Wisconsin is now one of the nation's most important political battlegrounds.
As Campaign 2022 approaches the finish line, News 3 Now presents a special midterm election preview.
We’re spotlighting key races and issues, fact-checking candidates, and hearing the voices of voters in Battleground Wisconsin.
How will dissatisfied voters swing?
Polling shows none of the candidates in this November’s topline races are popular.
With races in Wisconsin typically decided by small margins, how are candidates working to secure the votes of a disgruntled and worn-out base?
Cutting through the noise
We take a closer look at both candidates for Wisconsin governor, fact-checking claims they have made about each other on the campaign trail and in ads.
Will Kenneally provides a pair of Reality Checks, one focusing on claims made by Republican challenger Tim Michels, and one focusing on claims made by Gov. Tony Evers.
Record realities
We also take a look at the claims about records being made in the race for one of Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate seats in what has largely been a negative campaign.
Will Kenneally brings two more Reality Checks: one focusing on claims made by Sen. Ron Johnson and one focusing on claims made by Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.
Could the Wisconsin Legislature reach a veto-proof supermajority?
Democrats have said Gov. Tony Evers has been the “goalie” during his term, blocking 126 Republican-authored bills that were passed in the state legislature.
But a “red wave” down-ballot could lead to a veto-proof supermajority for Republicans in the State Assembly and State Senate. We take a closer look at the chances and what it would mean for the future of Wisconsin.
Are millennials the key to winning?
Voter turnout — especially among younger parts of Wisconsin’s population — could end up deciding who wins in November.
Which issues matter most to Wisconsin’s young people, and will they turn out to vote in a non-presidential election?
Will abortion be a deciding factor?
The overturning of Roe v. Wade was on the minds of many Wisconsinites over the summer.
But as we head into the midterm election, are abortion rights still a primary issue for voters? We hear from voters on whether the issue is driving their vote this November.
Reporter Roundtable
Patrick Marley of the Washington Post, Jessie Opoien of the Cap Times, and Scott Bauer of the Associated Press joined Naomi Kowles for a reporter roundtable looking back in time at how election cycles and politics have evolved in Wisconsin.
Between the three of them, they have covered politics in Wisconsin for a combined several decades. The three also touch on how doubt in the election process could impact the race.
Polling shows tossups
Marquette Law School poll director Charles Franklin joined Eric Franke to break down how to read the combined results of several polls throughout the election cycle.
Plus, he explains what regions of the state to watch on Election Night — and where each party needs to ramp up turnout to win.
What's on the November ballot
(Click the heading to expand categories)
Wisconsin Governor
Tony Evers (D)*
Tim Michels (R)
Joan Beglinger (I) – NOTE: withdrew from race, but still on ballot
Wisconsin Attorney General
Josh Kaul (D)*
Eric Toney (R)
Wisconsin Secretary of State
Doug La Follette (D)*
Amy Loudenbeck (R)
Sharyl McFarland (Green)
Neil Harmon (Libertarian)
Wisconsin State Treasurer
John Leiber (R)
Aaron Richardson (D)
Andrew Zuelke (Constitution)
* – denotes incumbent; names are listed alphabetically if no incumbent
District 1
Bryan Steil (R)*
Ann Roe (D)
Charles Barman (The Going Away Party)
District 2
Mark Pocan (D)*
Erik Olsen (R)
Douglas Alexander (I)
District 3
Brad Pfaff (D)
Derrick Van Orden (R)
District 4
Gwen Moore (D)*
Tim Rogers (R)
Robert Raymond (I)
District 5
Scott Fitzgerald (R)*
Mike Van Someren (D)
District 6
Glenn Grothman (R)*
District 7
Tom Tiffany (R)*
Richard Ausman (D)
District 8
Mike Gallagher (R)*
Jacob VandenPlas (Libertarian)
Paul Boucher (I)
* – denotes incumbent; names are listed alphabetically if no incumbent
District 31
Brienne Brown (D)
Ellen Schutt (R)
District 33
Don Vruwink (D)*
Scott Johnson (R)
District 37
William Penterman (R)*
Maureen McCarville (D)
District 38
Barbara Dittrich (R)*
District 41
Alex Dallman (R)*
William Fletcher (D)
District 42
Jon Plumer (R)*
Theresa Valencia (D)
District 43
Jenna Jacobson (D)
Marisa Voelkel (R)
District 44
Sue Conley (D)*
Spencer Zimmerman (R)
District 45
Clinton Anderson (D)
Jeff Klett (R)
District 46
Andrew McKinney (R)
Melissa Ratcliff (D)
District 47
Jimmy Anderson (D)*
Lamonte Newsom (R)
District 48
Samba Baldeh (D)*
District 49
Travis Tranel (R)*
Lynne Parrott
District 50
Tony Kurtz (R)*
Michael Leuth (D)
District 51
Todd Novak (R)*
Leah Spicer (D)
District 63
Robin Vos (R)*
District 78
Lisa Subeck (D)*
Matt Neuhaus
District 79
Victoria Fueger (R)
Alex Joers (D)
District 80
Mike Bare (D)
Jacob Luginbuhl (R)
District 81
Dave Considine (D)*
Shellie Benish (R)
District 96
Loren Oldenburg (R)*
Jayne Swiggum (D)
* – denotes incumbent; names are listed alphabetically if no incumbent
District 11
Steve Nass (R)*
Steven Doelder
District 15
Mark Spreitzer (D)
Mark Trofimchuck (R)
District 17
Howard Marklein (R)*
Pat Skogen (D)
District 27
Diane Hesselbein (D)
Robert Relph (R)
* – denotes incumbent; names are listed alphabetically if no incumbent
Dane County
Kalvin Barrett (D)*
Anthony Hamilton (R)
Rock County
Curtis Fell (D)
Craig Keller (I)
Sauk County
Chip Meister (R)*
Paul Hefty (D)
Becky Blackman (I)
Iowa County
Kim Alan (I)
Michael Peterson (R)
* – denotes incumbent; names are listed alphabetically if no incumbent
Adams-Friendship Schools: Asking to exceed levy limits by $12.6 million
Belleville Schools: Asking to exceed levy limits by $999,999
Cuba City Schools: Asking to spend $26.85 million for improvements; also asking to exceed levy limits by $200,000
Ft. Atkinson Schools: Asking to exceed levy limits by $3 million; also asking to spend $22 million on improvements
Hillsboro Schools: Asking to exceed levy limits by $3 million
Jefferson Schools: Asking to spend $34 million on improvements; also asking to spend $8 million on an athletic complex
Lake Mills Schools: Asking to spend $44 million on a new school
Middleton-Cross Plains Schools: Asking to exceed levy limits by $65.5 million
Monroe Schools: Asking to spend $88 million for a new high school
Mt. Horeb Schools: Asking to exceed levy limits by $4.8 million
Oregon Schools: Asking to exceed levy limits by $11.4 million
Parkview Schools: Asking to exceed levy limits by $6 million; also asking to spend $15.4 million on improvements
Platteville Schools: Asking to spend $36 million on improvements
Stoughton Schools: Asking to spend $36.3 million on improvements; also asking to spend $11.7 million on new construction
Sun Prairie Schools: Asking to exceed levy limits by $9 million
Verona Schools: Asking to exceed levy limits by $19 million
Waterloo Schools: Asking to exceed levy limits by $3.5 million
Waunakee Schools: Asking to spend $175 million on new construction; also asking to exceed levy limits by $1 million this school year, by $3 million in 2023-2024, and by $6 million in 2024-2025
Whitewater Schools: Asking to exceed levy limits by $4.4 million in each of the next four school years
Wisconsin Dells Schools: Asking to exceed levy limits by $4.8 million
Adams County: Clean water (advisory)
Dane County: Expunge marijuana convictions (advisory), legalize marijuana (advisory), repeal abortion ban (advisory)
Green County: Clean water (advisory)
Middleton: Increase levy limits by $770,000 to cover the addition of two police officers, a communications specialist, a parks crew member, and 4% wage increases for non-union members
Orfordville: Increase levy limits by $166,000 to hire six full-time staff for the Orfordville Fire Protection District
Shorewood Hills: Increase levy limits by $400,000
Waunakee: Borrow $9.4 million to build a public outdoor aquatics facility
Lake Mills: Exceed levy limits by $950,000
