Wisconsin Senate Explained

Wisconsin Senate
Coa Pic:Seal of Wisconsin.svg
Session Room:StateSenateChamberWI.jpg
House Type:Upper house
Term Limits:None
New Session:January 3, 2023
Leader1 Type:President
Leader1:Chris Kapenga (R)
Election1:January 4, 2021
Leader2 Type:President pro tempore
Leader2:Patrick Testin (R)
Election2:January 4, 2021
Leader3 Type:Majority Leader
Leader3:Devin LeMahieu (R)
Election3:January 4, 2021
Leader4 Type:Minority Leader
Leader4:Dianne Hesselbein (D)
Election4:December 1, 2023
Term Length:4 years
Salary:$57,408/year + $115 per diem[1]
Members:33
Structure1:WI Senate 20240126.svg
Structure1 Res:250px
Political Groups1:Majority

Minority

Vacancy

Last Election1:November 3, 2020
(16 seats)
Last Election2:November 6, 2022
(17 seats)
Next Election1:November 5, 2024
(16 seats)
Next Election2:November 3, 2026
(17 seats)
Website:Wisconsin State Senate

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.

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

10122
DemocraticRepublican
AffiliationParty

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

Total
DemocraticRepublicanVacant
nowrap style="font-size:80%"Begin 100th Legislature (2011)1419330
nowrap style="font-size:80%"End 100th (2012)1716
nowrap style="font-size:80%"Begin 101st (2013)1518330
nowrap style="font-size:80%"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
May 3, 2023[4] 22330
Jan. 26, 2024[5] 10321
Latest voting share

Senate officers

PositionName
President of the SenateChris Kapenga
President Pro Tempore of the SenatePatrick Testin
Majority leaderDevin LeMahieu
Assistant Majority LeaderDan Feyen
Majority Caucus ChairVan Wanggaard
Majority Caucus Vice ChairJoan Ballweg
Minority LeaderDianne Hesselbein
Assistant Minority LeaderJeff Smith
Minority Caucus ChairChris Larson
Minority Caucus Vice ChairMark Spreitzer
Chief ClerkRichard Champagne (acting)
Sergeant-at-ArmsTom Engels

Members

District SenatorParty Residence Current ageFirst elected Next election
01Rep 2018 2026
02Rep 1987 2024
03Dem 2002 2026
04DemMilwaukee20242024
05Rep 20222026
06Dem 2016 2024
07Dem Milwaukee2010 2026
08Rep 2023 2024
09Rep 2014 2026
10Rep 2020 2024
11Rep 2014 2026
12Rep 2020 2024
13Rep 20212026
14Rep 20202024
15Dem 20222026
16Dem 20202024
17Rep 2014 2026
18Rep 20162024
19Rep 20222026
20Rep 2015 2024
21Rep 20142026
22Dem 1996 2024
23Rep Altoona20222026
24Rep 2016 2024
25Rep 20222026
26Dem 20202024
27Dem Middleton20222026
28Rep 20202024
29Rep Mosinee2022 2026
30Rep20202024
31Dem Brunswick2018 2026
32Dem Onalaska20202024
33Rep 2015 2026

Notable past members

List of senate presidents

PresidentPartyStart of serviceEnd of service
1Fred RisserDemocraticalign=center May 1, 1979align=center April 20, 1993
2Brian RudeRepublicanalign=center April 20, 1993align=center July 9, 1996
-Fred RisserDemocraticalign=center July 9, 1996align=center April 21, 1998
-Brian RudeRepublicanalign=center April 21, 1998align=center January 4, 1999
-Fred RisserDemocraticalign=center January 4, 1999align=center January 6, 2003
3Alan LaseeRepublicanalign=center January 6, 2003align=center January 8, 2007
-Fred RisserDemocraticalign=center January 8, 2007align=center January 3, 2011
4Mike EllisRepublicanalign=center January 3, 2011align=center July 17, 2012
-Fred RisserDemocraticalign=center July 17, 2012align=center January 7, 2013
-Mike EllisRepublicanalign=center January 7, 2013align=center January 5, 2015
5Mary LazichRepublicanalign=center January 5, 2013align=center January 3, 2017
6Roger RothRepublicanalign=center January 3, 2017align=center January 4, 2021
7Chris KapengaRepublicanalign=center January 4, 2021align=center present

Past composition of the Senate

See main article: Political party strength in Wisconsin.

See also

External links

43.0743°N -89.3842°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Salaries of Wisconsin State Elected Officials, 2023 . Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau . 23 May 2024.
  2. Web site: 2024-02-19 . Wisconsin's Democratic governor signs his new legislative maps into law after Republicans pass them . 2024-02-19 . AP News . en.
  3. Republican Alberta Darling (District 8) resigned December 1, 2022, retiring from public life. https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2022/11/24/long-serving-republican-sen-alberta-darling-announces-retirement/
  4. Republican Dan Knodl elected to succeed Darling. https://discoverhometown.com/knodl-sworn-in-to-8th-district-senate-seat/
  5. Democrat Lena Taylor (District 4) resigned after being appointed to the Milwaukee Circuit Court. https://www.wpr.org/news/gov-evers-appoints-longtime-state-sen-lena-taylor-to-be-milwaukee-judge

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Wisconsin Senate".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.