Wisconsin Assembly District 51
Tue, Nov 3 · Represented by Todd Novak Republican · Member list as of Oct 28
Ben GruberDemocraticTodd NovakRepublican · Incumbent12 years since first win
No published poll names both candidates.Last result · 2024 general: Todd Novak (R) 51.7, Elizabeth Grabe (D) 48.3
Show all 3 candidates on the ballot
- Ben GruberDemocratic
- Todd NovakIncumbentRepublican
- Nathan TatajeIndependent
Showing major-party nominees, incumbents and candidates with 5%+ in the latest poll or comparable fundraising.
- Last election
- Todd Novak (Republican) won by 3.4 points, 2024
- On the 2026 ballot
- 3 candidates
Side by side
Left column: GruberRight column: Novak
- Donor-based spectrum
- LiberalCentristConservativeNovakNo published score for Gruber
- Races
- None listed
- Won 6 of 6
- Years since first win
- Not available
- 12
How these are counted
The spectrum is a published research score, not our rating. How this works. Wins and losses count the races in our results files, the same as each profile.
More about this race
Candidates on the ballot
- Ben GruberDemocratic
- Todd NovakIncumbentRepublican
- Nathan TatajeIndependent
Source: elections.wi.gov, dated Oct 6
All Assembly districts
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- Democratic
- Republican
- Independent
- Nonpartisan
- More than one party
- No member listed
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Official results for Wisconsin
History (27 elections for this seat)
- Votes for listed candidates
- 34,230
- Election day
- November 5, 2024
- District map
- Older district map (2024)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 2024, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanTodd NovakWon Republican 17,68251.7% DemocraticElizabeth Grabe Democratic 16,52448.3% Scattered write-ins Write-in 240.1% - Votes for listed candidates
- 26,320
- Election day
- November 8, 2022
- District map
- Older district map (2022)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 2022, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanTodd NovakWon(incumbent) Republican 14,76056.1% DemocraticLeah Spicer Democratic 11,54643.9% Scattered write-ins Write-in 140.1% - Votes for listed candidates
- 30,624
- Election day
- November 3, 2020
- District map
- Older district map (2012 to 2021)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 2020, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanTodd NovakWon(incumbent) Republican 15,93752.0% DemocraticKriss Marion Democratic 14,67947.9% Scattered write-ins Write-in 80.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 24,573
- Election day
- November 6, 2018
- District map
- Older district map (2012 to 2021)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 2018, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanTodd NovakWon(incumbent) Republican 12,44550.6% DemocraticJeff Wright Democratic 12,11349.3% Scattered write-ins Write-in 150.1% - Votes for listed candidates
- 27,124
- Election day
- November 8, 2016
- District map
- Older district map (2012 to 2021)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 2016, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanTodd NovakWon(incumbent) Republican 13,91251.3% DemocraticJeff Wright Democratic 13,18948.6% Scattered write-ins Write-in 230.1% - Votes for listed candidates
- 22,413
- Election day
- November 4, 2014
- District map
- Older district map (2012 to 2021)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 2014, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanTodd NovakWon Republican 10,64247.5% DemocraticDick Cates Democratic 10,57747.2% IndependentAdam Laufenberg Independent 1,1775.3% Scattered write-ins Write-in 170.1% - Votes for listed candidates
- 27,539
- Election day
- November 6, 2012
- District map
- Older district map (2012 to 2021)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 2012, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanHoward MarkleinWon(incumbent) Republican 14,27951.9% DemocraticMaureen Maygrimm Democratic 13,23848.1% Scattered write-ins Write-in 220.1% - Votes for listed candidates
- 20,759
- Election day
- November 2, 2010
- District map
- Older district map (2002 to 2011)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 2010, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanHoward MarkleinWon Republican 10,82252.1% DemocraticJohn Simonson Democratic 9,93147.8% Scattered write-ins Write-in 60.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 27,881
- Election day
- November 4, 2008
- District map
- Older district map (2002 to 2011)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 2008, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticSteve HilgenbergWon(incumbent) Democratic 15,85556.9% RepublicanNathan R. Russell Republican 12,02643.1% - Votes for listed candidates
- 20,966
- Election day
- November 7, 2006
- District map
- Older district map (2002 to 2011)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 2006, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticSteve HilgenbergWon Democratic 11,16953.3% RepublicanStephen J. Freese(incumbent) Republican 9,79746.7% - Votes for listed candidates
- 28,590
- Election day
- November 2, 2004
- District map
- Older district map (2002 to 2011)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 2004, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanStephen J. FreeseWon(incumbent) Republican 16,38757.3% DemocraticTodd Miller Democratic 12,20342.7% - Votes for listed candidates
- 17,133
- Election day
- November 5, 2002
- District map
- Older district map (2002 to 2011)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 2002, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanStephen J. FreeseWon(incumbent) Republican 10,26459.9% DemocraticLarry A. Wolf Democratic 6,86940.1% - Votes for listed candidates
- 24,095
- Election day
- November 7, 2000
- District map
- Older district map (1992 to 2001)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 2000, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanStephen J. FreeseWon(incumbent) Republican 14,99862.3% DemocraticRose White Democratic 8,44235.0% LibertarianRobert Rhoades Mead Libertarian 6552.7% - Votes for listed candidates
- 11,417
- Election day
- November 3, 1998
- District map
- Older district map (1992 to 2001)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 1998, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanStephen J. FreeseWon(incumbent) Republican 11,417100.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 20,068
- Election day
- November 5, 1996
- District map
- Older district map (1992 to 2001)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 1996, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanStephen J. FreeseWon(incumbent) Republican 13,77768.7% DemocraticTerry Sheffer Democratic 6,29131.4% - Votes for listed candidates
- 14,364
- Election day
- November 8, 1994
- District map
- Older district map (1992 to 2001)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 1994, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanStephen J. FreeseWon(incumbent) Republican 10,65574.2% DemocraticRichard Rothenbueler Democratic 3,70925.8% - Votes for listed candidates
- 22,474
- Election day
- November 3, 1992
- District map
- Older district map (1992 to 2001)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 1992, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanStephen J. FreeseWon(incumbent) Republican 14,31663.7% DemocraticEmmett J. Reilly Democratic 7,74234.5% IndependentWilliam Osborne Hart Independent 4161.9% - Votes for listed candidates
- 13,219
- Election day
- November 6, 1990
- District map
- Older district map (1984 to 1991)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 1990, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanStephen J. FreeseWon Republican 8,63065.3% DemocraticKeith Symon Democratic 4,58934.7% - Votes for listed candidates
- 19,093
- Election day
- November 8, 1988
- District map
- Older district map (1984 to 1991)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 1988, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanJoseph E. TregoningWon(incumbent) Republican 10,38454.4% DemocraticPeter G. Lewis Democratic 8,70745.6% Scattered write-ins Write-in 20.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 13,330
- Election day
- November 4, 1986
- District map
- Older district map (1984 to 1991)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 1986, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanJoseph E. TregoningWon(incumbent) Republican 7,45856.0% DemocraticPeter G. Lewis Democratic 5,87244.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 19,189
- Election day
- November 6, 1984
- District map
- Older district map (1984 to 1991)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 1984, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanJoseph E. TregoningWon(incumbent) Republican 11,79961.5% DemocraticPeter G. Lewis Democratic 7,38938.5% Scattered write-ins Write-in 10.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 16,605
- Election day
- November 2, 1982
- District map
- Older district map (1982 to 1983)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 1982, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticPatricia Spafford SmithWon(incumbent) Democratic 8,87053.4% RepublicanOle Severude Republican 7,73546.6% - Votes for listed candidates
- 21,568
- Election day
- November 4, 1980
- District map
- Older district map (1972 to 1981)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 1980, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanJoseph E. TregoningWon(incumbent) Republican 14,83368.8% DemocraticTerry McDonald Democratic 6,73331.2% Scattered write-ins Write-in 20.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 11,323
- Election day
- November 7, 1978
- District map
- Older district map (1972 to 1981)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 1978, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanJoseph E. TregoningWon(incumbent) Republican 11,29499.7% Scattered write-ins Write-in 290.3% - Votes for listed candidates
- 20,246
- Election day
- November 2, 1976
- District map
- Older district map (1972 to 1981)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 1976, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanJoseph E. TregoningWon(incumbent) Republican 13,96169.0% DemocraticBarbara A. Bogden Democratic 6,28431.0% Scattered write-ins Write-in 10.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 13,396
- Election day
- November 4, 1974
- District map
- Older district map (1972 to 1981)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 1974, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanJoseph E. TregoningWon(incumbent) Republican 8,59564.2% DemocraticDonald A. Stauffacher Democratic 4,80035.8% Scattered write-ins Write-in 10.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 17,678
- Election day
- November 7, 1972
- District map
- Older district map (1972 to 1981)
Wisconsin Assembly District 51, 1972 to 2024, 1972, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanJoseph E. TregoningWon(incumbent) Republican 12,50770.8% DemocraticT. Theodore Weiss Democratic 5,17129.3%
- 2024: MEDSL 2024 official precinct returns (individual_states zips), retrieved Oct 28, 2026. Compiled by MIT Election Data and Science Lab (MEDSL) from official returns; not an official source
- 1972 to 2022: State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse), retrieved Oct 28, 2026. Compiled by Carl Klarner (Harvard Dataverse) from official returns; not an official source
Last contest in this district on file: 2024.
Download and cite
Cite this page
Election Wrld. (2026). Wisconsin Assembly District 51, election results 1972 to 2024. https://www.electionwrld.com/wi/assembly/51. Retrieved October 31, 2026.
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Sources
Sources: Census TIGERweb Legislative MapServer (120th CDs layer 0, 119th CDs layer 4, 2026 SLD upper layer 1 and lower layer 2) (US Census Bureau, public domain), retrieved Oct 28, 2026; Open Civic Data division identifiers (census_autogenerated us_sldl/us_sldu and openstates state files); also (sld-recent.json): Open Civic Data division identifiers (country-us) (CC0 (repository); also (sld-recent.json): CC0 1.0), retrieved Oct 28, 2026; Open States people (current) CSVs (CC0-1.0 (Open States people data)), retrieved Oct 28, 2026, compiled by Open States volunteers and staff (rosters from state legislature sites) from official returns, not an official source; MEDSL 2024 official precinct returns (individual_states zips) (Not stated in the GitHub repository (an earlier label said "MIT (repo)", which the repository does not support). MEDSL's Harvard Dataverse records are CC0 1.0, but these GitHub files were not checksum-matched to the Dataverse files, so CC0 is not claimed for them.), retrieved Oct 28, 2026, compiled by MIT Election Data and Science Lab (MEDSL) from official returns, not an official source; State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse) (CC0 1.0), retrieved Oct 28, 2026, compiled by Carl Klarner (Harvard Dataverse) from official returns, not an official source.
District id: ocd-division/country:us/state:wi/sldl:51
DataState data (JSON)Sources: State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse), DIME (ODC-BY), MEDSL 2024 official precinct returnsData as of Oct 28, 2026