4th district since 2005, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 70.2% of the vote in 2014 and the district had a PVI of D+23.

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

* Gwen Moore, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Gary George, former state senator

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gwen Moore (incumbent) | 55,256 | 84.5 |
| | Democratic | Gary George | 10,013 | 15.3 |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 128 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 65,397 | 100.0 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Declined

* Dan Sebring, automobile repair shop owner and nominee for this seat in 2010, 2012, and 2014

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

* Andy Craig, political activist and 2014 candidate for Secretary of State of Wisconsin

#### Results

Libertarian primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Libertarian | Andy Craig | 127 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

Wisconsin's 4th congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gwen Moore (incumbent) | 220,181 | 76.7 |
| | Independent | Robert Raymond | 33,494 | 11.7 |
| | Libertarian | Andy Craig | 32,183 | 11.2 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 1,051 | 0.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 286,909 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 5

Republican incumbent Jim Sensenbrenner, who had represented the 5th district since 1978, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 69.5% of the vote in 2014 and the district had a PVI of R+13.

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

* Jim Sensenbrenner, incumbent U.S. Representative

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | James Sensenbrenner (incumbent) | 34,203 | 99.7 |
| | Republican | Write-ins | 100 | 0.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 34,303 | 100.0 |

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

* Khary Penebaker, businessman and entrepreneur

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Khary Penebaker | 19,353 | 99.4 |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 115 | 0.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,468 | 100.0 |

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

* John Arndt

#### Results

Libertarian primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Libertarian | John Arndt | 243 | 98.4 |
| | Libertarian | Write-ins | 4 | 1.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 247 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

Wisconsin's 5th congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | James Sensenbrenner (incumbent) | 260,706 | 66.7 |
| | Democratic | Khary Penebaker | 114,477 | 29.3 |
| | Libertarian | John Arndt | 15,324 | 3.9 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 337 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 390,844 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 6

Republican incumbent Glenn Grothman who had represented the 6th district since 2015, ran for re-election. He was elected with 56.8% of the vote in 2014 and the district has a PVI of R+5.

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

* Glenn Grothman, incumbent U.S. Representative

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Glenn Grothman (incumbent) | 29,795 | 99.6 |
| | Republican | Write-ins | 105 | 0.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,900 | 100.0 |

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

* Sarah Lloyd, farmer

##### Eliminated in primary

* Michael Slattery, farmer

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sarah Lloyd | 19,652 | 75.1 |
| | Democratic | Michael Slattery | 6,459 | 24.7 |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 43 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,154 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

Wisconsin's 6th congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Glenn Grothman (incumbent) | 204,147 | 57.1 |
| | Democratic | Sarah Lloyd | 133,072 | 37.3 |
| | Independent | Jeff Dahlke | 19,716 | 5.5 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 248 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 357,183 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 7

Republican incumbent Sean Duffy, who had represented the 7th district since 2011, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 59.3% of the vote in 2014 and the district has a PVI of R+2.

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

* Sean Duffy, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Don Raihala, small business owner

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Sean Duffy (incumbent) | 29,501 | 89.4 |
| | Republican | Don Raihala | 3,456 | 10.5 |
| | Republican | Write-ins | 24 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,981 | 100.0 |

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

* Mary Hoeft, university professor

##### Eliminated in primary

* Joel Lewis, Marathon County Board Supervisor

##### Withdrawn

* Kirk Bangstad, political consultant
* Ethel Quisler, independent contractor

##### Declined

* Kelly Westlund, businesswoman, Ashland City Council member and nominee for this seat in 2014

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mary Hoeft | 27,289 | 80.6 |
| | Democratic | Joel Lewis | 6,531 | 19.3 |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 50 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,870 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

Wisconsin's 7th congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Sean Duffy (incumbent) | 223,418 | 61.6 |
| | Democratic | Mary Hoeft | 138,643 | 38.3 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 210 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 362,271 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 8

Republican incumbent Reid Ribble, who had represented the 8th district since 2011, announced on January 30, 2016, that he would retire at the end of his third term, opening the seat for the 2016 election. The district had a PVI of R+2.

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

* Mike Gallagher, retired U.S. Marine and former advisor to Governor Scott Walker

##### Eliminated in primary

* Frank Lasee, state senator from the 1st district (2011–2017)
* Terry McNulty, Forestville, Wisconsin village president, Southern Door School Board member

##### Withdrawn

* Gary Schomburg, former Hilbert village board member

##### Declined

* Andre Jacque, state representative from the 2nd district (2011–2019)
* John Macco, state representative from the 88th district (2015–present)
* John Nygren, state representative from the 89th district (2007–2020)
* Roger Roth, state senator from the 19th district (2015–2023) and nephew of former U.S. representative Toby Roth
* David Steffen, state representative from the 4th district (2015–present)
* Jim Steineke, Majority Leader of State Assembly (2015–2022) and state representative from the 5th district (2011–2022)
* Chad Weininger, former state representative from the 4th district (2011–2015)

#### Endorsements

U.S. Representatives
* Reid Ribble, 8th District incumbent
State legislators
* Al Ott, state representative
Organizations
* Pro-Life Wisconsin Victory Fund
* Midwest Growth PAC
Individuals
* John R. Bolton, former ambassador to the United Nations
* Michael T. Flynn, retired Lieutenant General and former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
* Carl Higbie, former Navy SEAL
Organizations
* Pro-Life Wisconsin Victory Fund (co-endorsement with Gallagher)
Organizations
* Wisconsin Family Action PAC

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Gallagher | 40,322 | 74.5 |
| | Republican | Frank Lasee | 10,705 | 19.8 |
| | Republican | Terry McNulty | 3,109 | 5.7 |
| | Republican | Write-ins | 16 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 54,152 | 100.0 |

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

* Tom Nelson, County Executive of Outagamie County and former state representative

##### Declined

* Penny Bernard Schaber, former state representative
* Eric Genrich, state representative
* Steve Kagen, former U.S. Representative
* Jamie Wall, businessman, nominee for this seat in 2012 and candidate in 2006

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tom Nelson | 20,914 | 99.9 |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 28 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,942 | 100.0 |

### Independent

* Wendy Gribben, part-time grocery store employee
* Robbie Hoffman, artist and psychologist

### General election
#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Mike Gallagher (R) | Tom Nelson (D) | Undecided |
| NMB Research | October 16–18, 2016 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 52% | 41% | 17% |
| Public Opinion Strategies (R) | August 22, 2016 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 52% | 36% | 12% |

#### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Likely R | November 7, 2016 |
| Daily Kos Elections | Lean R | November 7, 2016 |
| Rothenberg | Likely R | November 3, 2016 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean R | November 7, 2016 |
| RCP | Lean R | October 31, 2016 |

#### Results

Wisconsin's 8th congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Gallagher | 227,892 | 62.6 |
| | Democratic | Tom Nelson | 135,682 | 37.3 |
| | Green | Wendy Gribben (write-in) | 16 | 0.0 |
| | Democratic | Jerry Kobishop (write-in) | 2 | 0.0 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 188 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 363,280 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |