Mayoral elections in Madison, Wisconsin

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Nonpartisan elections are currently held every four years, in the year preceding a United States presidential election, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin.

1874

More information Party, Candidate ...
1874 Madison mayoral election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 7, 1874
Democratic Silas U. Pinney 1,015 66.78
Republican Hiram Giles 505 33.22
Plurality 510 33.55
Total votes 1,520 100
Democratic hold
Close

1875

Silas U. Pinney was re-elected in 1875.

1876

More information Party, Candidate ...
1876 Madison mayoral election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 4, 1876
Democratic John N. Jones 879 50.84
Independent Democrat Silas U. Pinney (incumbent) 850 49.16
Plurality 29 1.68
Total votes 1,729 100
Democratic hold
Close

1969 and 1971

William Dyke was elected in both 1969 and 1971

1973

Paul Soglin (a member of the Madison Common Council) won an upset victory over incumbent mayor William Dyke.[3]

More information Party, Candidate ...
1973 Madison mayoral election[4][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election, March 6, 1973
Nonpartisan William Dyke (incumbent) 16,243 36.16
Nonpartisan Paul Soglin 11,485 25.56
Nonpartisan David Stewart 10,350 23.04
Nonpartisan Leo Cooper 6,150 13.69
Nonpartisan R. Whelan Burke 283 0.63
Nonpartisan David Robb 161 0.36
Nonpartisan Joseph Kraemer 122 0.27
Nonpartisan Mark Gregersen 27 0.06
Scattering 105 0.23
Total votes 44,926 100
General Election, April 3, 1973
Nonpartisan Paul Soglin 37,548 52.35
Nonpartisan William Dyke (incumbent) 34,179 47.65
Plurality 3,369 4.70
Total votes 71,727 100
Close

1975 and 1977

Paul Soglin won re-election.

1979, 1981

1983

Quick facts Candidate, Party ...
1983 Madison mayoral election

← 1981
April 5, 1983
1985 â†’
 
Candidate Joseph Sensenbrenner Robert Reynolds
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 22,025 19,575
Percentage 52.94% 47.06%

Mayor before election

Joel Skornicka
Independent

Elected mayor

Joseph Sensenbrenner
Democratic

Close

The 1989 Madison mayoral election saw the election of Joseph Sensenbrenner.

Both Sensenbrenner and his general election opponent, Robert "Toby" Reynolds, were lawyers. Sensenbrenner was a deputy attorney general of Wisconsin, and also formerly worked as an aide to Patrick J. Lucey during Lucey's governorship. Both Sensenbrenner and Reynolds were considered to be liberal members of the Democratic Party. The election was considered the most major local election held in the state in 1983. It coincided on the ballot with the 1983 Wisconsin Supreme Court election.[5]

In December 1982, incumbent Madison Mayor Joel Skornicka announced he would not run for a third term. Two weeks later, Sensenbrenner announced his candidacy. Sensenbrenner quickly earned the endorsement of the outgoing Mayor and inherited many of his campaign supporters and staff.[6] Sensenbrenner's campaign emphasized his experience in state government and management skills, and, in the crowded 8-person nonpartisan primary, he came in a close second to former alderman and past mayoral candidate Robert Reynolds.[7] Reynolds and Sensenbrenner faced off in the April election, with both running on a liberal Democratic platform. Sensenbrenner continued to emphasize his managerial acumen, while Reynolds focused more on his desire to lead and motivate the city's various constituencies. Sensenbrenner prevailed with 53% of the vote in the April general election.[8]

More information Party, Candidate ...
1983 Madison mayoral election[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan primary (February 15, 1983)
Nonpartisan Robert Reynolds 7,394 37.66%
Nonpartisan Joseph Sensenbrenner 6,961 35.45%
Nonpartisan Michael Briggs 3,397 17.30%
Nonpartisan Michael Ducey 1,018 5.18%
Nonpartisan Carol Gainer 341 1.74%
Nonpartisan Thomas Byrne 291 1.48%
Nonpartisan Douglas Wanberg 126 0.64%
Nonpartisan Syed Ameen 108 0.55%
Plurality 433 2.21%
Total votes 19,636 100.0%
General election (April 5, 1983)
Nonpartisan Joseph Sensenbrenner (incumbent) 22,025 52.94%
Nonpartisan Robert Reynolds 19,575 47.06%
Plurality 2,450 5.89%
Total votes 41,600 100.0%
Close

1985

More information Party, Candidate ...
1985 Madison mayoral election[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
General election (April 2, 1985)
Nonpartisan Joseph Sensenbrenner (incumbent) 24,536 73.49
Nonpartisan Alex Cunningham 8,852 26.51
Plurality 15,684 46.97
Total votes 33,388 100.0
Close

1987

More information Party, Candidate ...
1987 Madison mayoral election[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
General election (April 7, 1987)
Nonpartisan Joseph Sensenbrenner (incumbent) 36,341 67.48
Nonpartisan Mary Kay Baum 17,510 32.52
Plurality 18,831 34.97
Total votes 53,851 100.0
Close

1989

Quick facts Candidate, Party ...
1989 Madison mayoral election

← 1987
April 4, 1983
1991 â†’
 
Candidate Paul Soglin Joseph Sensenbrenner
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 34,537 26,280
Percentage 56.79% 43.21%

Mayor before election

Joseph Sensenbrenner
Democratic

Elected mayor

Paul Soglin
Democratic

Close

In the 1989 Madison mayoral election, incumbent mayor Sensenbrenner sought reelection while advocating for a proposed convention center on Lake Monona. He was challenged by former mayor Soglin (who had served six years as mayor in the 1970s) and four other candidates. Sensenbrenner faced attacks throughout the race on the prioritization of the city's convention center project (seen as a luxury pavilion for the city's elites) over the interests and services for working class downtown and near-downtown districts. Sensenbrenner barely survived the February primary, with only 50 votes separating him from 3rd place finisher Rick Berg.[11] Also on the April election ballot was a city referendum for raising property taxes to pay for Sensenbrenner's proposed convention center. Sensenbrenner and the referendum were defeated by a similar margin.[12][13] Despite the setback for the convention center, it did eventually get built. New-Mayor Paul Soglin quickly reversed his position from the campaign and the convention center, now known as Monona Terrace, was opened in 1997.[14]


More information Party, Candidate ...
1989 Madison mayoral election[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan primary (February 21, 1989)
Nonpartisan Paul Soglin 15,600 39.31%
Nonpartisan Joseph Sensenbrenner (incumbent) 10,575 26.65
Nonpartisan Richard Berg 10,526 26.52
Nonpartisan Eugene Parks 1,841 4.64
Nonpartisan John Roussos 892 2.25
Nonpartisan Dennis DeNure 251 0.63
Plurality 5,025 12.66
Total votes 39,685 100.0
General election (April 4, 1989)
Nonpartisan Paul Soglin 34,537 56.79
Nonpartisan Joseph Sensenbrenner (incumbent) 26,280 43.21
Plurality 8,257 13.58
Total votes 60,817 100.0
Close

1991, 1993, 1995

Paul Soglin was re-elected

1997 (special)

Quick facts Turnout, Candidate ...
Madison mayoral special election, 1997

← 1995
February 17, 1997 (primary)[15]
April 1, 1997 (general)[16]
1999 â†’
Turnout26% reg. voters[a] Increase3 pp (primary)
32% reg. voters Decrease 2 pp (general)
 
Candidate Susan J. M. Bauman Wayne Bigelow
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 25,455 25,389
Percentage 49.23% 49.10%

Mayor before election

Paul Soglin
Democratic

Elected mayor

Susan J. M. Bauman
Democratic

Close

The 1997 Madison mayoral special election was held February 17 and April 1, 1997, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It was held after the resignation of incumbent mayor Paul Soglin. It saw the election of Susan J. M. Bauman.

Candidates

  • Ray Allen, Madison School Board member[17]
  • Richard H. Anderson
  • Susan J. M. Bauman, alderperson on the Madison Common Council
  • Wayne Bigelow, President of the Madison Common Council[18]
  • John Hendrick, Supervisor on the Dane County Board since 1994[19]
  • Mary Lang-Sollinger, community activist and political fundraiser[20]
  • Tom Neale
  • David Travis, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly

Results

The February county and city primaries saw 42,483 ballots cast in Madison, reported as a turnout of 26%[21] (compared to election-eve voter registration).

More information Candidate, Votes ...
1997 Madison mayoral primary results[21][15]
Candidate Votes %
Wayne Bigelow 9,332 22.38
Susan J. M. Bauman 9,100 21.82
Ray Allen 7,954 19.07
John Hendrick 6,875 16.49
David Travis 4,588 11.00
Mary Lang-Sollinger 3,513 8.42
Richard H. Anderson 198 0.48
Tom Neale 145 0.35
Total votes 41,695 100
Undervotes 788 1.85
Turnout 42,483 25%
Close

The April county and city general elections saw 52,619 ballots cast in Madison, reported as a turnout of 32%[21] (compared to election-eve voter registration).

More information Candidate, Votes ...
1997 Madison mayoral general election results[21][16]
Candidate Votes %
Susan J. M. Bauman 25,455 49.23
Wayne Bigelow 25,389 49.10
Denis Collins write-in 462 0.89
Other write-ins 398 0.76
Total votes 51,704 100
Undervotes 915 1.74
Turnout 52,619 32%
Close

1999

Quick facts Turnout, Candidate ...
Madison mayoral election, 1999

April 9, 1999[22]
2003 â†’
Turnout31% reg. voters[a] Decrease1 pp
 
Candidate Susan J. M. Bauman Eugene Parks
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 35,204 8,294
Percentage 80.04% 18.85%

Mayor before election

Susan J. M. Bauman
Democratic

Elected mayor

Susan J. M. Bauman
Democratic

Close

The 1999 Madison mayoral election was held April 9, 1999, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Susan J. M. Bauman.

Since only two candidates ran, no primary was held.

Results

The April county and city general saw 45,248 ballots cast in Madison, reported as a turnout of 31%[21] (compared to election-eve voter registration).

More information Candidate, Votes ...
1999 Madison mayoral general election results[21][23]
Candidate Votes %
Susan J. M. Bauman (incumbent) 35,204 80.04
Eugene Parks 8,294 18.85
Write-ins 483 1.09
Total votes 43,981 100
Undervotes 1,267 2.80
Turnout 45,248 31%
Close

2003

Quick facts Turnout, Candidate ...
2003 Madison mayoral election

← 1999
February 20, 2003 (primary)[22]
April 4, 2003 (general)[22]
2007 â†’
Turnout26% reg. voters[a] Steady (primary)
38% reg. voters Increase7 pp (general)
 
Candidate Dave Cieslewicz Paul Soglin
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 29,717 28,528
Percentage 50.76% 48.73%

Mayor before election

Susan J. M. Bauman
Democratic

Elected mayor

Dave Cieslewicz
Democratic

Close

The 2003 Madison mayoral election was held February 20 and April 4, 2003, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw the election of Dave Cieslewicz. Incumbent mayor Susan J. M. Bauman was eliminated in the primary.

Candidates

Results

More information Candidate, Votes ...
2003 Madison mayoral primary results[21][24]
Candidate Votes %
Dave Cieslewicz 14,326 35.16
Paul R. Soglin 14,144 34.72
Bert G. Zipperer 6,610 16.22
Susan J. M. Bauman (incumbent) 4,681 11.49
Will Sandstrom 492 1.20
Davy Mayer 389 0.95
Write-ins 92 0.22
Total votes 40,734 100
Undervotes 245 0.60
Turnout 40,979 26%
Close
More information Candidate, Votes ...
2003 Madison mayoral general election results[21][25]
Candidate Votes %
Dave Cieslewicz 29,717 50.76
Paul R. Soglin 28,528 48.73
Write-ins 291 0.49
Total votes 58,536 100
Undervotes 555 1.35
Turnout 40,979 38%
Close

2007

Quick facts Turnout, Candidate ...
2007 Madison mayoral election

← 2003
February 22, 2007 (primary)[22]
April 5, 2007 (general)[22]
2011 â†’
Turnout17% reg. voters[a] Decrease9 pp (primary)
30% reg. voters Decrease 2 pp (general)
 
Candidate Dave Cieslewicz Ray Allen
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 30,812 18,816
Percentage 61.78% 37.72%

Mayor before election

Dave Cieslewicz
Democratic

Elected mayor

Dave Cieslewicz
Democratic

Close

The 2007 Madison mayoral election was held February 22 and April 5, 2007, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Dave Cieslewicz.

Candidates

  • Ray Allen, Madison School Board member[17] and 1997 mayoral candidate
  • Dave Cieslewicz, incumbent mayor
  • Peter Munoz
  • Will Sandstrom, 2003 mayoral candidate

Results

More information Candidate, Votes ...
2007 Madison mayoral primary results[21][26]
Candidate Votes %
Dave Cieslewicz (incumbent) 15,488 57.50
Ray Allen 8,042 29.86
Peter Munoz 2,661 9.88
Will Sandstrom 641 2.38
Write-ins 100 0.37
Total votes 26,932 100
Undervotes 300 1.10
Turnout 27232 17%
Close
More information Candidate, Votes ...
2007 Madison mayoral general election results[21][27]
Candidate Votes %
Dave Cieslewicz (incumbent) 30,812 61.78
Ray Allen 18,816 37.72
Write-ins 244 0.48
Total votes 49,872 100
Undervotes 1,519 3.14
Turnout 48353 30%
Close

2011

Quick facts Turnout, Candidate ...
2011 Madison mayoral election

← 2007
February 15, 2011 (primary)[22]
April 5, 2011 (general)[22]
2015 â†’
Turnout22% reg. voters[a] Increase5 pp (primary)
54% reg. voters Increase 24 pp (general)
 
Candidate Paul Soglin Dave Cieslewicz
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 44,542 43,829
Percentage 49.76% 48.96%

Mayor before election

Dave Cieslewicz
Democratic

Elected mayor

Paul Soglin
Democratic

Close

The 2011 Madison mayoral election was held April 4, 2003, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw former mayor Paul Soglin return to the mayoralty by unseating incumbent mayor Dave Cieslewicz.

The primary and general election both coincided with those for a high-profile state supreme court race.

Candidates

Results

More information Candidate, Votes ...
2011 Madison mayoral primary results[21] [28]
Candidate Votes %
Paul R. Soglin 18,693 49.49
Dave Cieslewicz (incumbent) 17,500 46.33
Nick Hart 598 1.58
John Blotz 569 1.50
Dennis Amadeus de Nure 274 0.72
Write-ins 137 0.36
Total votes 37,771 100
Undervotes 818 2.12
Turnout 38589 22%
Close
More information Candidate, Votes ...
2011 Madison mayoral general election results[21] [29]
Candidate Votes %
Paul R. Soglin 44,542 49.76
Dave Cieslewicz (incumbent) 43,829 48.96
Write-ins 1,133 1.26
Total votes 89,504 100
Undervotes 4,472 4.76
Turnout 93976 54%
Close

2015

Quick facts Turnout, Candidate ...
2015 Madison mayoral election

← 2011
February 17, 2015 (primary)[22]
April 7, 2015 (general)[22]
2019 â†’
Turnout12% reg. voters[a] Decrease10 pp (primary)
30% reg. voters Decrease 20 pp (general)
 
Candidate Paul Soglin Scott Resnick
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 37,734 14,195
Percentage 72.0% 27.1%

Mayor before election

Paul Soglin
Democratic

Elected mayor

Paul Soglin
Democratic

Close

The 2015 Madison mayoral election was held February 17 and April 7, 2015, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Paul Soglin.

Candidates

  • Richard V. Brown Sr.
  • Christopher Daly
  • Bridget Maniaci, former 2nd district member of the Madison Common Council (2009–2013)[30][31]
  • Scott Resnick, 8th district member of the Madison Common Council since 2011 and tech executive
  • Paul Soglin, incumbent mayor

Results

More information Candidate, Votes ...
2015 Madison mayoral primary results[21][32]
Candidate Votes %
Paul R. Soglin (incumbent) 11,856 52.8
Scott Resnick 5,223 23.3
Bridget Maniaci 3,311 14.7
Richard V. Brown, Sr. 1,034 4.6
Christopher Daly 973 4.3
Write-ins 63 0.3
Total votes 22,460 100
Undervotes
Turnout 12%
Close
More information Candidate, Votes ...
2015 Madison mayoral general election results[21][33]
Candidate Votes %
Paul R. Soglin (incumbent) 37,734 72.0
Scott Resnick 14,195 27.1
Write-ins 506 1.0
Total votes 52,435 100
Undervotes 1,812 3.34
Turnout 54247 30%
Close

2019

Quick facts Turnout, Candidate ...
2019 Madison mayoral election

← 2015
February 19, 2019 (primary)[22]
April 2, 2019 (general)[22]
2023 â†’
Turnout21% reg. voters[a] Increase9 pp (primary)
44% reg. voters Increase14 pp (general)
 
Candidate Satya Rhodes-Conway Paul Soglin
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 47,915 29,150
Percentage 61.9% 37.7%

Mayor before election

Paul Soglin
Democratic

Elected mayor

Satya Rhodes-Conway
Democratic

Close

The 2019 Madison mayoral election was held February 19 and April 2, 2019, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. It saw the election of Satya Rhodes-Conway, who unseated incumbent mayor Paul Soglin. Conway became the second woman and the first openly-gay individual elected mayor in the city's history.[34][35]

Candidates

  • Maurice "Mo" Cheeks, 10th district member of the Madison Common Council since 2013 and Vice President of Business Development at MIOsoft[36]
  • Nick Hart
  • Satya Rhodes-Conway, former 12th district member of the Madison Common Council
  • Raj Shukla
  • Paul Soglin, incumbent mayor

Results

More information Candidate, Votes ...
2019 Madison mayoral primary results[21][37]
Candidate Votes %
Paul R. Soglin (incumbent) 10,771 28.6
Satya Rhodes-Conway 10,448 27.7
Mo Cheeks 8,801 23.3
Raj Shukla 6,954 18.4
Nick Hart 386 1.0
Write-ins 346 0.9
Total votes 37,706 100
Undervotes 47 0.12
Turnout 37,753 21%
Close
More information Candidate, Votes ...
2019 Madison mayoral general election results[21][38]
Candidate Votes %
Satya Rhodes-Conway 47,915 61.9
Paul R. Soglin (incumbent) 29,150 37.7
Write-ins 311 0.4
Total votes 77,376 100
Undervotes 2,077 2.61
Turnout 79,453 44%
Close

2023

Quick facts Turnout, Candidate ...
2023 Madison mayoral election

← 2019
February 21, 2023 (primary)
April 4, 2023 (general)
2027 â†’
Turnout21% reg. voters[a] Increase18 pp (primary)
63% reg. voters Increase19 pp (general)
 
Candidate Satya Rhodes-Conway Gloria Reyes
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 63,066 50,402
Percentage 55.2% 44.1%

Results by alderman district

Mayor before election

Satya Rhodes-Conway
Nonpartisan

Elected mayor

Satya Rhodes-Conway
Nonpartisan

Close
Rhodes-Conway at a campaign party on the night of the primary election

The 2023 Madison mayoral election was held on April 4, 2023, to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin.

A primary election was held on February 21, 2023, to narrow down the candidates to two. It saw record turnout due to the concurrent primary for the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Satya Rhodes-Conway and Gloria Reyes qualified for the general election, while Scott Kerr was eliminated. Daniel Howell Jr., a write-in candidate, planned on running as a write-in candidate for the general election in addition to the primary.[39]

Candidates

Forums

More information No., Date ...
2023 Madison mayoral candidate forums[45]
No. Date Host Link Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Key:

 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  O  Out of race

Daniel Howell Jr. Scott Kerr Gloria Reyes Satya Rhodes-Conway
1 January 30, 2023 Community associations[b] YouTube N P P P
2 January 31, 2023 Urban League of Greater Madison[c] YouTube N P P P
3 February 27, 2023 Wisconsin Policy Forum[d] YouTube N O P P
Close

Endorsements

Satya Rhodes-Conway

U.S. Representatives

County officials

Madison alders

  • Juliana Bennett, 8th ward (2021–present)[47]
  • Patrick Heck, 2nd ward (2019–present)[47]
  • Sabrina Madison, 17th ward (2022–present)[46]
  • Erik Paulson, 3rd ward (2022–present)[47]
  • Mike Verveer, 4th ward (1995–present)[47]

Madison school board members

  • Savion Castro, 2nd ward (2019–present)[46]
  • Ali Muldrow, 4th ward (2019–present)[46]
  • Nicki Vander Meulen, 7th ward (2017–present)[46]

Editorial boards

Labor unions

Organizations

Political Parties

Gloria Reyes

County officials

Local officials

Editorial boards

Labor unions

  • Madison Professional Police Officers Association[63]

Political parties

Results

More information Candidate, Votes ...
2023 Madison mayoral primary results[21][64]
Candidate Votes %
Satya Rhodes-Conway (incumbent) 43,822 59.5
Gloria Reyes 20,507 27.9
Scott Kerr 8,658 11.8
Write-ins[e] 608 0.8
Total votes 73,595 100
Undervotes 2,141 2.83
Turnout 75,736 39%
Close
More information Candidate, Votes ...
2023 Madison mayoral runoff results[21][65]
Candidate Votes %
Satya Rhodes-Conway (incumbent) 63,066 55.2
Gloria Reyes 50,402 44.1
Write-ins 755 0.7
Total votes 114,223 100
Undervotes 6,170 5.12
Turnout 120,393 63%
Close

Notes

  1. Wisconsin allows same-day voter registration. "Registered voters" election turnout is calculated by dividing the ballots cast (a figure that includes ballots cast voters who registered day-of on Election Day) by the voter registration as it stood on the eve of Election Day (a total which excludes day-of voters).
  2. Hosted by Midvale Heights Community Association, Sunset Village Community Association, Regent Neighborhood Association, Westmorland Neighborhood Association, Summit Woods Neighborhood Association, University Hill Farms Association, and Crawford Marlborough Nakoma Neighborhood.
  3. Co-hosted by NAACP Dane County Branch, 100 Black Men of Madison, and Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement.
  4. Co-hosted by Downtown Madison, Inc.
  5. Includes Daniel Howell Jr., who ran as a write-in candidate.

References

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