2022 Milwaukee Primary

Seven candidates are running to lead Milwaukee and replace former Mayor Tom Barrett, who was first elected to the position in 2004 and left in December to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg. The primary election on Feb. 15 will determine which two top vote-getters will face off in the April 5 special election. The winner will finish out the last two years of Barrett's term. Q&As from interviews with candidates that air on WPR's "The Morning Show" will be published here.

Across Wisconsin, polarizing candidates move forward in Tuesday primary elections

Wednesday, February 16, 2022, 5:30pm

Low voter turnout Tuesday benefited candidates on both sides of the political spectrum.

Johnson, Donovan advance to general election in Milwaukee mayoral race

Tuesday, February 15, 2022, 9:30pm

Cavalier Johnson smiles as his supporters hold up signs.

Acting Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and former alder Bob Donovan received the most votes in Tuesday's primary. They will face off in April's general election.

If elected Milwaukee mayor, Ieshuh Griffin wants to find where government fails people

Friday, February 11, 2022, 2:30pm

Ieshuh Griffin wears a face mask as she sits at a table with fellow candidates.

If elected mayor of Milwaukee, a community activist said Friday she would create committees to find where the government is failing the people, and she would also audit city finances to find wasteful spending.

Earnell Lucas says solving violent crime can lead Milwaukee to economic prosperity

Friday, February 11, 2022, 6:35am

Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas speaking at a press conference

The Milwaukee County sheriff in his run for mayor said Thursday that solving violent crime and reckless driving is key to Milwaukee's "economic prosperity and our long-term viability."

Bob Donovan wants Milwaukee to get more police officers after recent cuts

Thursday, February 10, 2022, 6:15am

Milwaukee Alderman Bob Donovan speaks to reporters

A former Milwaukee Common Council member who lost his run for mayor in 2016 is running again and said Wednesday he wants the city to add more police officers after cuts in recent years.

Reckless driving, housing among issues debated at Milwaukee mayoral forum

Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 11:05pm

Seven candidates sit at a table on a theater stage in front of a screen that says "Milwaukee Mayoral Forum 2022."

The seven candidates competing in Milwaukee's mayoral primary focused on topics including reckless driving and housing at a forum on Wednesday night.

Michael Sampson doesn’t want to 'micromanage' Milwaukee police on rising homicides

Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 6:10am

A Milwaukee business owner running to be mayor said Tuesday the city’s lateness in ordering a mask mandate cost lives, and that he would leave it to the police department to address the record number of homicides.

Central Time

Setting up the Milwaukee mayoral primary

Friday, February 4, 2022, 4:00pm

A longtime Milwaukee government and politics reporter tells us what to know about the upcoming primary election for the next mayor of Milwaukee.

Download

Mayoral candidate Lena Taylor lists Milwaukee’s budget as her top priority

Friday, February 4, 2022, 6:30am

Mayoral candidate Lena Taylor stands smiling with her arms crossed

A Democratic state senator from Milwaukee running again to be the city’s mayor said the city budget is an "extreme challenge" and said she wants to use federal COVID-19 relief funds to "make that money make money for us."

Cavalier Johnson wants to stay Milwaukee mayor, repair relationship with state Legislature

Thursday, February 3, 2022, 7:15am

The man serving as Milwaukee’s acting mayor said he wants to rebuild the city’s relationship with the state Legislature in order to get the city the funding it deserves.

Marina Dimitrijevic wants to be Milwaukee’s first female mayor, enact anti-racist agenda

Wednesday, February 2, 2022, 6:20am

A Milwaukee Common Council member who wants to be the first woman elected mayor in the city said she has an anti-racist agenda, keeping that lens in place for "every dollar we spend."

Across Wisconsin, polarizing candidates move forward in Tuesday primary elections

Wednesday, February 16, 2022, 5:30pm

Low voter turnout Tuesday benefited candidates on both sides of the political spectrum.

Johnson, Donovan advance to general election in Milwaukee mayoral race

Tuesday, February 15, 2022, 9:30pm

Acting Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and former alder Bob Donovan received the most votes in Tuesday's primary. They will face off in April's general election.

If elected Milwaukee mayor, Ieshuh Griffin wants to find where government fails people

Friday, February 11, 2022, 2:30pm

Earnell Lucas says solving violent crime can lead Milwaukee to economic prosperity

Friday, February 11, 2022, 6:35am

The Milwaukee County sheriff in his run for mayor said Thursday that solving violent crime and reckless driving is key to Milwaukee's "economic prosperity and our long-term viability."

Bob Donovan wants Milwaukee to get more police officers after recent cuts

Thursday, February 10, 2022, 6:15am

A former Milwaukee Common Council member who lost his run for mayor in 2016 is running again and said Wednesday he wants the city to add more police officers after cuts in recent years.

Reckless driving, housing among issues debated at Milwaukee mayoral forum

Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 11:05pm

The seven candidates competing in Milwaukee's mayoral primary focused on topics including reckless driving and housing at a forum on Wednesday night.

Michael Sampson doesn’t want to 'micromanage' Milwaukee police on rising homicides

Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 6:10am

Central Time

Setting up the Milwaukee mayoral primary

Friday, February 4, 2022, 4:00pm

A longtime Milwaukee government and politics reporter tells us what to know about the upcoming primary election for the next mayor of Milwaukee.

Download

Central Time

Setting up the Milwaukee mayoral primary

Friday, February 4, 2022, 4:00pm

A longtime Milwaukee government and politics reporter tells us what to know about the upcoming primary election for the next mayor of Milwaukee.

Download

Mayoral candidate Lena Taylor lists Milwaukee’s budget as her top priority

Friday, February 4, 2022, 6:30am

Cavalier Johnson wants to stay Milwaukee mayor, repair relationship with state Legislature

Thursday, February 3, 2022, 7:15am

The man serving as Milwaukee’s acting mayor said he wants to rebuild the city’s relationship with the state Legislature in order to get the city the funding it deserves.

Marina Dimitrijevic wants to be Milwaukee’s first female mayor, enact anti-racist agenda

Wednesday, February 2, 2022, 6:20am

A Milwaukee Common Council member who wants to be the first woman elected mayor in the city said she has an anti-racist agenda, keeping that lens in place for "every dollar we spend."

Menu

Listen Live

Program Schedule

Program Notes

Program Schedule

Music Playlists

Program Schedule

Music Playlists

2022 Milwaukee Primary

Across Wisconsin, polarizing candidates move forward in Tuesday primary elections

Johnson, Donovan advance to general election in Milwaukee mayoral race

If elected Milwaukee mayor, Ieshuh Griffin wants to find where government fails people

Earnell Lucas says solving violent crime can lead Milwaukee to economic prosperity

Bob Donovan wants Milwaukee to get more police officers after recent cuts

Reckless driving, housing among issues debated at Milwaukee mayoral forum

Michael Sampson doesn’t want to 'micromanage' Milwaukee police on rising homicides

Central Time

Setting up the Milwaukee mayoral primary

Mayoral candidate Lena Taylor lists Milwaukee’s budget as her top priority

Cavalier Johnson wants to stay Milwaukee mayor, repair relationship with state Legislature

Marina Dimitrijevic wants to be Milwaukee’s first female mayor, enact anti-racist agenda

Central Time

Central Time

Search form

The Ideas Network

Program Schedule

Program Notes

NPR News & Music Network

Program Schedule

Music Playlists

All Classical Network

Program Schedule

Music Playlists

Special Events Stream

2022 Milwaukee Primary

Subscribe To WPR Newsletters