Flipped from RepublicanCalledUnofficial resultsIncumbent defeated
Wisconsin Assembly District 51
Wisconsin State Assembly · Wisconsin
Ben Gruber flipped the seat for Democrats, winning by 10.9 points over Todd Novak.
Ben GruberDemocrat · winner
54.6%14,863
Todd NovakRepublican · incumbent
43.8%11,907
Nathan TatajeAmerican Solidarity
1.6%447
20% of the expected vote counted · 27,217 votes
Source: civicAPI unofficial results and race callsUpdated Nov 5, 2026, 3:50 PM ET
Where the race moved
Against the 2024 presidential vote
The seat's recent races
Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Ben GruberTodd Novak
$1.7M
Raised by the campaign
$1.6M
$217.2K
Spent by the campaign
$130.6K
$15.5K
Cash on hand
$10.8K
Other candidates' campaigns: Nathan Tataje $675.
Campaign money: Wisconsin Ethics Commission, through Oct 28, 2026; Wisconsin Ethics Commission, through Oct 29, 2026.
Source: Wisconsin Ethics Commission campaign filingsUpdated Oct 28, 2026
Pre-election forecast (final, Nov 3)
Our model's last run before Election Day, Nov 3, 2026. It no longer updates.
- Ben Gruber
- 83%
- Todd Novak
- 17%
- Projected margin
- D+7.0
The candidates
Ben Gruber (D)Todd Novak (R)
Incumbent, Wisconsin State Assembly, first elected 2014
Incumbent, Wisconsin State Assembly, first elected 2014
Also on the ballot: Nathan Tataje (American Solidarity), 1.6%