Attorney General of Wisconsin

Wisconsin Attorney General
General information
Office Type:	Partisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$148,242
2025 FY Budget:	$167,361,200
Term limits:	None
Structure
Length of term:	4 years
Authority:	Wisconsin State Code, Chapter 15.25
Selection Method:	Elected
Current Officeholder
Attorney General of Wisconsin Josh Kaul Democratic Party Assumed office: January 7, 2019
Elections
Next election:	November 3, 2026
Last election:	November 8, 2022
Other Wisconsin Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission

The Attorney General of Wisconsin is an elected position in the Wisconsin state government. The attorney general is the head of the state Department of Justice and the chief legal officer for the state. He or she provides legal advice and representation for all state agencies.

Wisconsin has a Democratic triplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

Current officeholder

The current officeholder is Democrat Josh Kaul. He was first elected in 2018.

Authority

The attorney general's office is authorized by Chapter 15.25 of the Wisconsin state code.

Chapter 15.25:

Department of justice; creation. There is created a department of justice under the direction and supervision of the attorney general.

Qualifications

State code does not specify any qualifications to hold this office.

Elections

Wisconsin state government organizational chart

According to Article 6 of the state constitution, the attorney general is elected every four years, in mid-term election years, to a four-year term.

2022

See also: Wisconsin Attorney General election, 2022

General election

General election for Attorney General of Wisconsin

Incumbent Josh Kaul defeated Eric Toney in the general election for Attorney General of Wisconsin on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Josh Kaul (D)	50.6	1,333,369
		Eric Toney (R)	49.3	1,298,369
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	1,539

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,633,277
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Matthew Bughman (L)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin

Incumbent Josh Kaul advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Josh Kaul	99.8	461,024
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	751

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 461,775
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin

Eric Toney defeated Adam Jarchow and Karen Mueller in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Eric Toney	37.4	222,902
		Adam Jarchow	36.9	220,045
		Karen Mueller	25.6	152,581

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 595,528
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Ryan Owens (R)

2018

See also: Wisconsin Attorney General election, 2018

General election

General election for Attorney General of Wisconsin

Josh Kaul defeated incumbent Brad Schimel and Terry Larson in the general election for Attorney General of Wisconsin on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Josh Kaul (D)	49.4	1,305,902
		Brad Schimel (R)	48.8	1,288,712
		Terry Larson (Constitution Party)	1.8	47,038
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	1,199

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,642,851 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin

Josh Kaul advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Josh Kaul	100.0	432,954

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 432,954
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin

Incumbent Brad Schimel advanced from the Republican primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Brad Schimel	100.0	394,799

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 394,799
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Constitution primary election

Constitution primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin

Terry Larson advanced from the Constitution primary for Attorney General of Wisconsin on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Terry Larson	100.0	354

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 354
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2014

See also: Wisconsin attorney general election, 2014

Republican Brad Schimel won election on November 4, 2014.

Attorney General of Wisconsin, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Brad Schimel	51.5%	1,211,388
	Democratic	Susan Happ	45.4%	1,066,866
	Libertarian	Thomas Nelson	3%	70,951
	Nonpartisan	Scattering	0%	1,120
Total Votes				2,350,325
Election results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board

Full history

To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of Attorney General of Wisconsin, click [show] to expand the section.

2010 On November 2, 2010, J.B. Van Hollen won re-election to the office of Attorney General of Wisconsin. He defeated Scott Hassett (D) in the general election. Attorney General of Wisconsin, 2010 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican J.B. Van Hollen Incumbent 57.8% 1,220,791      Democratic Scott Hassett 42.1% 890,080      - Scattering 0.1% 1,614 Total Votes 2,112,485 Election results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. 2006 On November 7, 2006, J.B. Van Hollen won election to the office of Attorney General of Wisconsin. He defeated Kathleen Falk (D) in the general election. Attorney General of Wisconsin, 2006 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican J.B. Van Hollen 50.2% 1,065,453      Democratic Kathleen Falk 49.7% 1,056,594      - Scattering 0.1% 2,420 Total Votes 2,124,467 Election results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. 2002 On November 5, 2002, Peggy A. Lautenschlager won election to the office of Attorney General of Wisconsin. She defeated Vince Biskupic (R) in the general election. Attorney General of Wisconsin, 2002 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Peggy A. Lautenschlager 51.6% 882,945      Republican Vince Biskupic 48.3% 826,862      - Scattering 0.1% 1,488 Total Votes 1,711,295 Election results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.

Vacancies

Chapter 17.19(4) of the Wisconsin state code addresses vacancies in the office of attorney general. In the event of a vacancy for any reason, the governor shall appoint a successor to serve until a special election can be held. If no such election is held, the appointee holds office for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Duties

The department of justice provides legal advice and representation for various state officers and agencies in civil cases and criminal cases in the state's appellate courts.

The specific duties of the attorney general are outlined in Chapter 165.015 of the Wisconsin state code.

“

Chapter 165.015 - Duties. The attorney general shall: Give opinion to officers. Give his or her opinion in writing, when required, without fee, upon all questions of law submitted to him or her by the legislature, either house thereof or the senate or assembly committee on organization, or by the head of any department of state government. Protect trust funds. Examine all applications for loans from any of the trust funds, and furnish to the commissioners of public lands his or her opinion in writing as to the regularity of each such application, and also of the validity of any bonds or other securities purchased for the benefit of such funds. Certify bonds. Examine a certified copy of all proceedings preliminary to any issue of state bonds or notes, and, if found regular and valid, endorse on each bond or note his or her certificate of such examination and validity. The attorney general shall also make similar examinations and certificates respecting municipal bonds in the cases specified in s. 67.025. Keep statement of fees. Keep a detailed statement of all fees, including his or her fees as commissioner of public lands, received by him or her during the preceding year, and file such statement with the department of administration on or before June 30 in each year. Report to legislature. Upon request of the legislature or either house thereof, submit a report upon any matters pertaining to the duties of his or her office to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2). Perform other duties. Perform all other duties imposed upon the attorney general by law.

”

Divisions

As of January 12, 2021, divisions within the Wisconsin Department of Justice included:

• Division of Law Enforcement Services
• Division of Legal Services
• Division of Management Services
• Division of Criminal Investigation
• Division of Forensic Sciences
• Office of Crime Victim Services

State budget

See also: Wisconsin state budget and finances

The budget for the Department of Justice in Fiscal Year 2025 was $167,361,200.

Compensation

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

See statutes: Chapter 20, Section 923 of the Wisconsin Statutes

The attorney general's annual salary is fixed by law, pursuant to Article IV, Section 26 of the Wisconsin Constitution, which states that "the compensation of a public officer may not be increased or diminished during the term of office."

Since the 2003 approval of Wisconsin Act 33, the attorney general's compensation has been set by the Wisconsin Office of State Employment Relations (OSER), in accordance with Section 20.923 of the Wisconsin Statutes. Under the amended version of §20.923, the director of OSER submits biennial proposals for adjustments to compensation plan to the Wisconsin Legislature. Changes are subject to approval by the legislature's joint committee on employment relations and, if passed by the committee, the governor.

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $148,242, according to the Council of State Governments.

2021

In 2021, the attorney general received a salary of $148,242, according to the Council of State Governments.

2020

In 2020, the attorney general received a salary of $148,242 according to the Council of State Governments.

2019

In 2019, the attorney general received a salary of $148,242 according to the Council of State Governments.

2018

In 2018, the attorney general received a salary of $142,966 according to the Council of State Governments.

2017

In 2017, the attorney general received a salary of $142,966 according to the Council of State Governments.

2016

In 2016, the attorney general received a salary of $142,966 according to the Council of State Governments.

2015

In 2015, the attorney general received a salary of $142,966 according to the Council of State Governments.

2014

In 2014, the attorney general received a salary of $140,147 according to the Council of State Governments.

2013

In 2013, the attorney general received a salary of $140,147.

2012

In 2012, the attorney geneal was paid an estimated $140,147. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.

Historical officeholders

Since 1848, Wisconsin has had 44 attorneys general. Bronson C. LaFollette served twice, non-consecutively.

Click "show" for former officeholders.

#	Name	Took office	Left office	Party
1	James S. Brown	1848	1850	Democratic
2	S. Park Coon	1850	1852	Democratic
3	Experience Estabrook	1852	1854	Democratic
4	George B. Smith	1854	1856	Democratic
5	William R. Smith	1856	1858	Democratic
6	Gabriel Bouck	1858	1860	Democratic
7	James H. Howe	1860	1862	Republican
8	Winfield Smith	1862	1866	Republican
9	Charles R. Gill	1866	1870	Republican
10	Stephen Steele Barlow	1870	1874	Republican
11	Andrew Scott Sloan	1874	1878	Republican
12	Alexander Wilson	1878	1882	Republican
13	Leander F. Frisby	1882	1887	Republican
14	Charles E. Estabrook	1887	1891	Republican
15	James L. O'Connor	1891	1895	Democratic
16	William H. Mylrea	1895	1899	Republican
17	Emmett R. Hicks	1899	1903	Republican
18	Lafayette M. Sturdevant	1903	1907	Republican
19	Frank L. Gilbert	1907	1911	Republican
20	Levi H. Bancroft	1911	1913	Republican
21	Walter C. Owen	1913	1918	Republican
22	Spencer Haven	1918	1919	Republican
23	John J. Blaine	1919	1921	Republican
24	William J. Morgan	1921	1923	Republican
25	Herman L. Ekern	1923	1927	Republican
26	John W. Reynolds	1927	1933	Republican
27	James E. Finnegan	1933	1937	Democratic
28	Orlando S. Loomis	1937	1939	Progressive
29	John E. Martin	1939	June 1, 1948	Republican
30	Grover L. Broadfoot	June 5, 1948	November 12, 1948	Republican
31	Thomas E. Fairchild	November 12, 1948	1951	Democratic
32	Vernon W. Thomson	1951	1957	Republican
33	Stewart G. Honeck	1957	1959	Republican
34	John W. Reynolds	1958	1963	Democratic
35	George Thompson	1963	1965	Republican
36	Bronson C. LaFollette	1965	1969	Democratic
37	Robert W. Warren	1969	October 8, 1974	Republican
38	Victor A. Miller	October 8, 1974	November 25, 1974	Democratic
39	Bronson C. LaFollette	November 25, 1974	1987	Democratic
40	Donald J. Hanaway	1987	1991	Republican
41	James E. Doyle	1991	2002	Democratic
42	Peg A. Lautenschlager	2002	2006	Democratic
43	J.B. Van Hollen	2006	2014	Republican
44	Brad Schimel	2015	2019	Republican
45	Josh Kaul	2019	present	Democratic

State profile

Demographic data for Wisconsin
	Wisconsin	U.S.
Total population:	5,767,891	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	54,158	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	86.5%	73.6%
Black/African American:	6.3%	12.6%
Asian:	2.5%	5.1%
Native American:	0.9%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0%	0.2%
Two or more:	2.1%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	6.3%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	91%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	27.8%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$53,357	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	15%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Wisconsin. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Wisconsin

Wisconsin voted for the Democratic candidate in five out of the six presidential elections between 2000 and 2020.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, 23 are located in Wisconsin, accounting for 11.17 percent of the total pivot counties.

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Wisconsin had 21 Retained Pivot Counties and two Boomerang Pivot Counties, accounting for 11.60 and 8.00 percent of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respectively.

More Wisconsin coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in Wisconsin
• United States congressional delegations from Wisconsin
• Public policy in Wisconsin
• Endorsers in Wisconsin
• Wisconsin fact checks
• More...

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Wisconsin Attorney General. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Attorney General of Wisconsin - Google News

Contact information

Wisconsin Department of Justice
P.O. Box 7857
Madison, WI 53707-7857

Phone: 608-266-1221
Fax: 608-267-2779

External links

Suggest a link

• Office of the Wisconsin Attorney General