2018 Wisconsin Attorney General election

The 2018 Wisconsin Attorney General election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the attorney general of Wisconsin.

2018 Wisconsin Attorney General election

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Nominee Josh Kaul Brad Schimel
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,305,902 1,288,712
Percentage 49.41% 48.76%

County results
Kaul:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Schimel:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Attorney General before election

Brad Schimel
Republican

Elected Attorney General

Josh Kaul
Democratic

Republican incumbent Brad Schimel, first elected in 2014, ran for re-election to a second term.[1] Voting rights attorney and former federal prosecutor Josh Kaul, the Democratic nominee, defeated Schimel in the general election.[2] Terry Larson, the Constitution Party nominee, also garnered around 2% of the vote, greater than the vote difference between Schimel and Kaul.

Republican primary

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Incumbent Attorney General Brad Schimel ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[3]

Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brad Schimel (incumbent) 394,799 99.77%
Republican Write-in 896 0.23%
Total votes 395,695 100.0%

Democratic primary

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Attorney Josh Kaul won the Democratic nomination unopposed.[4]

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Josh Kaul 432,954 99.65%
Democratic Write-in 1,509 0.35%
Total votes 434,463 100.0%

Constitution primary

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Terry Larson won the Constitution Party nomination unopposed.[5]

Constitution primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Constitution Terry Larson 354 100.0%
Total votes 354 100.0%

General election

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Polling

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Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Brad
Schimel (R)
Josh
Kaul (D)
Undecided
Marquette University[6] October 24–28, 2018 1,154 LV ± 3.2% 47% 45% 8%
1,400 RV ± 3.0% 45% 43% 12%
Marquette University[7] October 3–7, 2018 799 LV ± 3.9% 47% 43% 10%
1,000 RV ± 3.6% 45% 41% 14%
Marquette University[8] September 12–16, 2018 614 LV ± 4.4% 48% 41% 11%
800 RV ± 4.0% 47% 40% 13%

Results

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Kaul won the election by a 0.65% margin.[9][10]

Wisconsin Attorney General election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Josh Kaul 1,305,902 49.41%
Republican Brad Schimel (incumbent) 1,288,712 48.76%
Constitution Terry Larson 47,038 1.78%
Write-in 1,199 0.05%
Total votes 2,642,851 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

By congressional district

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Despite losing the state, Schimel won 5 of 8 congressional districts.[11]

District Schimel Kaul Representative
1st 55% 43% Paul Ryan
2nd 30% 69% Mark Pocan
3rd 48% 50% Ron Kind
4th 24% 74% Gwen Moore
5th 62% 37% Jim Sensenbrenner
6th 57% 41% Glenn Grothman
7th 57% 41% Sean Duffy
8th 56% 42% Mike Gallagher

See also

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References

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  1. ^ DeFour, Matthew (May 14, 2016). "Glenn Grothman cites transgender bathroom legal battle as sign of 'moral decline'". Racine Journal Times. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  2. ^ Beck, Molly (November 7, 2018). "Josh Kaul declares victory over Brad Schimel in attorney general's race". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  3. ^ "WI Attorney General – R Primary". Our Campaigns. September 4, 2018. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  4. ^ "WI Attorney General – D Primary". Our Campaigns. September 4, 2018. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  5. ^ "Terry Larson". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  6. ^ Marquette University
  7. ^ Marquette University
  8. ^ Marquette University
  9. ^ "WI Attorney General". Our Campaigns. December 3, 2018. Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  10. ^ "2018 Attorney General General Election Results". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Elections. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  11. ^ "DRA 2020". Daves Redistricting. Retrieved August 18, 2024.