The three biggest races on your ballot this November (besides the presidency)

There’s more on your ballot than the presidential race on November 5. Here are three important races that Wisconsinites should be familiar with before heading to the polls.

Wisconsin’s US Senate seat

The race for Wisconsin’s seat in the US Senate could easily determine control of the chamber and have major impacts on whether the next president’s agenda gets implemented or not. Democratic incumbent Tammy Baldwin is being challenged by Republican banking mogul Eric Hovde – Baldwin is running for her third term. A Republican has not won this seat since Joseph McCarthy in 1952.

Wisconsin’s US Congressional seats

All eight of Wisconsin’s seats in the US House of Representatives are up for grabs this November. Currently, six Republicans and two Democrats hold the state’s seats – here are the races at stake in this election. 

District 1: Southeastern Wisconsin

Bryan Steil (Republican – Incumbent)

Peter Barca (Democrat)

District 2: Southern Wisconsin

Mark Pocan (Democrat – Incumbent)

Erik Olsen (Republican)

District 3: Southwestern Wisconsin

Derrick Van Orden (Republican – Incumbent)

Rebecca Cooke (Democrat)

District 4: Milwaukee County

Gwen Moore (Democrat – Incumbent)

Tim Rogers (Republican)

District 5: Northern and western suburbs of Milwaukee

Scott Fitzgerald (Republican – Incumbent)

Ben Steinhoff (Democrat)

District 6: East-central Wisconsin

Glenn Grothman (Republican – Incumbent)

John Zarbano (Democrat)

District 7: Northwestern Wisconsin

Tom Tiffany (Republican – Incumbent)

Kyle Kilbourn (Democrat)

District 8: Northeastern Wisconsin

Tony Wied (Republican)

Kristin Lyerly (Democrat)

This seat is vacant—previously held by Republican Mike Gallagher.

Referendum question

Wisconsin’s referendum question will have little to no direct effect on the voting process, but its approval would close some doors going forward. The proposal seeks to bar any noncitizens from voting in any Wisconsin elections. Noncitizens are already disqualified from voting in federal or state elections in Wisconsin, but other states have permitted them to vote in municipal elections, such as city councils or school boards. The referendum’s main objective is to prevent this from happening in Wisconsin, partially fueled by unfounded Republican claims of illegal mass voting by immigrants. Similar referendum questions are being proposed in Iowa and North Carolina.