2018 Election Results: Status Quo In Wisconsin Congress Races

WISCONSIN -- There weren't any surprises in Wisconsin's eight congressional races Tuesday night, as seven incumbents held on to their seats, and a newcomer leading in the polls earned the right to succeed his congressional mentor.

Tuesday's main event took place in southeastern Wisconsin's First Congressional District, where newcomers Randy Bryce and Bryan Steil looked to succeed Speaker Paul Ryan in the House of Representatives.

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With 84 percent of all districts reporting, the Associated Press has called Wisconsin's First Congressional District race for Republican newcomer Bryan Steil.

"Tonight is a victory for taking a step forward in Southeast Wisconsin. When I first announced my candidacy, I told voters that their agenda would be my agenda," Steil said Tuesday night. "My focus is to help everyone in Southeast Wisconsin obtain good-paying jobs, earn higher wages, and have a better quality of life. I promise to take my problem solving skills and my Wisconsin-style work ethic to Congress to work tirelessly on your behalf."

When Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) announced in April 2018 that he was no longer seeking re-election in Wisconsin's First Congressional District, it opened the door for new candidates to fill the office for the first time since 1999.

Ryan was effusive of his former assistant, saying: "As I move on, the thing that matters most to me is to make sure that the people who trusted me to represent them in Congress have an excellent human being and a wonderful leader to take that mantle on and be a great representative, and Bryan Steil is going to be a great congressman."

Wisconsin's 1st congressional district serves Kenosha County, Racine County, and most of Walworth County, as well as portions of Rock County, Waukesha County, and Milwaukee County.

In Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district, Democratic incumbent Mark Pocan ran unopposed in his district, which serves Dane County, Iowa County, Lafayette County, Sauk County and Green County, as well as portions of Richland County and Rock County.

Democratic incumbent Ron Kind in Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district enjoyed a comfortable lead over Republican challenger Steve Toft on Election Night. Wisconsin's third includes the cities of La Crosse and Eau Claire, as well as most of the Wisconsin side of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.

Democratic incumbent Gwen Moore had no trouble defeating Republican Tim Rogers in Wisconsin's 4th congressional district which serves all of the city of Milwaukee and Cudahy, St. Francis, South Milwaukee, and West Milwaukee. Glendale, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Fox Point, Bayside, and Brown Deer.

In Milwaukee's northern and western suburbs, Republican incumbent Jim Sensenbrenner didn't break a sweat, defeating Democratic challenger Tom Palzewicz by nearly 100,000 votes. Wisconsin's fifth congressional district covers all of Washington and Jefferson counties, most of Waukesha County, and portions of Dodge, Milwaukee and Walworth counties.

"During the last Congress, I was the principal House author of the flagship legislation to combat the opioid epidemic, the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act, which was overwhelmingly passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama," Sensenbrenner told Patch. "I want to go back to Washington next year to finish up the job, which means funding the bill to provide first responders, physicians and pharmacists with the resources they need to educate, treat, and prevent this epidemic from spreading. "

In the state's 6th congressional district, republican Glenn Grothman held onto his seat against Democratic challenger Dan Kohl. The sixth district serves parts of Adams, Columbia, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Manitowoc, Marquette, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Waushara, and Winnebago counties. It also includes a small portion of far northern Milwaukee County around River Hills.

Wisconsin's 7th congressional district covers 20 counties and is the largest geographic district in the state. In that race, Republican Sean Duffy held onto his seat versus Democratic challenger Margaret Engebretson.

In the Fox Valley area, Republican incumbent Mike Gallagher easily defeated his opponent, Beau Liegeois in Wisconsin's 8th congressional district.

Patch File Graphic