Wisconsin Senate

The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the larger 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.

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
Melissa Agard (D)
since January 3, 2023
Structure
Seats33
Political groups
Majority
  •   Republican (22)

Minority

Length of term
4 years
AuthorityArticle IV, Wisconsin Constitution
Salary$50,950/year + $153 per diem
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 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 (as part of the system of checks and balances) 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. Like the Wisconsin Assembly, its Senate is subject to one the most extreme partisan gerrymanders in the United States.[1]

Salary and benefits

The salary for legislators serving in the 2017 Wisconsin Legislature - $50,950 - is unchanged from the previous session. The salary for legislators serving in the 2015 session was increased by 2 percent from the $49,943 rate that had been in effect for the previous three bienniums. Before that increase, the most recent increase was an increase of 5 per-cent from the 2007 session to the 2009 session. The Speaker of the Assembly receives an additional stipend, which is currently $25 per month.[2]

In addition to their salaries, senators outside Dane County may receive a per diem up to $88 to cover living expenses while they are in Dane County on state business. Members of the Madison delegation may receive a per diem up to $44 to cover expenses. Each senator also receives $75 per month in "out-of-session" pay when the Legislature is in session for three days or less. Over two years, each senator is allotted $66,008 to cover general office expenses, printing, postage and district mailings.

Current session

Composition

11 22
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
From April 28, 2021 21 33 0
Begin 106th (2023) 11 21 32 1
From May 3, 2023 22 33 0
Latest voting share 33.33% 66.67%

Senate officers

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 Melissa Agard
Assistant Minority Leader Jeff Smith
Minority Caucus Chair Chris Larson
Minority Caucus Vice Chair Dianne Hesselbein
Chief Clerk Michael Queensland
Sergeant-at-Arms Tom Engels

Members

District Senator Party Residence Current age First elected Next election
01 André Jacque Rep De Pere 43 2018 2026
02 Robert Cowles Rep Green Bay 73 1987 2024
03 Tim Carpenter Dem Milwaukee 63 2002 2026
04 Lena Taylor Dem Milwaukee 57 2004 2024
05 Rob Hutton Rep Brookfield 56 2022 2026
06 La Tonya Johnson Dem Milwaukee 51 2016 2024
07 Chris Larson Dem Milwaukee 42 2010 2026
08 Dan Knodl Rep Germantown 64 2023 2024
09 Devin LeMahieu Rep Oostburg 51 2014 2026
10 Rob Stafsholt Rep New Richmond 47 2020 2024
11 Stephen Nass Rep Whitewater 71 2014 2026
12 Mary Felzkowski Rep Irma 60 2020 2024
13 John Jagler Rep Watertown 53 2021 2026
14 Joan Ballweg Rep Markesan 71 2020 2024
15 Mark Spreitzer Dem Beloit 36 2022 2026
16 Melissa Agard Dem Monona 54 2020 2024
17 Howard Marklein Rep Spring Green 69 2014 2026
18 Dan Feyen Rep Fond du Lac 55 2016 2024
19 Rachael Cabral-Guevara Rep Appleton 47 2022 2026
20 Duey Stroebel Rep Saukville 64 2015 2024
21 Van H. Wanggaard Rep Racine 71 2014 2026
22 Robert Wirch Dem Somers 79 1996 2024
23 Jesse James Rep Altoona 51 2022 2026
24 Patrick Testin Rep Stevens Point 35 2016 2024
25 Romaine Quinn Rep Cameron 33 2022 2026
26 Kelda Roys Dem Madison 44 2020 2024
27 Dianne Hesselbein Dem Middleton 52 2022 2026
28 Julian Bradley Rep Franklin 42 2020 2024
29 Cory Tomczyk Rep Mosinee 2022 2026
30 Eric Wimberger Rep Green Bay 44 2020 2024
31 Jeff Smith Dem Brunswick 68 2018 2026
32 Brad Pfaff Dem Onalaska 55 2020 2024
33 Chris Kapenga Rep Delafield 51 2015 2026

Notable past members

Past composition of the Senate

See also

References

43°04′27.5″N 89°23′03.0″W

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