Wisconsin State Senate

Wisconsin State Senate
Wisconsin State Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 3, 2017
Leadership
Roger Roth (R)
Since January 3, 2017
President pro tempore
Howard Marklein (R)
Since January 3, 2017
Majority Leader
Scott L. Fitzgerald (R)
Since January 8, 2013
Minority Leader
Jennifer Shilling (D)
Since January 5, 2015
Structure
Seats 33
Political groups

Majority

Minority

Length of term
4 years
Authority Article IV, Wisconsin Constitution
Salary $50,950/year + $153 per diem
Elections
Last election
November 8, 2016
(16 seats)
Next election
November 6, 2018 (17 seats)
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Wisconsin State Capitol
Madison, Wisconsin
Website
Wisconsin State Senate

The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly. Together, they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin.

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.

Salary and benefits

Senators elected or re-elected in the fall of 2008 will receive an annual salary of $49,943. 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.

2016 general election

Podium in the Senate

Following the 2016 elections, The Wisconsin State Senate maintained a Republican majority in January 2017 for several reasons. Democrat Julie Lassa lost her re-election to Patrick Testin. Following the retirement and death of Republican Senator Rick Gudex, Republican Dan Feyen defeated Democrat Mark Harris. The Senate has 20 Republicans and 13 Democrats.

Current session

Composition

Midpoint
20 13
Republican Democratic
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
Begin 100th Legislature (2011) 19 14 33 0
End 100th (2012) 16 17
Begin 101st (2013) 18 15 33 0
End 101st (2014) 17 32 1
Begin 102nd (2015) 18 14 32 1
End 102nd (2016) 18 32 1
Begin 103rd (2017) 20 13 33 0
Latest voting share 60.61% 39.39%

Senate officers

Position Name
President of the Senate Roger Roth
President Pro Tempore of the Senate Howard Marklein
Majority leader Scott Fitzgerald
Assistant Majority Leader Leah Vukmir
Majority Caucus Chair Sheila Harsdorf
Majority Caucus Vice Chair Van Wanggaard
Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling
Assistant Minority Leader Janet Bewley
Minority Caucus Chair Mark Miller
Minority Caucus Vice Chair Janis Ringhand
Chief Clerk Jeffrey Renk

Members

Senator District Party Residence Current Age First elected Next election
Frank Lasee 01 Rep De Pere 55 2010 2018
Robert Cowles 02 Rep Green Bay 67 1987 2020
Tim Carpenter 03 Dem Milwaukee 57 2002 2018
Lena Taylor 04 Dem Milwaukee 51 2004 2020
Leah Vukmir 05 Rep Wauwatosa 59 2010 2018
La Tonya Johnson 06 Dem Milwaukee 45 2016 2020
Chris Larson 07 Dem Milwaukee 36 2010 2018
Alberta Darling 08 Rep River Hills 73 1992 2020
Devin LeMahieu 09 Rep Sheboygan 45 2014 2018
Sheila Harsdorf 10 Rep River Falls 61 2000 2020
Stephen Nass 11 Rep Whitewater 64 2014 2018
Tom Tiffany 12 Rep Hazelhurst 59 2012 2020
Scott Fitzgerald 13 Rep Juneau 53 1994 2018
Luther Olsen 14 Rep Ripon 66 2004 2020
Janis Ringhand 15 Dem Evansville 67 2014 2018
Mark F. Miller 16 Dem Monona 74 2004 2020
Howard Marklein 17 Rep Spring Green 62 2014 2018
Dan Feyen 18 Rep Fond du Lac 49 2016 2020
Roger Roth 19 Rep Appleton 39 2014 2018
Duey Stroebel 20 Rep Saukville 57 2015 2020
Van H. Wanggaard 21 Rep Racine 65 2014 2018
Robert Wirch 22 Dem Kenosha 73 1996 2020
Terry Moulton 23 Rep Chippewa Falls 71 2010 2018
Patrick Testin 24 Rep Stevens Point 29 2016 2020
Janet Bewley 25 Dem Ashland 65 2014 2018
Fred Risser 26 Dem Madison 90 1962 2020
Jon Erpenbach 27 Dem Middleton 56 1998 2018
David Craig 28 Rep Vernon 38 2016 2020
Jerry Petrowski 29 Rep Marathon 67 2012 2018
Dave Hansen 30 Dem Green Bay 69 2000 2020
Kathleen Vinehout 31 Dem Alma 59 2006 2018
Jennifer Shilling 32 Dem La Crosse 48 2011 2020
Chris Kapenga 33 Rep Delafield 45 2015 2018

Past notable members

See also

References

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