Wisconsin's 6th congressional district

Coordinates: 43°46′45″N 88°16′28″W / 43.77917°N 88.27444°W / 43.77917; -88.27444
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Wisconsin's 6th congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
  Glenn Grothman
RGlenbeulah
Area5,641.16 sq mi (14,610.5 km2)
Distribution
  • 60.63% urban
  • 39.37% rural
Population (2022)733,889
Median household
income
$68,092[1]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+10[2]

Wisconsin's 6th congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in eastern Wisconsin. It is based in the rural, suburban and exurban communities between Madison, Milwaukee, and Green Bay. It also includes the village of River Hills in far northern Milwaukee County. The district is currently represented by Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeaulah) who took office in January 2015.

The 6th district has a long history of farming livestock in rural areas,[3] and is a major producer of both milk and grains.[4]

The 6th district has been a Republican stronghold for most of its history; since the 1930s, only one Democrat, John A. Race, represented the district between 1965 and 1967. With a Cook PVI of R+10, it is tied with the 8th district as the third-most Republican district in Wisconsin. The 6th district's Republican lean extends to presidential races; since 1952, only three Democrats have carried it: Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, Bill Clinton in 1996, and Barack Obama in 2008, all three of whom swept the state of Wisconsin in landslides. In the 2020 Presidential Election, the district voted 57% for Donald Trump and 42% for Joe Biden.

Counties and municipalities within the district

# County Seat Population
15 Calumet Chilton 52,539
21 Columbia Portage 58,488
27 Dodge Juneau 89,313
39 Fond du Lac Fond du Lac 104,362
47 Green Lake Green Lake 19,229
71 Manitowoc Manitowoc 81,505
77 Marquette Montello 15,792
89 Ozaukee Port Washington 92,497
117 Sheboygan Sheboygan 117,747
137 Waushara Wautoma 24,828
139 Winnebago Oshkosh 171,623

Calumet County

New Holstein.

Columbia County

Arlington, Cambria, Columbus, Doylestown, Fall River, Friesland, Lodi, Pardeeville, Portage, Poynette, Rio, Wisconsin Dells (Columbia County section), and Wyocena.

Dodge County

Beaver Dam, Brownsville, Fox Lake, Lomira, Mayville, Randolph, Theresa, and Waupun.

Fond du Lac County

Brandon, Campbellsport, Eden, Fairwater, Fond du Lac, Mount Calvary, North Fond du Lac, Oakfield, Ripon, Rosendale, and St. Cloud.

Green Lake County

Berlin, Green Lake, Kingston, Markesan, Marquette, and Princeton.

Manitowoc County

Cleveland, Francis Creek, Kellnersville, Kiel, Manitowoc, Maribel, Mishicot, Reedsville, Șt. Nazianz, Two Rivers, Valders, and Whitelaw.

Marquette County

Endeavor, Montello, Neshkoro, Oxford, and Westfield.

Ozaukee

Belgium, Cedarburg, Fredonia, Grafton, Port Washington, Saukville, and Thiensville.

Sheboygan

Adell, Cascade, Cedar Grove, Elkhart Lake, Glenbeulah, Kohler, Oostburg, Plymouth, Random Lake, Sheboygan, Sheboygan Falls, and Waldo.

Waushara

Coloma, Hancock, Lohrville Plainfield, Redgranite, Wautoma, and Wild Rose.

Winnebago

Appleton (part), Fox Crossing, Menasha, Neenah, Omro, Oshkosh, and Winneconne.

History

Wisconsin's 6th congressional district came into existence in 1863 following the federal census of 1860. The first elected representative from the district was Walter D. McIndoe of Wausau. The district originally comprised the counties of the northern and western parts of the state. Following subsequent congressional reapportionment after each decennial census, the district's boundaries shifted eastward.

Census of 1860

Wisconsin Congressional districts following the 1860 census

The reapportionment of Congressional districts following the federal census of 1860 gave Wisconsin three additional members in the House of Representatives. Members elected from the newly created 4th, 5th and 6th districts were chosen in the midterm elections of 1862 and took their seats in the lower house as part of the 38th United States Congress.

The 6th District originally included the counties of Adams, Ashland, Bad Ax (Vernon), Buffalo, Burnett, Dallas (Barron), Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, La Pointe, Marathon, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, St. Croix, Trempealeau, and Wood.

Areas of east central Wisconsin, which make up much of the 6th district today, were originally part of the newly created 5th district.

Census of 1870

Wisconsin Congressional districts following the 1870 census

Following the 1870 census Wisconsin gained two seats in the House of Representatives. The new 6th District was shifted eastward and included many counties in northeast Wisconsin. It included the counties of Brown, Calumet, Door, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Outagamie, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago. Representative Philetus Sawyer of Oshkosh had been elected to Congress from Wisconsin's 5th District since 1865, was then elected from the newly configured 6th District. He later served the state as a member of the U.S. Senate.

Census of 1880

Wisconsin Congressional districts following the 1880 census

The federal census of 1880 showed further population growth in Wisconsin and the state gained a 9th Congressional seat. Reapportionment of the state moved the 6th District to a more central location within the state, though the representatives elected from the district came from the communities along the shores of Lake Winnebago throughout the decade. The 6th District now included the counties of Adams, Green Lake, Marquette, Outagamie, Waushara and Winnebago.

Census of 1890

Wisconsin Congressional districts following the 1890 census

Following the census of 1890 Wisconsin gained a 10th Congressional seat. The 6th District shifted eastward to a configuration that closely resembled that of today's linear east to west shape with a population of 187,001. The state population was enumerated at 1,686,880. The 6th District then included the counties of Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Marquette, Waushara and Winnebago.

Census of 1900

Wisconsin Congressional districts following the 1900 census

The state's population reached 2,069,042 according to the 1900 federal census and Wisconsin gained an additional seat in the House of Representatives. This was the peak of Wisconsin's Congressional representation and the state maintained 11 members of the House of Representatives until the opening of the 73rd United States Congress in 1933. The 6th District shifted southward and included the counties of Dodge, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan and Washington. The counties in the vicinity of Lake Winnebago became part of the 8th District. The population of the counties making up the 6th District totaled 184,517.

Censuses of 1910 & 1920

Wisconsin Congressional districts following the 1910 and 1920 censuses

The 1910 census tabulated a population of 2,333,860 citizens for Wisconsin and the 1920 census saw the state's population grow to 2,632,670. As a result of this growth, the state retained its 11 seats in the House of Representatives throughout the 1910s and 1920s. Prior to congressional elections in 1912, the 6th District was reconfigured in manner closer to that of the 1893 apportionment. The district included the counties of Calument, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Manitowoc, Marquette, and Winnebago. All 11 districts continued in the same configurations until the elections of 1932. The 6th district grew from 201,637 to 214,206 between the two enumerations.

Censuses of 1930, 1940 & 1950

Wisconsin Congressional districts following the 1930, 1940 and 1950 censuses

Wisconsin lost a congressional seat following the census of 1930. The 6th District now included Calumet, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington, and Winnebago counties. According to the 1950 census, the population of the district was 315,666. This southeastern shift of the district remained in effect for 30 years, ending with the 1962 elections.

Census of 1960

Wisconsin Congressional districts following the 1960 census

The state held on to all 10 of its Congressional seats following the 1960 census. As a result of changing population patterns, the districts were reapportioned. Green Lake County was added to the existing counties of the 6th District, which were Calumet, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington and Winnebago. This slight western shift gave the district a population of 391,743.

It was also during this era, that the Republican Party's domination of the district was broken. Democrat John Abner Race, represented the district from 1965 to 1967. Other than this brief interruption, a Republican has been sent to Washington, D.C. in every election since 1938.

Census of 1970

Wisconsin Congressional districts following the 1970 census

The state of Wisconsin gained 465,318 residents for a total of 4,418,683 according to the 1970 census. Because this was a lower increase than other areas of the country, the state lost a seat in the House of Representatives, requiring the state's districts to be reapportioned.

The 6th District now extended farther west than at any time other since its original configuration in 1860. It now included all or portions of Adams, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Juneau, Manitowoc, Marquette, Monroe, Sheboygan, Waushara, and Winnebago counties.

This was the first time, other than in Milwaukee County, that districts did not follow county borders throughout the state. The Town of Waupun in Fond du Lac County was included in the 2nd District. Only the five easternmost towns in Monroe County were included in the 6th District.

Census of 1980

Wisconsin Congressional districts following the 1980 census

Following the 1980 census the 6th District again expanded in size. All of Monroe County now became part of the district, which was a further westward expansion. All of Waupaca County and the southwest corner of Wood County expanded the district to the north. Southern towns in Adams, Juneau, Fond du Lac and Sheboygan counties, as well as the city of Sheboygan, were removed from the district and included in the 2nd District and 9th District. In addition, the counties of Calumet, Green Lake, Manitowoc, Marquette, Waushara and Winnebago were included in their entirety. The population of the 6th District according to the 1980 census was 522,546.

Census of 1990

Wisconsin Congressional districts following the 1990 census

The 1990 census saw Wisconsin retain its nine seats in the House of Representatives and created only minor changes to the 6th District. All or portions of Adams, Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Juneau, Manitowoc, Marquette, Monroe, Outagamie, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago counties were part of the Sixth.

Census of 2000

Following the 2000 census, Wisconsin's population rose to 5,363,675. Because this growth was not as large as in other parts of the nation, Wisconsin lost a congressional seat. Now with only eight seats, a major redistricting took place in the state for the first time since the state's loss of its 10th seat following the census of 1970. The new 6th District included the counties of Adams, Calumet, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Manitowoc, Waushara and Winnebago, in addition to small sections of Outagamie and Jefferson counties.

Census of 2010

Wisconsin held on to its eight seats in the House of Representatives following the census of 2010, although the district boundaries were changed by the state legislature to include Columbia and Ozaukee County, while no longer including Adams, Calumet, and most of Dodge County. This isn't the first time the 6th congressional district included Ozaukee County. However this is the first time it include a portion of Milwaukee County. It included the northern suburb River Hills.

List of members representing the district

Member Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history
District established March 4, 1863

Walter D. McIndoe
(Wausau)
Republican March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1867
38th
39th
Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1862.
Re-elected in 1864.
Retired.

Cadwallader C. Washburn
(La Crosse)
Republican March 4, 1867 –
March 3, 1871
40th
41st
Elected in 1866.
Re-elected in 1868.
Retired.

Jeremiah McLain Rusk
(Viroqua)
Republican March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1873
42nd Elected in 1870.
Redistricted to the 7th district.

Philetus Sawyer
(Oshkosh)
Republican March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875
43rd Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1872.
Retired.

Alanson M. Kimball
(Pine River)
Republican March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1877
44th Elected in 1874.
Lost re-election.

Gabriel Bouck
(Oshkosh)
Democratic March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1881
45th
46th
Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Lost re-election.

Richard W. Guenther
(Oshkosh)
Republican March 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1887
47th
48th
49th
Elected in 1880.
Re-elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Redistricted to the 2nd district.

Charles B. Clark
(Neenah)
Republican March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1891
50th
51st
Elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Lost re-election.

Lucas M. Miller
(Oshkosh)
Democratic March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1893
52nd Elected in 1890.
Lost renomination.

Owen A. Wells
(Fond du Lac)
Democratic March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1895
53rd Elected in 1892.
Lost re-election.

Samuel A. Cook
(Neenah)
Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1897
54th Elected in 1894.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.

James H. Davidson
(Oshkosh)
Republican March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1903
55th
56th
57th
Elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Redistricted to the 8th district.

Charles H. Weisse
(Sheboygan Falls)
Democratic March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1911
58th
59th
60th
61st
Elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Retired.

Michael E. Burke
(Beaver Dam)
Democratic March 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1913
62nd Elected in 1910.
Redistricted to the 2nd district.

Michael Reilly
(Fond du Lac)
Democratic March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1917
63rd
64th
Elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Lost re-election.

James H. Davidson
(Oshkosh)
Republican March 4, 1917 –
August 6, 1918
65th Elected in 1916.
Died.
Vacant August 6, 1918 –
November 5, 1918

Florian Lampert
(Oshkosh)
Republican November 5, 1918 –
July 18, 1930
65th
66th
67th
68th
69th
70th
71st
Elected to finish Davidson's term.
Also elected to the next full term.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Died.
Vacant July 18, 1930 –
November 4, 1930
71st

Michael Reilly
(Fond du Lac)
Democratic November 4, 1930 –
January 3, 1939
71st
72nd
73rd
74th
75th
Elected to finish Lampert's term.
Also elected to the next full term.
Re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Lost re-election.

Frank Bateman Keefe
(Oshkosh)
Republican January 3, 1939 –
January 3, 1951
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th
81st
Elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Retired.

William Van Pelt
(Fond du Lac)
Republican January 3, 1951 –
January 3, 1965
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
Elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Lost re-election.

John Abner Race
(Fond du Lac)
Democratic January 3, 1965 –
January 3, 1967
89th Elected in 1964.
Lost re-election.

William A. Steiger
(Oshkosh)
Republican January 3, 1967 –
December 4, 1978
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
Elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978 but died before next term began.
Vacant December 4, 1978 –
April 3, 1979
95th
96th

Tom Petri
(Fond du Lac)
Republican April 3, 1979 –
January 3, 2015
96th
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th
Elected to finish Steiger's term.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Retired.

Glenn Grothman
(Glenbeulah)
Republican January 3, 2015 –
present
114th
115th
116th
117th
118th
Elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.

Recent election results

2012

Wisconsin 6th Congressional District 2012 [5][6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Petri (Incumbent) 223,460 62.12
Democratic Joe Kallas 135,921 37.78
none Scattering 364 0.10
Total votes 359,745 100.0

2014

Wisconsin's 6th congressional district, 2014[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Glenn Grothman 169,767 56.8
Democratic Mark Harris 122,212 40.9
Independent Gus Fahrendorf 6,865 2.3
n/a Write-ins 189 0.0
Total votes 299,033 100.0
Republican hold

2016

Wisconsin's 6th congressional district, 2016[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Glenn Grothman (incumbent) 204,147 57.1
Democratic Sarah Lloyd 133,072 37.3
Independent Jeff Dahlke 19,716 5.5
n/a Write-ins 248 0.1
Total votes 357,183 100.0
Republican hold

2018

Wisconsin's 6th congressional district, 2018[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Glenn Grothman (incumbent) 180,311 55.4
Democratic Dan Kohl 144,536 44.5
n/a Write-ins 218 0.1
Total votes 325,065 100.0
Republican hold

2020

Wisconsin's 6th congressional district, 2020[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Glenn Grothman (incumbent) 238,874 59.2
Democratic Jessica King 164,239 40.7
Write-in 220 0.1
Total votes 403,333 100.0
Republican hold

Election results from recent statewide races

Year Results
2000 Bush 53 - 43%
2004 Bush 56 - 43%
2008 Obama 50 - 49%
2012 Romney 53 - 46%
2016 Trump 56 - 39%
2020 Trump 56 - 41%

Historical district boundaries

2003–2013
2013–2023

See also

References

  1. ^ Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
  2. ^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "Agriculture | U.S. Representative Glenn Grothman". grothman.house.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  4. ^ "USDA - NASS, Census of Agriculture - 2012 Census Publications - Congressional District Profiles". www.nass.usda.gov.
  5. ^ "Wisconsin Government Accountability Board County by County Congress Seats" (PDF). State of Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. November 21, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  6. ^ Scatterings votes are included as they were reported to the Clerk of the House of Representatives"Election Statistics US House of Representatives - 2012". Karen Haas, Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. February 28, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  7. ^ "Wisconsin Statewide Results General Election - November 4, 2014 Official Results". Wisconsin Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  8. ^ "Wisconsin Elections Commission". Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  9. ^ Johnson, Cheryl L. (February 28, 2019). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 2018". Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  10. ^ "Canvass Results for 2020 General Election" (PDF). Wisconsin Elections Commission. Retrieved December 2, 2020.

External links

43°46′45″N 88°16′28″W / 43.77917°N 88.27444°W / 43.77917; -88.27444