Wisconsin Senate

Last updated
Wisconsin Senate
Wisconsin State Legislature
Seal of Wisconsin.svg
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 6, 2025
Leadership
President
Mary Felzkowski (R)
since January 6, 2025
President pro tempore
Patrick Testin (R)
since January 4, 2021
Majority Leader
Devin LeMahieu (R)
since January 4, 2021
Minority Leader
Dianne Hesselbein (D)
since December 1, 2023
Structure
Seats33
WI Senate 1973.svg
Political groups
Majority
  •    Republican (18)

Minority

Length of term
4 years
AuthorityArticle IV, Wisconsin Constitution
Salary$57,408/year + $115 per diem [1]
Elections
Last election
 November 5, 2024
(16 seats)
Next election
 November 3, 2026
(17 seats)
Meeting place
StateSenateChamberWI.jpg
State Senate Chamber
Wisconsin State Capitol
Madison, Wisconsin
Website
Wisconsin State Senate
The Senate chamber seen from the gallery Secretary Pompeo Delivers Remarks in the Senate Chamber of the Wisconsin State Capitol (50378281008).jpg
The Senate chamber seen from the gallery

The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the Wisconsin State Assembly they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin. The powers of the Wisconsin Senate are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate.

Contents

The Wisconsin Constitution ties the size of the State Senate to that of the Assembly, by limiting its size to no less than 1/4, nor more than 1/3, of the size of the Assembly. Currently, Wisconsin is divided into 33 Senate Districts (1/3 of the current Assembly membership of 99) apportioned throughout the state based on population as determined by the decennial census, for a total of 33 senators. A Senate district is formed by combining three Assembly districts. Similar to the U.S. Senate, in addition to its duty of reviewing and voting on all legislation passed through the legislature, the State Senate has the exclusive responsibility of confirming certain gubernatorial appointments, particularly cabinet secretaries and members of boards and commissions. Senators are elected for four-year terms, staggered so that approximately half of the Senate is up for election every two years. If a vacancy occurs in a Senate seat between elections, it may be filled only by a special election. The Senate chamber is in the south wing of the Wisconsin State Capitol, in Madison. In February 2024, the legislative maps of the Senate, along with the State Assembly, were redrawn following a court decision that found them to be unconstitutionally gerrymandered in favor of Republicans. [2]

Salary and benefits

The salary of all legislators serving in the 2023 Wisconsin Legislature is $57,408, which is an increase of 4% from the previous biennium. In addition to salaries, senators outside Dane County may receive a per diem up to $115 to cover living expenses while they are in Dane County on state business. Members of the Dane County delegation may receive a per diem of half the amount to cover expenses.

Current session

Composition

↓
1518
DemocraticRepublican
AffiliationParty
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Democratic Republican Vacant
Begin 100th Legislature (2011)1419330
End 100th (2012)1716
Begin 101st (2013)1518330
End 101st (2014)17321
Begin 102nd (2015)1418321
End 102nd (2016)18321
Begin 103rd (2017)1320330
End 103rd (2018)1518330
Begin 104th (2019)1419330
End 104th (2020)1318312
Begin 105th (2021)1220321
End 105th (2022)21330
Begin 106th (2023) [3] 1121321
End 106th (2024)1022321
Begin 107th (2025)1518330
Latest voting share
Senate districts and party affiliation after the 2024 election Republican Party Democratic Party WisconsinSen2024Comp.svg
Senate districts and party affiliation after the 2024 election
  Republican Party
  Democratic Party

Senate officers

PositionName
President of the Senate Mary Felzkowski
President Pro Tempore of the Senate Patrick Testin
Majority leader Devin LeMahieu
Assistant Majority Leader Dan Feyen
Majority Caucus Chair Van Wanggaard
Majority Caucus Vice Chair Joan Ballweg
Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein
Assistant Minority Leader Jeff Smith
Minority Caucus Chair Chris Larson
Minority Caucus Vice Chair Mark Spreitzer
Chief ClerkRichard Champagne (acting)
Sergeant-at-Arms Tom Engels

Members

DistrictSenatorPartyResidenceCurrent
age		First
elected		Next
election
01 André Jacque Rep De Pere 4420182026
02 Eric Wimberger Rep Oconto 4520202028
03 Tim Carpenter Dem Milwaukee 6420022026
04 Dora Drake Dem Milwaukee 312024(sp)2028
05 Rob Hutton Rep Brookfield 5720222026
06 La Tonya Johnson Dem Milwaukee 5220162028
07 Chris Larson Dem Milwaukee 4420102026
08 Jodi Habush Sinykin Dem Whitefish Bay 5720242028
09 Devin LeMahieu Rep Oostburg 5220142026
10 Rob Stafsholt Rep New Richmond 4920202028
11 Stephen Nass Rep Whitewater 7220142026
12 Mary Felzkowski Rep Tomahawk 6120202028
13 John Jagler Rep Watertown 552021(sp)2026
14 Sarah Keyeski Dem Lodi 5420242028
15 Mark Spreitzer Dem Beloit 3820222026
16 Melissa Ratcliff Dem Cottage Grove 4820242028
17 Howard Marklein Rep Spring Green 7020142026
18 Kristin Alfheim Dem Appleton 5320242028
19 Rachael Cabral-Guevara Rep Appleton 4820222026
20 Dan Feyen Rep Fond du Lac 5620162028
21 Van H. Wanggaard Rep Racine 7220142026
22 Robert Wirch Dem Pleasant Prairie 8119962028
23 Jesse James Rep Thorp 5220222026
24 Patrick Testin Rep Stevens Point 3620162028
25 Romaine Quinn Rep Birchwood 3420222026
26 Kelda Roys Dem Madison 4520202028
27 Dianne Hesselbein Dem Middleton 5320222026
28 Julian Bradley Rep New Berlin 4420202028
29 Cory Tomczyk Rep Mosinee 6220222026
30 Jamie Wall Dem Green Bay 5320242028
31 Jeff Smith Dem Brunswick 6920182026
32 Brad Pfaff Dem Onalaska 5720202028
33 Chris Kapenga Rep Delafield 522015(sp)2026

Notable past members

List of senate presidents

#PresidentPartyStart of serviceEnd of service
1 Fred Risser Democratic May 1, 1979April 20, 1993
2 Brian Rude Republican April 20, 1993July 9, 1996
- Fred Risser Democratic July 9, 1996April 21, 1998
- Brian Rude Republican April 21, 1998January 4, 1999
- Fred Risser Democratic January 4, 1999January 6, 2003
3 Alan Lasee Republican January 6, 2003January 8, 2007
- Fred Risser Democratic January 8, 2007January 3, 2011
4 Mike Ellis Republican January 3, 2011July 17, 2012
- Fred Risser Democratic July 17, 2012January 7, 2013
- Mike Ellis Republican January 7, 2013January 5, 2015
5 Mary Lazich Republican January 5, 2013January 3, 2017
6 Roger Roth Republican January 3, 2017January 4, 2021
7 Chris Kapenga Republican January 4, 2021present


Past composition of the Senate

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Salaries of Wisconsin State Elected Officials, 2023" (PDF). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  2. ↑ "Wisconsin's Democratic governor signs his new legislative maps into law after Republicans pass them". AP News. 2024-02-19. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  3. ↑ Republican Alberta Darling (District 8) resigned December 1, 2022, retiring from public life.

43°04′27.5″N89°23′03.0″W / 43.074306°N 89.384167°W / 43.074306; -89.384167

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