Democrats take control of Wisconsin Legislature, cementing first Democratic trio in 16 years – Wisconsin Examiner

Democrats took control of the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly Tuesday night, as well as the gubernatorial race, cementing trio Democratic control of state government for the first time in more than 16 years.

Democratic candidates won a majority of the targeted seats, claiming vacant seats and ousting longtime Republican incumbents.

Senate Democratic Leader Dianne Hesselbein declared victory in a statement shortly before 10 p.m.

“For two years, we’ve been saying that the Wisconsin Senate is the most volatile chamber in the country, and tonight, voters across the state proved that to be true,” Hesselbein said. “We are grateful that Wisconsinites have placed their trust in Senate Democrats to make progress in our state; now is the time to get to work cutting costs and building a stronger future for our hardworking men and women.”

Assembly Democrats declared victory shortly after 11 p.m. Democratic Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) said in a statement that she was proud of everyone who ran for the Assembly.

“They understood that it would be difficult, that they would have to knock on doors every day, face millions of dollars in attack ads, have to be away from their families and potentially face threats or violence. But they did it anyway, because they understood that this was our best chance in decades – our chance to win the Democratic trifecta, our chance to put Wisconsin on a new path. Our candidates and our members believe that the people of our state deserve better,” said Neubauer. “And Wisconsin deserves better. With this trio, we will end decades of Republican obstruction and build great schools, help families feel financially secure and save for retirement. We will hold big tech accountable, protect our rights and freedoms, and make Wisconsin a state where everyone can thrive.”

Democrats haven’t had control of the state Senate or Assembly since 2010, but new legislative maps helped put the Legislature in play this year. The maps, which were passed by the Republican-led Legislature and signed by Gov. Tony Evers, were adopted in 2024 after Wisconsin’s previous legislative maps were ruled by the state Supreme Court to be an unconstitutional gerrymander.

In the 2024 electionDemocrats flipped 10 seats in the Assembly, reducing the Republican majority from 64 to 54 seats, and the State Senate went from a 22-seat Republican supermajority to an 18-seat Republican majority. That narrow margin has increased Democrats’ influence on issues such as the state budget over the past two years.

As the election approached, Democrats were optimistic about their chances of taking control.

The Democratic-led Legislature will work alongside Democratic Gov.-elect David Crowley, who defeated Republican Tom Tiffany.

“We know people will count on us to act, and we will. Along with Gov. David Crowley and our Democratic colleagues in the Senate, we will show that government can be a force for good and that things can be different with Democrats in charge,” Neubauer said. “Tonight we celebrate, tomorrow we get to work. »

Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Devin Remiker said in a statement that voters sent “a resounding message that they are fed up with a broken political system, in which politicians put billionaires, special interests and their own interests ahead of those of working families.”

“They saw Republicans in the Legislature rise to power, block Gov. Evers at every turn and sit idly by as costs rose. They saw three billionaires try to buy the governor’s office for Tom Tiffany. And they chose a different direction,” Remiker said. “Now is the time to act. Governor-elect David Crowley, Lieutenant Governor-elect Sarah Godlewski, Senate Democratic Leader Dianne Hesselbein and Assembly Democratic Leader Greta Neubauer will work together to lower costs, make health care more affordable and accessible, invest in our public schools and build an economy that works for all Wisconsinites.”

Here are the results in the constituencies that were decisive in determining control:

• In Senate District 31, the Associated Press called the race for Sen. Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick). He defeated a challenge from Republican Michele Magadance Skinner, a member of the Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors, to win another term. The district covers Eau Claire County and parts of Dunn, Trempealeau and Chippewa counties. With over 95% responding, Smith received 58% of the vote while Skinner received 42%.
• In Senate District 5, state Rep. Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) defeated Republican Mike Roberts, a Pewaukee businessman and medical professional. The race for the seat, which covers Wauwatosa and other parts of Milwaukee County, opened up after Sen. Rob Hutton opted not to run for re-election. With 94% coverage according to the Associated Press, Vining had 57% of the vote and Roberts 43%.
• In Senate District 21, Democrat Trevor Jung, Racine’s former transit and mobility director, defeated Republican businessman Jim Croft. This southeastern district that includes parts of Racine and Milwaukee counties was opened due to the retirement of Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine). With 90% response, Jung received 58% of the vote while Croft received 42%.
• In Senate District 17, state Rep. Jenna Jacobson (D-Ore.) led Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) shortly before 11 p.m. With more than 95% reporting according to the Associated Press, Jacobson had 53% of the vote and Marklein 47%. The district represents Iowa, Lafayette, Green, Crawford and Grant counties as well as parts of Dane County.
• In Assembly District 21, Democrat Daniel Bukiewicz, mayor of Oak Creek, defeated Dylan Pfaffenbach, a Republican student at Carroll University. The race for the seat was open following the retirement of Rep. Jessie Rodriguez, a longtime Republican incumbent. With 84% responding according to the Associated Press, Bukiewicz received 60% of the vote while Pfaffenbach received 40%.

• In Assembly District 30, incumbent Rep. Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls), who was first elected in 2016, lost her reelection bid to Democratic challenger Kevin Knoke, a Hudson veteran and educator. Zimmerman was first elected in 2016 and served on the Joint Finance Committee. With over 95% reporting according to the Associated Press, Knoke received 53% of the vote while Zimmerman received 47%.
• In Assembly District 51, Rep. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) lost to Democratic challenger Ben Gruber, a Wisconsin conservation warden who is a member of AFSCME Local 1215. With 92% responding according to the Associated Press, Gruber received 55% of the vote while Novak received 43%.
• In Assembly District 53, Republican David Daniels lost to Democrat Becky Nichols, a former Menasha City Council member. The race was open due to the retirement of incumbent Rep. Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah). With over 95% reporting according to the Associated Press, Nichols received 55% of the vote while Daniels received 39%.
• In Assembly District 61, Rep. Bob Donovan (R-Greenfield) lost his re-election bid to Democratic challenger Ben Brist, a military veteran. With 88% reporting according to the Associated Press, Brist received 56% of the vote while Donovan received 44%.
• In Assembly District 85, Rep. Patrick Snyder (R-Weston) lost his re-election bid to Democratic challenger John Kroll, Marathon County Board Supervisor. Snyder, first elected in 2016, ran his campaign with a focus on his work across the aisle. With over 95% reporting according to the Associated Press, Kroll received 54% of the vote while Snyder received 46%.
• In Assembly District 88, Rep. Benjamin Franklin (R-De Pere) lost his re-election bid to Democrat Brandy Tollefson, a De Pere school board member. With over 95% reporting according to the Associated Press, Tollefson received 54% of the vote while Franklin received 46%.
• In Assembly District 89, Rep. Ryan Spaude (D-Ashwaubenon) fended off a challenge from Republican challenger Bobby Lindsey, a retired law enforcement professional and Marine Corps veteran. With over 95% reporting according to the Associated Press, Spaude received 56% of the vote while Lindsey received 44%.
• In Assembly District 92, Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie) lost his re-election bid to Democratic challenger Jeremiah Fredrickson, a fish farmer from Elk Mound. With over 95% reporting according to the Associated Press, Fredrickson received 53% of the vote while Moses received 47%.
• In Assembly District 94, Democratic Rep. Steve Doyle defeated Republican challenger Keith Purnell, an Army veteran. Doyle was first elected to the Assembly in a special election in May 2011 and has since been re-elected. With over 95% reporting according to the Associated Press, Doyle received 57% of the vote while Purnell received 43%.