2022 Kenosha County Executive election

2022 Kenosha County Executive election
April 5, 2022
 
Nominee Samantha Kerkman Rebecca Matoska-Mentink
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 14,693 13,886
Percentage 51.32% 48.50%
County Executive before election

James Kreuser
Nonpartisan

Elected County Executive

Samantha Kerkman
Nonpartisan

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The 2022 Kenosha County Executive election took place on April 5, 2022 to elect the County Executive of Kenosha County, Wisconsin, US. Incumbent County Executive James Kreuser declined to seek re-election to a fifth term.[1] In the first contested election since 2002, three candidates ran to succeed Kreuser: County Circuit Court Clerk Rebecca Matoska-Mentink, State Representative Samantha Kerkman, and County Board Supervisor Jerry Gulley.[2]

In the primary election, Matoska-Mentink played first, winning 44 percent of the vote, while Kerkman defeated Gulley for second place, receiving 38 percent of the vote to his 17 percent.[3] Though the race was formally nonpartisan, Matoska-Mentink, a Democrat, was endorsed by Kreuser[4] and supported by the Kenosha County Democratic Party,[5] while Kerkman, a Republican, was supported by local Republicans.[6]

Kerkman narrowly won the election, winning 51 percent of the vote to Matoska-Mentink's 49 percent, becoming the first female County Executive in county history[7] and the first Republican to be elected to the office.[8]

Primary election

Candidates

  • Rebecca Matoska-Mentink, County Clerk of the Circuit Court[9]
  • Samantha Kerkman, State Representative[10]
  • Jerry Gulley, County Supervisor[11]

Declined

Results

Primary election results[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Rebecca Matoska-Mentink 6,200 44.42%
Nonpartisan Samantha Kerkman 5,298 37.96%
Nonpartisan Jerry Gulley 2,438 17.47%
Write-in 22 0.16%
Total votes 13,958 100.00%

General election

Results

2022 Kenosha County Executive election[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Samantha Kerkman 14,693 51.32%
Nonpartisan Rebecca Matoska-Mentink 13,886 48.50%
Write-in 51 0.18%
Total votes 28,630 100.00%

References

  1. ^ Truttschel, Dan (March 7, 2021). "Kreuser won't run again". Kenosha News. Kenosha, Wisconsin. p. A1. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  2. ^ Tatge-Rozell, Jill (January 30, 2022). "Three face off for top Kenosha County post". Kenosha News. Kenosha, Wisconsin. p. A1. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  3. ^ Tatge-Rozell, Jill (February 17, 2022). "County executive ballot set". Kenosha News. Kenosha, Wisconsin. p. A1. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  4. ^ "Kenosha County Exec Kreuser Makes an Endorsement For His Successor". WGTD. January 20, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  5. ^ Gaitan, Daniel (April 3, 2022). "County Democrats prep for election". Kenosha News. Kenosha, Wisconsin. p. A5. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  6. ^ "Kerkman Outraises Matoska-Mentink in Kenosha County Exec Race". WGTD. March 31, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  7. ^ Nelson, Joshua Q. (April 8, 2022). "Wisconsin county elects GOP executive for first time in decades: 'People are concerned about crime'". Fox News. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  8. ^ "The GOP gains an edge in a Wisconsin county torn by violence". Politico. July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  9. ^ "Matoska-Mentink plans county exec bid". Kenosha News. Kenosha, Wisconsin. April 18, 2021. p. A1. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  10. ^ Tatge-Rozell, Jill (November 30, 2021). "Kerkman to run for county executive". Kenosha News. Kenosha, Wisconsin. p. A1. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  11. ^ Truttschel, Dan (September 9, 2021). "Jerry Gulley enters race". Kenosha News. Kenosha, Wisconsin. p. B1. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  12. ^ Truttschel, Dan (March 7, 2021). "Kreuser won't run again". Kenosha News. Kenosha, Wisconsin. p. A1. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  13. ^ "OFFICIAL RESULTS - 2022 Spring Primary - February 15, 2022". Kenosha County Clerk. February 21, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  14. ^ "OFFICIAL RESULTS - 2022 Spring Election and Referendum - April 5, 2022". Kenosha County Clerk. April 27, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
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