1980 Wisconsin Supreme Court election

Judicial election in the U.S. state of Wisconsin

1980 Wisconsin Supreme Court election

April 1, 1980

Candidate Donald W. Steinmetz Louis J. Ceci Popular vote 663,378 658,605 Percentage 50.18% 49.82

Justice before election Connor Hansen Elected Justice Donald W. Steinmetz

The 1980 Wisconsin Supreme Court election was held on April 1, 1980, to elect a justice to the Wisconsin Supreme Court for a ten-year term. Incumbent justice Connor Hansen did not seek re-election. Donald W. Steinmetz narrowly defeated Louis J. Ceci in the general election. Preceding the general election was a nonpartisan primary held on February 19, in which the two had advanced from over P. Charles Jones.

Primary election

Candidates

Advanced

• Louis J. Ceci, circuit court judge
• Donald W. Steinmetz, circuit court judge

Eliminated in primary

• P. Charles Jones

Result

The general election result was very narrow.^[1] As of 2025^[update], no subsequent election the court has been won by a narrower vote-share.

1980 Wisconsin Supreme Court election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Nonpartisan primary (February 19, 1980)
	Nonpartisan	Louis J. Ceci	142,702	46.15
	Nonpartisan	Donald W. Steinmetz	90,286	29.20
	Nonpartisan	P. Charles Jones	76,253	24.66
Total votes			309,241	100
General election (April 1, 1980)
	Nonpartisan	Donald W. Steinmetz	663,378	50.18
	Nonpartisan	Louis J. Ceci	658,605	49.82
Majority			4,773	0.36	−29.89
Total votes			1,321,983	100	+57.39

References

1. Czarnezki, Jason J. (2003). "Voting and Electoral Politics in the Wisconsin Supreme Court". Marquette Law Review (2): 87.
2. Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1981). "Elections in Wisconsin". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1981–1982 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 864, 866. Retrieved April 1, 2023 – via University of Wisconsin Libraries.

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