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Wisconsin Senate

Coordinates: 43°04′27.5″N 89°23′03.0″W / 43.074306°N 89.384167°W / 43.074306; -89.384167
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wisconsin Senate
Wisconsin State Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 3, 2023
Leadership
President
Chris Kapenga (R)
since January 4, 2021
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
Political groups
Majority
  •   Republican (22)

Minority

Length of term
4 years
AuthorityArticle IV, Wisconsin Constitution
Salary$57,408/year + $115 per diem[1]
Elections
Last election
November 3, 2020
(16 seats)
Last election
November 6, 2022
(17 seats)
Next election
November 5, 2024
(16 seats)
Next election
November 3, 2026
(17 seats)
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Wisconsin State Capitol
Madison, Wisconsin
Website
Wisconsin State Senate
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.

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

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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

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Composition

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10 22 1
Democratic Republican
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Democratic Republican Vacant
Begin 100th Legislature (2011) 14 19 33 0
End 100th (2012) 17 16
Begin 101st (2013) 15 18 33 0
End 101st (2014) 17 32 1
Begin 102nd (2015) 14 18 32 1
End 102nd (2016) 18 32 1
Begin 103rd (2017) 13 20 33 0
End 103rd (2018) 15 18 33 0
Begin 104th (2019) 14 19 33 0
End 104th (2020) 13 18 31 2
Begin 105th (2021) 12 20 32 1
End 105th (2022) 21 33 0
Begin 106th (2023)[3] 11 21 32 1
May 3, 2023[4] 22 33 0
Jan. 26, 2024[5] 10 32 1
Latest voting share 31.25% 68.75%

Senate officers

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Position Name
President of the Senate Chris Kapenga
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 Clerk Richard Champagne (acting)
Sergeant-at-Arms Tom Engels

Members

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District Senator Party Residence Current age First elected Next election
01 André Jacque Rep De Pere 44 2018 2026
02 Robert Cowles Rep Green Bay 74 1987 2024
03 Tim Carpenter Dem Milwaukee 64 2002 2026
04 Dora Drake Dem Milwaukee 31 2024 2024
05 Rob Hutton Rep Brookfield 57 2022 2026
06 La Tonya Johnson Dem Milwaukee 52 2016 2024
07 Chris Larson Dem Milwaukee 44 2010 2026
08 Dan Knodl Rep Germantown 65 2023 2024
09 Devin LeMahieu Rep Oostburg 52 2014 2026
10 Rob Stafsholt Rep New Richmond 49 2020 2024
11 Stephen Nass Rep Whitewater 72 2014 2026
12 Mary Felzkowski Rep Irma 61 2020 2024
13 John Jagler Rep Watertown 55 2021 2026
14 Joan Ballweg Rep Markesan 72 2020 2024
15 Mark Spreitzer Dem Beloit 37 2022 2026
16 Melissa Agard Dem Monona 55 2020 2024
17 Howard Marklein Rep Spring Green 70 2014 2026
18 Dan Feyen Rep Fond du Lac 56 2016 2024
19 Rachael Cabral-Guevara Rep Appleton 48 2022 2026
20 Duey Stroebel Rep Saukville 65 2015 2024
21 Van H. Wanggaard Rep Racine 72 2014 2026
22 Robert Wirch Dem Somers 81 1996 2024
23 Jesse James Rep Altoona 52 2022 2026
24 Patrick Testin Rep Stevens Point 36 2016 2024
25 Romaine Quinn Rep Cameron 34 2022 2026
26 Kelda Roys Dem Madison 45 2020 2024
27 Dianne Hesselbein Dem Middleton 53 2022 2026
28 Julian Bradley Rep Franklin 43 2020 2024
29 Cory Tomczyk Rep Mosinee 62 2022 2026
30 Eric Wimberger Rep Green Bay 45 2020 2024
31 Jeff Smith Dem Brunswick 69 2018 2026
32 Brad Pfaff Dem Onalaska 57 2020 2024
33 Chris Kapenga Rep Delafield 52 2015 2026

Notable past members

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List of senate presidents

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


Past composition of the Senate

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See also

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References

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  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. [1]
  4. ^ Republican Dan Knodl elected to succeed Darling. [2]
  5. ^ Democrat Lena Taylor (District 4) resigned after being appointed to the Milwaukee Circuit Court. [3]
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43°04′27.5″N 89°23′03.0″W / 43.074306°N 89.384167°W / 43.074306; -89.384167