By — Associated Press Associated Press By — Scott Bauer, Associated Press Scott Bauer, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/why-ap-called-wisconsin-and-the-white-house-for-donald-trump Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter AP Race Call: Donald Trump wins Wisconsin Politics Nov 6, 2024 8:56 AM EDT Former President Donald Trump won the key state of Wisconsin on Wednesday, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in a critical battleground. The win delivers 10 Electoral College votes to Trump. He narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016, becoming the first Republican since Ronald Reagan to capture the state. He lost it in 2020 to Democrat Joe Biden. Both Harris and Trump made Wisconsin a central focus of their campaigns. In 2020, Trump attempted to overturn his loss in the state through lawsuits and recounts, but failed. The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 5:34 a.m. EST. LIVE UPDATES: With win in Wisconsin, Trump clears 270 to win presidency Republicans held on to two key congressional seats in Wisconsin and were on the verge of retaining a third in Tuesday’s elections. An incumbent Republican defeated a former Democrat congressman in southeast Wisconsin. A political rookie with Trump in his corner defeated a Democratic newcomer to win an open seat in northeastern Wisconsin and a first-term Republican who was in the nation’s Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection was trying to fend off a political activist in western Wisconsin. Here’s a look at the three most-watched congressional races in Wisconsin: Republican wins reelection Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil won reelection to a fourth term representing southeast Wisconsin. He defeated Peter Barca, the last Democrat to hold the seat in 1995. Barca served less than two years. Barca previously served two stints in the state Legislature over more than 18 years and resigned after more than five years as state revenue secretary to take on Steil. The seat, once held by former Speaker Paul Ryan, was made more competitive for Democrats following the latest round of redistricting. The district north of Illinois includes the cities of Kenosha, Racine and Janesville. Barca campaign manager Ryan Paolilli didn’t immediately return a voicemail message late Tuesday evening. Steil issued a statement thanking voters for their trust and promising to lower costs and “have a nation that works for everyone.” Trump-backed candidate takes open seat Former gas station chain owner Tony Wied, running his first race, won the contest for northeast Wisconsin’s open congressional district, defeating an abortion rights advocate. Wied had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump in his race against Dr. Kristin Lyerly, an obstetrician who sued to overturn Wisconsin’s abortion ban. Lyerly tried to make the race in the heavily Republican district about abortion. The seat was vacant after the surprise resignation earlier this year of Republican Mike Gallagher, a sometime critic of Trump’s. The heavily Republican district includes cities such as Green Bay as well as rural areas. Lyerly’s campaign spokesperson, Kurt Frewing, said that Lyerly congratulated Wied but had no further comment. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Wied promised in a statement to bring “some Wisconsin commonsense to Washington to lower everyday costs, secure the southern border, and reign in out-of-control government spending.” Democrats eye flip in western Wisconsin Western Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, which had been represented by a Democrat for 26 years before it flipped in 2022 with the win by Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden, is the most competitive district in the state. Van Orden is a former Navy SEAL who was at the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and remains one of Trump’s loudest backers in Wisconsin. He is a top target for Democrats. Former small-business owner and political activist Rebecca Cooke won a three-person primary to take on Van Orden. She has raised more money than any other Democratic challenger in the state, a sign of Democratic optimism for the race. Van Orden was leading Cooke as of early Wednesday morning but it was still too early to call the race. With the Mississippi River and Minnesota to the west, the district includes the rolling hills of the Driftless Area and Chippewa Falls. From Illinois, it stretches 250 miles (400 kilometers) north past Prairie du Chien, known for its Cabela’s outdoor gear distribution center and 19th-century riverside historic sites. Find more of our Vote 2024 coverage INTERACTIVE: 2024 Electoral College Map SERIES: A look at Donald Trump and Kamala Harris’ campaign pledges READ MORE: Don’t fall for these false claims as you await the 2024 election results WATCH: Pivotal races that will determine the balance of power in Congress READ MORE: When polls close on Election Day in these 7 battleground states WATCH: What early voting data signals about this year’s election LIVE BLOG: Election 2024 fact checks WATCH: How election workers are fighting back against bad actors trying to undermine the process We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press By — Scott Bauer, Associated Press Scott Bauer, Associated Press
Former President Donald Trump won the key state of Wisconsin on Wednesday, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in a critical battleground. The win delivers 10 Electoral College votes to Trump. He narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016, becoming the first Republican since Ronald Reagan to capture the state. He lost it in 2020 to Democrat Joe Biden. Both Harris and Trump made Wisconsin a central focus of their campaigns. In 2020, Trump attempted to overturn his loss in the state through lawsuits and recounts, but failed. The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 5:34 a.m. EST. LIVE UPDATES: With win in Wisconsin, Trump clears 270 to win presidency Republicans held on to two key congressional seats in Wisconsin and were on the verge of retaining a third in Tuesday’s elections. An incumbent Republican defeated a former Democrat congressman in southeast Wisconsin. A political rookie with Trump in his corner defeated a Democratic newcomer to win an open seat in northeastern Wisconsin and a first-term Republican who was in the nation’s Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection was trying to fend off a political activist in western Wisconsin. Here’s a look at the three most-watched congressional races in Wisconsin: Republican wins reelection Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil won reelection to a fourth term representing southeast Wisconsin. He defeated Peter Barca, the last Democrat to hold the seat in 1995. Barca served less than two years. Barca previously served two stints in the state Legislature over more than 18 years and resigned after more than five years as state revenue secretary to take on Steil. The seat, once held by former Speaker Paul Ryan, was made more competitive for Democrats following the latest round of redistricting. The district north of Illinois includes the cities of Kenosha, Racine and Janesville. Barca campaign manager Ryan Paolilli didn’t immediately return a voicemail message late Tuesday evening. Steil issued a statement thanking voters for their trust and promising to lower costs and “have a nation that works for everyone.” Trump-backed candidate takes open seat Former gas station chain owner Tony Wied, running his first race, won the contest for northeast Wisconsin’s open congressional district, defeating an abortion rights advocate. Wied had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump in his race against Dr. Kristin Lyerly, an obstetrician who sued to overturn Wisconsin’s abortion ban. Lyerly tried to make the race in the heavily Republican district about abortion. The seat was vacant after the surprise resignation earlier this year of Republican Mike Gallagher, a sometime critic of Trump’s. The heavily Republican district includes cities such as Green Bay as well as rural areas. Lyerly’s campaign spokesperson, Kurt Frewing, said that Lyerly congratulated Wied but had no further comment. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Wied promised in a statement to bring “some Wisconsin commonsense to Washington to lower everyday costs, secure the southern border, and reign in out-of-control government spending.” Democrats eye flip in western Wisconsin Western Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, which had been represented by a Democrat for 26 years before it flipped in 2022 with the win by Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden, is the most competitive district in the state. Van Orden is a former Navy SEAL who was at the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and remains one of Trump’s loudest backers in Wisconsin. He is a top target for Democrats. Former small-business owner and political activist Rebecca Cooke won a three-person primary to take on Van Orden. She has raised more money than any other Democratic challenger in the state, a sign of Democratic optimism for the race. Van Orden was leading Cooke as of early Wednesday morning but it was still too early to call the race. With the Mississippi River and Minnesota to the west, the district includes the rolling hills of the Driftless Area and Chippewa Falls. From Illinois, it stretches 250 miles (400 kilometers) north past Prairie du Chien, known for its Cabela’s outdoor gear distribution center and 19th-century riverside historic sites. Find more of our Vote 2024 coverage INTERACTIVE: 2024 Electoral College Map SERIES: A look at Donald Trump and Kamala Harris’ campaign pledges READ MORE: Don’t fall for these false claims as you await the 2024 election results WATCH: Pivotal races that will determine the balance of power in Congress READ MORE: When polls close on Election Day in these 7 battleground states WATCH: What early voting data signals about this year’s election LIVE BLOG: Election 2024 fact checks WATCH: How election workers are fighting back against bad actors trying to undermine the process We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now