The 2016 Milwaukee County Executive election took place on April 5, 2016, following a primary election on February 16, 2016. Incumbent County Executive Chris Abele ran for re-election to a second full term. He was challenged by State Senator Chris Larson. Larson narrowly placed first in the primary election, receiving 45 percent of the vote to Abele's 44 percent. In the general election, however, Abele defeated Larson by a wide margin, winning re-election 55–44 percent.