2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin

The 2006 congressional elections in Wisconsin were held on November 7, 2006, to determine who would represent the state of Wisconsin in the United States House of Representatives. Representatives were elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 110th Congress from January 3, 2007, until January 3, 2009. The election coincided with the 2006 U.S. senatorial election and the 2006 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin

← 2004 November 7, 2006 2008 →

All 8 Wisconsin seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election 4 4
Seats won 5 3
Seat change Increase1 Decrease1
Popular vote 1,003,156 1,040,071
Percentage 48.62% 50.41%

Wisconsin has eight seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Its 2006-2007 congressional delegation consisted of four Democrats and four Republicans. That changed after the 2006 congressional elections in Wisconsin when the open 8th congressional district formerly held by Republican Mark Green, was won by Democratic Representative Steve Kagen.

Wisconsin was one of four states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2006, the other states being Indiana, Nevada, and New Mexico.

Overview

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United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, 2006[1]
Party Votes Percentage Seats +/–
Republican 1,040,071 50.41% 3 -1
Democratic 1,003,156 48.62% 5 +1
Independents 20,186 0.98% 0
Totals 2,063,413 100.00% 8

District 1

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Incumbent Republican Congressman Paul Ryan has represented this swing district in southeast Wisconsin since his initial election in 1998. Though this district only barely went to President George W. Bush in 2004, defeating Congressman Ryan was not a priority for the Democratic Party, and the Democratic nominee was former Janesville City Councilman and perennial candidate Jeff Thomas, whom Ryan was able to handily beat, even in an unfavorable election year for Republicans.

Wisconsin's 1st congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Ryan (inc.) 161,320 62.63
Democratic Jeffrey C. Thomas 95,761 37.17
Write-ins 515 0.20
Total votes 257,596 100.00
Republican hold

District 2

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Incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, the only openly lesbian member of Congress, has represented this deep-blue district located in Madison and vicinity since 1999. This year, Baldwin was able to win a fifth term in a rematch from 2004 against Republican candidate Dave Magnum.

Endorsements

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Individuals
Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tammy Baldwin (inc.) 191,420 62.82
Republican Dave Magnum 113,015 37.09
Write-ins 259 0.20
Total votes 304,688 100.00
Democratic hold

District 3

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2006 Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district election
 
← 2004
2008 →
     
Nominee Ron Kind Paul R. Nelson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 163,322 88,523
Percentage 64.9% 35.1%

 
Kind:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. Representative before election

Ron Kind
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Ron Kind
Democratic

 

Democratic Congressman Ron Kind has represented this western Wisconsin-based district since he was first elected in 1996 and sought a sixth term this year against Republican nominee Paul Nelson. Congressman Kind was successful and won another term in Congress.

Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ron Kind (inc.) 163,322 64.79
Republican Paul R. Nelson 88,523 35.12
Write-ins 242 0.10
Total votes 252,087 100.00
Democratic hold

District 4

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Freshman Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Moore ran for a second term in this district based in the city of Milwaukee. Congresswoman Moore faced Republican candidate Perfecto Rivera, whom she was easily able to dispatch with to return to Washington for another term.

Wisconsin's 4th congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gwen Moore (inc.) 136,735 71.31
Republican Perfecto Rivera 54,486 28.42
Write-ins 521 0.27
Total votes 191,742 100.00
Democratic hold

District 5

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Incumbent Republican Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, who has represented this solidly conservative district based in the northern suburbs of Milwaukee since 1979, ran for a fifteenth term this year. Congressman Sensenbrenner faced Democratic candidate Bryan Kennedy, who was able to perform surprisingly well in this district, though he ultimately fell to Sensenbrenner in the general election.

Wisconsin's 5th congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Sensenbrenner (inc.) 194,669 61.76
Democratic Bryan Kennedy 112,451 35.68
Green Bob Levis 4,432 1.41
Independent Robert R. Raymond 3,525 1.12
Write-ins 103 0.03
Total votes 315,180 100.00
Republican hold

District 6

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Facing no major-party opposition, incumbent Republican Congressman Tom Petri was easily able to retain his seat for a fourteenth term in this heavily conservative district located in the cities of Oshkosh and Neenah.

Wisconsin's 6th congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Petri (inc.) 201,367 98.92
Write-ins 2,190 1.08
Total votes 203,557 100.00
Republican hold

District 7

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2006 Wisconsin's 7th congressional district election
 
← 2004
2008 →
     
Nominee Dave Obey Nick Reid
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 161,903 91,069
Percentage 62.17% 34.97%

 
Obey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. Representative before election

Dave Obey
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Dave Obey
Democratic

 

Long-serving Democratic Congressman Dave Obey, a high-ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee and the dean of Wisconsin's congressional delegation, ran for a twentieth term in Congress against Republican candidate Nick Reid and Green Party candidate Mike Miles. Obey has represented northwest Wisconsin for decades, and retained his seat by a large margin.

Wisconsin's 7th congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Obey (inc.) 161,903 62.17
Republican Nick Reid 91,069 34.97
Green Mike Miles 7,391 2.84
Write-ins 65 0.02
Total votes 260,428 100.00
Democratic hold

District 8

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2006 Wisconsin's 8th congressional district election
 
← 2004
2008 →
     
Nominee Steve Kagen John Gard
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 141,570 135,622
Percentage 50.9% 48.8%

 
Kagen:      50–60%      80–90%
Gard:      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election

Mark Green
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Steve Kagen
Democratic

 

When incumbent Republican Congressman Mark Green declined to seek a fifth term, instead opting to run for Governor, an open seat was created. Physician Steve Kagen defeated business consultant Jamie Wall and former Brown County Executive Nancy Nusbaum in the Democratic primary, while the Speaker of the State Assembly John Gard defeated fellow State Representative Terri McCormick in the Republican primary. Gard and Kagen duked it out in this marginally conservative district, with the election becoming the most expensive congressional election in Wisconsin state history. Ultimately, Kagen was able to take advantage of the Democratic wave sweeping the country and defeated Gard to seize the seat for the Democrats.

Endorsements

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Individuals
Wisconsin's 8th congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Steve Kagen 141,570 50.90
Republican John Gard 135,622 48.76
Write-ins 943 0.34
Total votes 278,135 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican

References

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  1. ^ "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".
  2. ^ "Tammy Duckworth (IL-06) | WesPAC". Archived from the original on January 2, 2007.
  3. ^ "Dr. Steve Kagen (WI-08) | WesPAC". Archived from the original on November 4, 2006.
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Preceded by
2004 elections
United States House elections in Wisconsin
2006
Succeeded by
2008 elections