How a narrow Wisconsin election ended a decade of Republican control in 2018
In short: In a state that leaned toward the national GOP, the 2018 Wisconsin gubernatorial race defied expectations. Tony Evers narrowly unseated incumbent Scott Walker, marking the only time a Wisconsin governor has lost re-election since 2002. It was a high-stakes contest defined by record spending and a late-night surge of absentee ballots.
The 2018 race was a defining moment for Wisconsin politics, ending the Republican trifecta that had held power for years. Incumbent Scott Walker, who had previously secured three gubernatorial victories, faced a challenging environment. His campaign struggled with public backlash over infrastructure funding—specifically the diversion of road maintenance money to support a controversial 2017 deal with Foxconn—and his alignment with the national political climate. Walker himself had publicly warned of a potential Democratic surge earlier in the year following losses in several special elections.
On election night, the outcome remained uncertain for hours. As counties reported results, the margin between Walker and Tony Evers stayed razor-thin. The turning point arrived shortly after midnight on November 7, when Milwaukee County processed approximately 46,000 absentee ballots. Evers captured 84% of those votes, propelling him to a lead that ultimately secured his victory. By the time the final tallies were confirmed, Evers had won by a margin of 1.09%, or roughly 1.1%.
The election was notable for its intensity and cost, with campaigns and interest groups pouring a record $93 million into the contest. While Evers won, the state remained politically complex; it was the only state in the 2018 cycle to elect a Democratic governor while simultaneously showing a stronger preference for Republican candidates than the national average. Despite this, Democrats swept every statewide race on the ballot that year, including the attorney general and state treasurer positions. At 67 years old, Evers became the oldest person ever elected to the office in Wisconsin history.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2018 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
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