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 Senate is controlled by the Republican Party, as it has been for 20 of the past 22 years (with only the biennium of 2009-2010 as the exception).
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.
Salary and benefits The salary of all legislators serving in the 2025 Wisconsin Legislature is $60,924, which is an increase of 6.12% from the previous biennium. The speaker of the assembly also receives an additional $25 monthly stipend. In addition to salaries, senators outside Madison, Wisconsin may receive a per diem up to $115 to cover living expenses while they are in Madison on state business. Members of the Dane County delegation may receive a per diem of half the amount to cover expenses.
Current session
Composition 15 18 Democratic Republican
AffiliationParty (Shading indicates majority caucus)TotalVacant DemocraticRepublicanBegin 100th Legislature (2011) 14 19330End 100th (2012)17 16Begin 101st (2013)15 18 33 0End 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)Republican Alberta Darling (District 8) resigned December 1, 2022, retiring from public life. 11 21 32 1 End 106th (2024) 10 22 32 1 Begin 107th (2025) 15 18 33 0Latest voting share
Senate officers Position Name 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 Clerk Cyrus Anderson Sergeant-at-ArmsTom Engels
Members District NameParty ResidenceStartNext Election1 Rep New Franken2018 20262Rep Oconto2020 20283Dem Milwaukee 2002 20264DemMilwaukee2024 (special)20285Rep Brookfield 202220266Dem Milwaukee 2016 20287Dem Milwaukee2010 20268Dem Whitefish Bay2024 20289Rep Oostburg 2014 202610Rep New Richmond 2020 202811Rep Whitewater 2014 202612Rep Tomahawk2020 202813 Rep Watertown 2021 (special)202614Dem Lodi2024202815Dem Beloit 2022202616Dem Cottage Grove2024202817 Rep Spring Green 2014 202618Dem Appleton2024202819Rep Appleton 2022202620Rep Fond du Lac2016 202821Rep Racine 2014202622Dem Pleasant Prairie1996 202823Rep Thorp2022202624Rep Stevens Point 2016 202825Rep Birchwood2022202626 Dem Madison 2020202827Dem Middleton2022202628Rep New Berlin2020202829Rep Mosinee2022 202630DemGreen Bay 2024202831Dem Brunswick2018 202632Dem Onalaska2020202833 Rep Delafield 2015 (special)2026
Notable past members C. Latham Sholes (1848–1850; 1856–1858), invented the QWERTY keyboard Angus Cameron (1863–1864; 1871–1872), former U.S. Senator from Wisconsin (1875–1885) Gaylord Nelson (1949–1958), former Governor of Wisconsin (1959–1963) and U.S. Senator from Wisconsin (1963–1981) Henry Maier (1951–1960), former Mayor of Milwaukee (1960–1988) James B. Brennan (1959–1962), former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (1962–1969) and Milwaukee City Attorney (1972–1984) William Bablitch (1972–1983), former Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court (1983–2003) Tom Petri (1973–1979), former U.S. House Representative (1979–2015) Jim Sensenbrenner (1975–1979), former U.S. House Representative (1979–2021) Russ Feingold (1983–1993), former U.S. Senator from Wisconsin (1993–2011) John Norquist (1983–1988), former Mayor of Milwaukee (1988–2004) Tom Barrett (1989–1993), former U.S. House Representative (1993–2003) and former Mayor of Milwaukee (2004–2021) Gwen Moore (1993–2005), current U.S. House Representative (2005–present) Glenn Grothman (2005–2015), current U.S. House Representative (2015–present) Tom Tiffany (2012–2020), current U.S. House Representative (2020–present) Fred Risser (1962-2021), longest-serving state legislator in American history Scott Fitzgerald (1995–2021), current U.S. House Representative (2021–present)
List of senate presidents (since 1979) # 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, 2015 January 3, 2017 6 Roger Roth Republican January 3, 2017 January 4, 2021 7 Chris Kapenga Republican January 4, 2021 January 6, 2025 8 Mary Felzkowski Republican January 6, 2025 present
Past composition of the Senate
See also Wisconsin Legislature Wisconsin State Assembly Impeachment in Wisconsin
References
External links Wisconsin State Senate official government website State Senate of Wisconsin at Project Vote Smart
Legislature Salary