2018 Wisconsin State Treasurer election

2018 Wisconsin State Treasurer Election

November 6, 2018
 
Candidate Sarah Godlewski Travis Hartwig
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,324,110 1,216,811
Percentage 50.9% 46.8%

Godlewski:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Hartwig:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Treasurer before election

Matt Adamczyk
Republican

Elected Treasurer

Sarah Godlewski
Democratic

The 2018 Wisconsin State Treasurer election was held on November 6, 2018, and saw Democratic nominee Sarah Godlewski defeat Republican nominee Travis Hartwig. Incumbent Republican Matt Adamczyk, first elected in 2014, did not sought re-election.

Background

The election was held coinciding with other fall elections in Wisconsin.

Earlier in the year, a referendum had been held on whether or not to abolish the State Treasurer office, a move that Wisconsin voters rejected by a margin of more than 20 percent.[1] Incumbent Republican Matt Adamczyk, first elected in 2014, chose not to run for reelection.

Primaries

Democratic

Sarah Godlewski defeated Dawn Marie Sass, former state treasurer, and Cynthia Kaump in the Democratic primary[2] in the Democratic primary

2018 Wisconsin State Treasurer Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sarah Godlewski 201,031 43.46
Democratic Dawn Marie Sass 148,362 32.07
Democratic Cynthia Kaump 112,255 24.27
Write-in 965 0.21
Total votes 462,613 100

Republican

2018 Wisconsin State Treasurer Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Travis Hartwig 261,139 72.12
Republican Jill Millies 100,153 27.66
Write-in 793 0.22
Total votes 362,085 100

Constitution

2018 Wisconsin State Treasurer Constitution primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Constitution Andrew Zuelke 350 97.72
Write-in 10 2.78
Total votes 310 100

General election

Results

2018 Wisconsin State Treasurer election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sarah Godlewski 1,324,110 50.9
Republican Travis Hartwig 1,216,811 46.8
Constitution Andrew Zuelke 59,570 2.2
Write-in 1,471 0.1
Total votes 2,601,962 100
Democratic gain from Republican

By congressional district

Despite losing the state, Hartwig won five of eight congressional districts.[4]

District Godlewski Hartwig Representative
1st 46% 52% Paul Ryan
2nd 69% 28% Mark Pocan
3rd 51% 46% Ron Kind
4th 76% 22% Gwen Moore
5th 39% 59% Jim Sensenbrenner
6th 42% 55% Glenn Grothman
7th 43% 55% Sean Duffy
8th 43% 54% Mike Gallagher

References

  1. ^ "Voters by a wide margin keep Wisconsin's 170 year old state treasurer's office". journal sentinel. April 4, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  2. ^ "Dawn Marie Sass". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "Wisconsin Election Commission Elections Results Report Canvass Results for 2018 Partisan Primary - 8/14/2018 5:00:00 AM" (PDF). Wisconsin Board of Elections. 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  4. ^ "DRA 2020". Daves Redistricting. Retrieved March 10, 2026.