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Wisconsin, State Assembly, District 51

Wisconsin State Assembly District 51
Current incumbentTodd Novak Republican Party

Wisconsin's fifty-first state assembly district is represented by Republican Representative Todd Novak.

Members of the Wisconsin State Assembly represent an average of 57,444 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 54,179 residents.

About the office

Members of the Wisconsin State Assembly serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Wisconsin legislators assume office the first Monday in January following the election.

Qualifications

Section 6 of Article 4 of the Wisconsin Constitution states, "No person shall be eligible to the legislature who shall not have resided one year within the state, and be a qualified elector in the district which he may be chosen to represent."

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$52,999/yearThe Wisconsin State Senate allows up to $115/day for per diem. For Senators living in Dane County, they receive a per diem of $57.50 per day. The Wisconsin State Assembly allows a maximum of $157/day per diem for legislators that stay overnight. For legislators that do not commute, they are given $78.50/day for per diem. The maximum number of days per year that per diem can be claimed is 90 days.

Vacancies

In the event of a vacancy in the assembly, the Governor must call for a special election when allowed by law. Special elections to fill legislative vacancies cannot be held after February 1st preceding a spring election or September 1st preceding a fall election. If the vacancy happens before May 15th, the Governor must fill the vacancy as soon as possible.

2016 pivot county

206 Pivot Counties Logo.png

This district is one of 710 state legislative districts that intersects with one or more Pivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.

The 206 Pivot Counties are located in 34 states. Iowa, with 31, had the most such counties. The partisan makeup of state legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties is slightly more Republican than the overall partisan makeup of state legislatures throughout the country.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Assembly will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for August 11, 2020. The filing deadline is June 1, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for Wisconsin State Assembly District 51

Incumbent Todd Novak (R) defeated Jeff Wright (D) in the general election for Wisconsin State Assembly District 51 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Todd Novak (R)
50.6
12,445

Jeff Wright (D)
49.3
12,113
Other/Write-in votes
0.1
15

Total votes: 24,573
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 51

Jeff Wright advanced from the Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 51 on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Jeff Wright (D)
100
4,686

Total votes: 4,686
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 51

Incumbent Todd Novak advanced from the Republican primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 51 on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Todd Novak (R)
100
2,468

Total votes: 2,468

2016

Elections for the Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.

Incumbent Todd Novak defeated Jeff Wright in the Wisconsin State Assembly District 51 general election.

Wisconsin State Assembly, District 51 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Todd Novak Incumbent 51.33% 13,912
Democratic Jeff Wright 48.67% 13,189
Total Votes 27,101
Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission

Jeff Wright ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Assembly District 51 Democratic primary.

Wisconsin State Assembly, District 51 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Jeff Wright (unopposed)

Incumbent Todd Novak ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Assembly District 51 Republican primary.

Wisconsin State Assembly, District 51 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Todd Novak Incumbent (unopposed)

This district was included in the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee's list of "2016 Essential Races." Read more »

2014

Elections for all 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 12, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 2, 2014. Dick Cates was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Todd Novak defeated Dennis Polivka, Ken Rynes and Tyler Schultz in the Republican primary. Adam Laufenberg ran as a Libertarian. Novak defeated Cates and Laufenberg in the general election. Curt Peterson (R) and Charles Nichols (R) were removed from the ballot before the primary elections.

Wisconsin State Assembly, District 51 General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngTodd Novak 47.5% 10,642
Democratic Dick Cates 47.2% 10,577
Libertarian Adam Laufenberg 5.3% 1,177
Total Votes 22,396

Wisconsin State Assembly, District 51 Republican Primary, 2014

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngTodd Novak 48.3% 2,262
Tyler Schultz 19.7% 922
Ken Rhino Rynes 18.3% 859
Dennis Polivka 13.6% 639
Total Votes 4,682

2012

Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Assembly consisted of a primary election on August 14, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. Republican incumbent Howard Marklein defeated Democrat Maureen May-Grimm in the general election. Marklein was unopposed in the Democratic primary election. May-Grimm defeated Pat Bomhack in the Democratic primary election.

Wisconsin State Assembly, District 51, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngHoward Marklein Incumbent 51.9% 14,279
Democratic Maureen May-Grimm 48.1% 13,238
- Scattering 0.1% 22
Total Votes 27,539

Wisconsin State Assembly, District 51 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngMaureen May-Grimm 61.3% 1,838
Pat Bomhack 38.7% 1,160
Total Votes 2,998

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Wisconsin State Assembly District 51 raised a total of $1,942,362. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $77,694 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Wisconsin State Assembly District 51

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $836,559 2 $418,280
2014 $225,145 6 $37,524
2012 $261,327 3 $87,109
2010 $197,453 2 $98,727
2008 $114,380 2 $57,190
2006 $147,999 2 $74,000
2004 $60,929 3 $20,310
2002 $17,810 2 $8,905
2000 $80,760 3 $26,920
Total $1,942,362 25 $77,694