Aug. 11 Wisconsin Primary Preview

Wisconsinites will cast their ballots in the Fall Primary on August 11, 2020. With the exception of the U.S. President, this election serves as the primary for all November 2020 races. Any U.S. Congressional, State Senate or State Assembly race that requires a primary will be on the ballot in August (races to watch are previewed below). 

Please consider requesting an absentee ballot for this Election to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Absentee ballot requests must be received by your municipal clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the election (August 6) in order for an absentee ballot to be sent to you. Completed ballots must be received by your municipal clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.

How to Request an Absentee Ballot 

1. Registered voters can request an absentee ballot be sent to them until August 6, 2020.  Due to the high demand for absentee ballots, election officials recommend submitting your request as soon as possible. 

2. Visit https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/RequestAnAbsenteeBallot and fill out the request form. You will need to upload a picture of your photo ID if this is your first time requesting an absentee ballot. 

3. Once you receive your ballot, fill it out using the instruction form that comes with the ballot. Both you and a witness will need to sign the certificate envelope.  The witness will also need to write their address. The City of Madison has made this helpful video explaining the absentee voting process: https://www.cityofmadison.com/clerk/elections-voting/voting/vote-absentee 

4. Your completed ballot must be returned to the Clerk's office by 8 p.m. on Election Day (August 11). 

View What's on Your Ballot 

You can preview your ballot by visiting: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-US/PreviewMyBallot

Watch Candidate Interviews

Wisconsin Eye is interviewing all primary candidates. You can see all of the interviews here:https://wiseye.org/category/campaign/

Breakdown of Primary Races

The following is a breakdown of how the primary races in Wisconsin.

U.S. Congress

All eight members of the House of Representatives from Wisconsin's  Congressional Delegation are up for election. 

Uncontested: 0

Democratic Primary: 3

Republican Primary: 3

Decided by Primary: 0

Decided by General Election: 8

Primaries to Watch:

Congressional District 3: Incumbent Congressman Ron Kind (D-La Crosse) faces a primary challenge from Mark Neumann (D-La Crosse). The winner will face the winner of the Republican primary between Derrick Van Orden (R-Hager City) and Jessi Ebben (R-Eau Claire) in November. 

Congressional District 6: There is a three-person Democratic Primary that includes former state senator Jessica King (D-Oshkosh). The winner of the primary will run against Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) in November.

Wisconsin State Senate

State Senators from even-numbered districts are up for re-election. There are 16 seats up, but four are contested. 

Uncontested: 4 (Senators Cowles, L. Taylor, Stroebel and Wirch)

Democratic Primary: 5

Republican Primary: 3

Decided by Primary: 1 (SD 26)

Decided by General Election: 11

Primaries to Watch:

Senate District 6: Incumbent State Senator LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) faces a primary challenge from Michelle Bryant (D-Milwaukee).

Senate District 10: State Representative Rob Stafsholt (R-New Richmond) is competing in the Republican primary against Cherie Link (R-Somerset). The winner takes on State Senator Patty Schachtner (D-Somerset) in November.

Senate District 14: State Representative Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) is competing in the Republican primary against Ken Van Dyke (R- Scandinavia). The winner takes on Democrat Joni Anderson (D-Adams) for a chance to fill retiring State Senator Luther Olsen’s (R-Ripon)  seat.

Senate District 16: State Representative Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) is running against Andrew McKinney (D-Cottage Grove) in the Democratic primary to fill retiring State Senator Mark Miller’s (D-Monona) seat. The winner faces Scott Barker (R-Sun Prairie) in November.

Senate District 26: Former state representative Kelda Roys (D-Madison) takes on six other opponents in the Democratic primary that will decide who fills retiring State Senator Fred Risser’s (D-Madison) seat. Risser served in the Legislature for 64 years. 

Senate District 32: Former Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) takes on Paul Michael Weber (D-La Crosse) and Jayne Swiggum (D-Gays Mills) in the Democratic primary in the race to fill retiring State Senator Jennifer Shilling’s (D-La Crosse) seat. The winner will take on former state senator Dane Kapanke (R-La Crosse) in November.

Wisconsin State Assembly

All 99 members of the Wisconsin State Assembly are up for election. 

Uncontested: 17 (Representatives Steineke, Riemer, Bowen, Haywood, Goyke, Sinicki, Brandtjen, Vorpagel, Mursau, Schraa, Gundrum, Ramthun, Kerkman, Stubbs, Kuglitsch, Spiros and Duchow).

Democratic Primary: 13

Republican Primary: 12

Decided by Primary: 3 (AD 60, 78 and 98)

Decided by General Election: 79

Primaries to Watch:

Assembly District 9: Incumbent Representative Marisabel Cabrera (D-Milwaukee) is facing a primary challenge from Christian Saldivar (D-Milwaukee). The winner faces Veronica Diaz (R-Milwaukee) in November.

 Assembly District 48: There is a four-person Democratic primary to fill Representative Melissa Sargent’s (D-Madison) seat, which she vacated to run for Senate. The winner faces Samuel Anderson (R-Madison) in November.

Assembly District 60: Incumbent Representative Rob Brooks (R-Saukville) faces a primary challenge by Chris Reimer (R-Cedarburg). The primary decides this race.

Assembly District 76: There is a seven-person Democratic primary to fill Representative Chris Taylor’s (D-Madison) vacant seat. The winner of the primary faces Patrick Hull (R-Madison) in November.

Assembly District 78: Incumbent Representative Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) faces a primary challenge from Rob Slamka (D-Madison). The primary decides this race.

Assembly District 80: Incumbent Representative Sondy Pope (D-Mount Horeb) faces a primary challenge from Kimberly Smith (D-Oregon). The winner faces Chase Binnie (R-Mount Horeb) in November.

Assembly District 82: Incumbent Representative Ken Skowronski (R-Franklin) faces a primary challenge from Theodore D. Kafkas (R-Franklin). The winner faces the winner of the Democratic primary in November.

Assembly District 89: Incumbent Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) faces a primary challenge from Andi Rich (R-Marinette). The winner faces Karl Jaeger (D-Marinette) in November.

Assembly District 90: Incumbent Representative Staush Gruszynski (D-Green Bay) faces a primary challenge from Kristina Shelton (D-Green Bay).  The winner faces Drew Kirsteatter (R-Green Bay) in November.

 Assembly District 98: Incumbent Adam Neylon (R-Pewaukee) faces a primary challenge by Rob Ochoa (R-Pewaukee). The primary decides this race.