WISCONSIN

Population (1994): 5,082,000 (up 3.9% from 1990), 2% of U.S. total

Voting-age population: 3,777,000; 1994 turnout, 41%

Median age: 32.9 years

Median household income: $35,388 ($3,124 above U.S. median)

Unemployment: 3.7% (1.9% below U.S. average, March 1996)

Last presidential election: Clinton (D): 41% Bush (R): 37% Perot (I): 22%

Congressional delegation: Five Democrats, six Republicans

The first state of the old Midwest, Wisconsin has long been on the forefront of political change. The G.O.P. has roots to the progressive politics of 19th century German settlers, and the state's welfare system served as a model for the 1996 national welfare-reform bill. In a state known for harsh winters and short summers, favorite pastimes include watching hockey and the Green Bay Packers with their devoted "Cheesehead" fans. The Badger State has nine House seats, and with two being vacated by the G.O.P. and another held by a freshman, the Republicans need an escape act similar to native son Harry Houdini's to continue their 2-1 House majority.

MARK NEUMANN (R) District 1 (Southeast--Racine; Kenosha)

BORN: Feb. 27, 1954, East Troy EDUCATION: U of Wisconsin at Whitewater, B.S., 1975; U of Wisconsin at River Falls, M.S., 1977 FAMILY: Wife, Sue; three children RELIGION: Lutheran MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Home builder; real estate broker; teacher POLITICAL CAREER: U.S. House, 1994- ADDRESS: 17 South River Street, Suite 253, Janesville 53545. Tel.: 608-756-3776

Neumann won by only 1,120 votes in 1994, when voters everywhere kicked Democrats out of Congress. This year, with the Republicans up for a turn at vilification, Neumann may have a close race on his hands. He hopes to continue his efforts at balancing the budget: in his freshman term, he proposed "Operation Clean Sweep" and "America's Contract with Our Children," both designed to attack spending while preserving entitlements.

THE ISSUES Budget NR Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NR Gays NR Bosnia YES NAFTA NR Welfare YES Medical Leave NR (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "The people of the First District of Wisconsin sent me to Washington, D.C., to balance the budget. I gave my word that I would do just that."

LYDIA SPOTTSWOOD (D) District 1

BORN: May 6, 1951, New York City EDUCATION: U of Virginia, B.S., 1974 FAMILY: Husband; Paul; three children RELIGION: Congregationalist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Nurse POLITICAL CAREER: Kenosha city council, 1990- ADDRESS: 5607-09 Seventh Avenue, P.O. Box 1096, Kenosha 53141. Tel.: 414-656-9696

A six-year Kenosha city councilwoman, Spottswood wants to become Wisconsin's first woman in Congress as well. A pro-choice advocate who works for domestic-violence awareness, she supports the assault-weapons ban and the Brady Bill, and wants to protect educational programs like Head Start and student loans. G.O.P. freshman Mark Neumann may be vulnerable here, where voters re-elected Democrat Les Aspin 11 times.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense NO Abortion NO Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "The crime issue will be especially important to voters in Racine, where crime rates and gang violence continue to soar. That is why I support the federal ban on assault weapons and the Brady Bill."

SCOTT KLUG (R) District 2 (South--Madison)

BORN: Jan. 16, 1953, Milwaukee EDUCATION: Lawrence U, B.S., 1975; Northwestern U, M.S.J., 1976; U of Wisconsin, M.B.A., 1990 FAMILY: Wife, Tess; three children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Television journalist; business executive POLITICAL CAREER: U.S. House, 1990- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 5619, Madison 53705. Tel.: 608-833-1996

Klug won the first-ever 100% rating from Paul Tsongas and Warren Rudman's Concord Coalition for his record as a deficit hawk. The former Madison TV news anchor has emerged as another successful Midwestern politician who has taken power with conservative fiscal policies and moderate social ones. He has broken with the G.O.P. to support family leave and health-care legislation, and his formerly liberal constituency has re-elected him twice by a large margin.

THE ISSUES Budget YES Medicare YES Defense YES Abortion YES Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia YES NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "Whose judgment do we lean on for welfare reform? Folks at the lunch counter in Madison, Wisconsin, or the Washington bureaucrats with forms and file cabinets?"

PAUL SOGLIN (D) District 2 BORN: April 22, 1945, Chicago EDUCATION: U of Wisconsin, B.A., 1966, M.A., 1969, J.D., 1972 FAMILY: Wife, Sara; three children RELIGION: Jewish MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer; land and title company executive POLITICAL CAREER: Madison common council, 1968-72, mayor, 1973-79, 1989- ADDRESS: 3533 University Avenue, Madison 53705. Tel.: 608-238-8648

Soglin is serving his sixth term as mayor of Madison--rated the No. 1 place to live in America by MONEY magazine. With his name recognition, he should be a stronger contender than incumbent Scott Klug has faced in the past two elections. To win back this traditionally Democratic seat, Soglin is using one of Klug's favorite causes--balancing the budget--with a Democratic twist, not cutting federal support for job training and education.

THE ISSUES Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns YES Gays NO Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare NO Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "Productivity increases have accounted for the strongest growth in revenues for the federal budget. This requires investment in infrastructure, education and job training."

JAMES HARSDORF (R) District 3 (West--Eau Claire; La Crosse)

BORN: Nov. 7, 1950, Stillwater, Minn. EDUCATION: U of Minnesota, B.S., 1973 FAMILY: Wife, Lanette; four children RELIGION: First Covenant Church MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Dairy farmer POLITICAL CAREER: Wisconsin Assembly, 1977-81, Senate, 1981-89 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1996, Beldenville 54003. Tel.: 715-426-2697

After a self-imposed eight-year hiatus, Harsdorf is back, spreading the conservative gospel from the back of his "campaign cattle trailer." He supports a "targeted" capital-gains-tax cut and a family-farm tax credit, and proposes harsh measures for criminals, including a 48-hour work week for prisoners. Harsdorf hopes to capitalize on the momentum of his retiring 16-year G.O.P. predecessor and drive his trailer all the way to Washington.

THE ISSUES

Budget YES Medicare YES Defense YES Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia NR NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "I practiced term limits before there was a name for it."

RON KIND (D) District 3

BORN: March 16, 1963, La Crosse EDUCATION: Harvard U, B.A., 1985; London School of Economics, M.A.,1987; U of Minnesota, J.D., 1990 FAMILY: Wife, Tawni; one child RELIGION: Lutheran MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: 219 Pearl Street, La Crosse 54601. Tel.: 608-782-3444 Kind, a former quarterback at Harvard, traded in his shoulder pads for political parties after working as an intern for former Wisconsin Senator Bill Proxmire in 1984. He lists as his top priorities balancing the budget, revisiting health-care reform and fighting further cuts in Medicare, and promises to "level the playing field" for Wisconsin milk prices. In a swing district that has re-elected Republican Steve Gunderson for the past eight terms yet voted Democratic in the past two presidential elections, Democrats clearly believe this seat can be theirs for the taking.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense NR Abortion NO Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "I used to play a little football around [La Crosse County]. Hey, I know Jack Kemp, but he's no Ron Kind."

GERALD KLECZKA (D) District 4 (Southern Milwaukee and Milwaukee County suburbs; southeast Waukesha County)

BORN: Nov. 26, 1943, Milwaukee EDUCATION: U of Wisconsin, 1961-62, 1967, 1970 FAMILY: Wife, Bonnie RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: Air National Guard, 1963-69 OCCUPATION: Accountant POLITICAL CAREER: Wisconsin Assembly, 1969-75, Senate, 1975-84; U.S. House, 1984- ADDRESS: 6726 West Morgan Avenue, Milwaukee 53220. Tel.: 414-329-1996

Kleczka has served the Fourth since taking over for Clement Zablocki, the House Foreign Affairs chairman who died in office. He has supported bills to let cities provide separate public housing for the elderly and budget-cutting measures like eliminating funding for Star Wars and the NASA space station. Kleczka represents a 47-year Democratic run in the Fourth.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion YES Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia YES NAFTA NO Welfare NO* Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "We must balance the federal budget...the right way. Helping people off welfare, cutting corporate subsidies and unnecessary defense spending are the way to start."

TOM REYNOLDS (R) District 4

BORN: Dec. 16, 1956, Milwaukee EDUCATION: Nathan Hale High School, diploma, 1975 FAMILY: Wife, Sandy; four children RELIGION: Christian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Printing-company owner POLITICAL CAREER: Republican nominee for U.S. House, 1994 ADDRESS: 9430 West Schlinger Avenue, West Allis 53214. Tel.: 414-258-4848

Reynolds is returning to take on incumbent Gerald Kleczka, bringing an ultraconservative agenda. He wants to keep schools from promoting what he calls the "homosexual agenda" and is against legalizing same-sex marriages, adoption by homosexual couples, and gays in the military. He is vehemently antiabortion, and wants to repeal President Clinton's Goals 2000 and eliminate the Department of Education and the irs. To win this time, Reynolds needs a sizable turnaround from the 1994 election, which he lost 45% to 55%.

THE ISSUES

Budget YES Medicare YES Defense YES Abortion YES Guns NO Gays NR Bosnia YES NAFTA NO Welfare YES Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "I promise to defend the sanctity of all human life, whether a person is disabled, elderly or pre-born."

THOMAS BARRETT (D) District 5 (Northern Milwaukee, Milwaukee County suburbs; southeast Waukesha County)

BORN: Dec. 8, 1953, Milwaukee EDUCATION: U of Wisconsin, B.A., 1976, J.D., 1980 FAMILY: Wife, Kristine; two children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Wisconsin Assembly, 1984-89, Senate, 1989-92; U.S. House, 1992- ADDRESS: 2711 North Avondale Boulevard, Milwaukee 53210. Tel.: 414-271-8050

This popular incumbent requested $871 million in the fiscal 1997 budget for President Clinton's Summer Youth Employment Program, and has supported a 1996 bill to extend the presidential line-item veto to include corporate tax exemptions. In this Democratic district that gave Bill Clinton a 26% margin in 1994, Barrett has a good chance of continuing his liberal program in the 105th Congress.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns YES Gays NO Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare NO Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: [On the G.O.P.'s adding $12 billion to the Pentagon budget] "Somebody forgot to tell the Republican leadership that the cold war ended years ago."

PAUL MELOTIK (R) District 5

BORN: Feb. 27, 1957, Milwaukee EDUCATION: Carroll College, B.S., 1979 FAMILY: Wife, Wendy RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Restaurant owner; accountant POLITICAL CAREER: Sought Republican nomination for U.S. House, 1994 ADDRESS: 1247 North Water Street, Third Floor, Milwaukee 53202. Tel.: 414-271-6356

Besting his 1994 performance, Melotik won this year's nomination without having to run in a primary. A social conservative, he wants unwed teenage mothers to live with a parent or guardian and favors a constitutional amendment to require a three-fifths majority to approve tax increases. In this heavily Democratic district, he has the daunting task of defeating incumbent Thomas Barrett, who won 69% of the vote in 1994.

THE ISSUES

Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "I want to change the way we provide for those Americans who need help through educational opportunities, with school vouchers and scholarships."

AL LINDSKOOG (D) District 6 (Central--Oshkosh; Fond du Lac; Manitowoc)

BORN: April 25, 1923, Chicago EDUCATION: Purdue U, B.S.C.E., 1944 FAMILY: Widower; two children RELIGION: Christian Delphian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Engineer; hospital administrator POLITICAL CAREER: Waupaca alderman, 1964 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 147, King 54946. Tel.: 715-256-1757

In this traditionally Republican district, Lindskoog, 73, hopes he's just the "nontraditional" Democrat to unseat 17-year incumbent Thomas Petri. He wants to balance the federal budget in three years, saying he wouldn't allow tax cuts until the national debt is entirely paid off. He also vows to protect Social Security and Medicare, and has refused to accept money from PACS. If he wins, it will be one of the most surprising elections in recent memory: the Sixth has sent only one Democrat to Congress since 1938.

THE ISSUES Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare NO Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "Our national debt is my biggest concern. I will say this, though: the day the Federal Government pays every bill it owes, I'll go to work on a tax cut."

TOM PETRI (R) District 6

BORN: May 28, 1940, Marinette EDUCATION: Harvard U, A.B., 1962, J.D., 1965 FAMILY: Wife, Anne; one child RELIGION: Lutheran MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Wisconsin Senate, 1973-79; Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, 1974; U.S. House, 1979- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 270, Fond du Lac 54936. Tel.: 414-923-4050 Petri has represented the Sixth District since winning a 1979 special election after William Steiger died of a heart attack. He chaired the Surface Transportation Subcommittee during the 104th Congress, and oversaw the funding of a 160,000-mile network of interstate highways, in the process securing around $1 billion in federal highway funds for Wisconsin. Though considered a good Republican, he supported President Clinton's earned-income tax credit and direct student loans.

THE ISSUES

Budget YES Medicare YES Defense YES Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia YES NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "If we had done nothing else, the new federal welfare reform would guarantee the 104th Congress' place in history."

DAVID OBEY (D) District 7 (Northwest--Wausau; Superior; Stevens Point)

BORN: Oct. 3, 1938, Okmulgee, Okla. EDUCATION: U of Wisconsin, B.S., 1960, M.A., 1962 FAMILY: Wife, Joan; two children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Real estate broker POLITICAL CAREER: Wisconsin Assembly, 1963-69; U.S. House, 1969- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1322, Wausau 54402. Tel.: 715-849-2534

When Obey was elected in 1969, he became the first Democrat to represent the Seventh District. He is now the ranking Democrat on the powerful Appropriations Committee. Still an outspoken liberal, he supported a single-payer healthcare system and is skeptical of balancing the budget on a fixed schedule. But if he wants to keep his seat, he'll have to beat Scott West, who gave Obey a scare in 1994.

THE ISSUES Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare NO Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "Capitalism works through market forces, and those market forces cannot be repealed. But democracy is not just of, by and for the markets. It is designed to be of, by and for the people."

SCOTT WEST (R) District 7

BORN: July 31, 1962, Wisconsin Rapids EDUCATION: U of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, B.A., 1984 FAMILY: Single RELIGION: Lutheran MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: University official POLITICAL CAREER: Portage County Republican Party chair, 1986-94; Republican nominee for U.S. House, 1994 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1000, Stevens Point 54481. Tel.: 715-345-9696

West, an admissions counselor at the University of Wisconsin for the past 12 years, is running a rematch of his 1994 bid against incumbent David Obey. He's proposing vast government reforms, including audits of all government departments, limiting congressional perks and passing term limits. His opponent has been a political institution here since 1969, but West has found some chinks in his armor--he won 46% of the vote in 1994, the highest of any of Obey's challengers.

THE ISSUES Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays NO Bosnia NO NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "The only thing I have in common with Newt Gingrich is my haircut."

JAY JOHNSON (D) District 8 (Northeast--Green Bay; Appleton)

BORN: Sept. 30, 1943, Bessemer, Mich. EDUCATION: Gogebic Community College, A.A., 1963; Northern Michigan U, B.A., 1965; Michigan State U, M.A., 1970 FAMILY: Wife, JoLee; two children RELIGION: Presbyterian MILITARY: Army, 1966-68 OCCUPATION: Broadcast journalist POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: 417 Pine Street, Green Bay 54301. Tel.: 414-430-9776

Johnson, a familiar face in the district where he's a longtime TV news anchor, won the Democratic primary in bittersweet fashion: on the morning of his victory, his mother died of cancer. Education is the key issue of his campaign, and he says schools should provide all children with the "right to try." Johnson will need all his name recognition in this predominantly Republican district.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA YES Welfare NR Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "Just imagine if...we had [as] 'great debates' on the future of our schools and colleges and technical-training policies as we did on the future of our defense systems and foreign policies."

DAVID PROSSER (R) District 8 BORN: Dec. 24, 1942, Chicago EDUCATION: DePauw U, B.A., 1965; U of Wisconsin, J.D., 1968 FAMILY: Single RELIGION: Presbyterian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer; congressional aide; speechwriter; professor POLITICAL CAREER: Outagamie County district attorney, 1977-79; Wisconsin Assembly, 1979- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 476, Appleton 54912. Tel.: 414-993-1996

Prosser enters this race with several key advantages over opponent Jay Johnson. The Eighth District is strongly Republican: it sent retiring Congressman Toby Roth to Washington eight times and voted for George Bush in the past two presidential elections. Prosser, a long-time Wisconsin politician, is a high-profile crime fighter who helped pass a state Sexual Predator Law. He was named 1996 Legislator of the Year by the National Republican Legislators Association.

THE ISSUES

Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "While balancing the budget is a top priority, raising taxes to do it is not an option."

FLOYD BRENHOLT (D) District 9 (Milwaukee suburbs; Part of Waukesha County; Sheboygan)

BORN: Aug. 27, 1931, Washburn EDUCATION: U of Wisconsin at Whitewater, B.Ed., 1953; U of Wisconsin, M.S., 1964 FAMILY: Wife, Mary Kay; six children RELIGION: NR MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Teacher; school superintendent POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: 907 Decker Drive, West Bend 53095. Tel.: 414-338-3256

The underdog in his first election, Brenholt is introducing a slate of innovative programs to improve education and stop teenage crime. He would press for year-round schools where teachers have no more than 90 students each and every student has a "personal adult advocate" as a counselor. To prevent crime, he supports the Brady Bill, and would open schools during off hours to get teenagers out of harm's way.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion YES Guns YES Gays NO Bosnia NO NAFTA YES Welfare NO Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "Crime is something we wish to prevent, rather than simply waiting until someone is a victim of a crime that must be punished."

JAMES SENSENBRENNER JR. (R) District 9

BORN: June 14, 1943, Chicago EDUCATION: Stanford U, B.A., 1965; U of Wisconsin, J.D., 1968 FAMILY: Wife, Cheryl; two children RELIGION: Episcopalian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Wisconsin Assembly, 1969-75; Wisconsin Senate, 1975-78; U.S. House, 1978- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 575, Brookfield 53008. Tel.: 414-967-9292

Sensenbrenner is a solid conservative in a reliably conservative district; for the past 16 years he has either run unopposed or won at least 70% of the vote. Besides his anti-spending voting record, for which he rated a Taxpayers Best Friend Award from the National Taxpayers' Union, he is staunchly antiabortion and opposed a law making it a crime to use force or threats against a woman seeking an abortion. This year he co-sponsored the Defense of Marriage Act, which lets states refuse to acknowledge same-sex marriages.

THE ISSUES

Budget YES Medicare YES Defense YES Abortion YES Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia YES NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "I don't think the state of Wisconsin should be forced to legally recognize same-sex marriages."