The filing deadline for candidates running for Congress in Wisconsin this year was June 1, 2022. Twenty-two candidates are running for Wisconsin’s eight U.S. House districts, including nine Democrats and 13 Republicans. That’s 2.75 candidates per district, less than the 2.88 candidates per district in 2020 and the 3.13 in 2018.
Here are some other highlights from this year’s filings:
- This is the first election to take place under new district lines following the 2020 census. Wisconsin was apportioned eight districts, the same number it was apportioned after the 2010 census.
- The 22 candidates running this year are the fewest candidates running for Wisconsin’s U.S. House seats since 2012, when 20 candidates ran. Twenty-three candidates ran in 2020, 25 in 2018, 23 in 2016, and 27 in 2014.
- One district — the 3rd — is open. That’s the same number of open seats as every other election cycle this past decade.
- Rep. Ron Kind (D), the incumbent in the 3rd district, is retiring.
- Five candidates — four Democrats and one Republican — are running to replace Kind, the most candidates running for a seat this year.
- There are six contested primaries this year — one Democratic and five Republican. That’s the same number as in 2020 and 2018 and two fewer than in 2016 and 2014.
- Four incumbents — two Democrats and two Republicans — are not facing any primary challengers.
- Two districts — the 6th and the 8th — are guaranteed to Republicans because no Democrats made the ballot.
Wisconsin and three other states — Connecticut, Minnesota, and Vermont — are holding primary elections on August 9, 2022. Winners in Wisconsin primary elections are determined via plurality vote, meaning that the candidate with the highest number of votes wins even if he or she did not win an outright majority of votes cast.
Additional reading:
List of U.S. Congress incumbents who are not running for re-election in 2022
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