Second top Republican retires in battleground Wisconsin, fueling Democratic hopes

MADISON, Wisconsin (AP) — A second Republican leader in the Wisconsin Legislature announced Thursday that he will not seek re-election this fall; seismic slip It’s politics in the key battleground state as Democrats become increasingly optimistic about winning the majority.

The two top Republicans in the Legislature are retiring soon, along with the Democratic governor district boundaries were redrawn It favors Democrats who believe they can win a majority in the state Senate.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu announced Thursday that he will not seek a fourth term, becoming the latest GOP leader to retire. This follows House Speaker Robin Vos, the longest-serving speaker in Wisconsin history. announced his retirement last month.

“It’s time to start a new chapter in my life,” LeMahieu said in a statement announcing his decision. He didn’t say what he plans to do next. LeMahieu was first elected in 2014 and was named the Senate’s Republican leader in 2020.

A number of Wisconsin Republicans have announced plans to retire rather than run this fall, in what is expected to be a tough year for the GOP nationally.

Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Devin Remiker said the retirements of LeMahieu and Vos are a warning to other Republicans.

“All potential Republican candidates should take note: Both of your leaders have abandoned you,” he said.

There are several Republican lawmakers who are not seeking re-election, as well as a conservative state Supreme Court justice. announced last week He said he will not run again in 2027. This comes after another conservative justice decided against the nomination this year. open race This will be decided on April 7.

Republicans gained control of the Legislature in 2011, and newly elected Republican Governor Scott Walker signed into law new legislative maps that year that allowed the GOP to increase their majority over the next decade.

Wisconsin became the center nation’s conservative movement In the 2010s, Walker and the Republican Legislature enacted a wide range of conservative priorities, including effectively ending collective bargaining for most public employees, lowering taxes, and requiring photo identification to vote.

But liberals managed to win a majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2023, and in December of that year the court overturned the GOP-drawn legislative maps. The new lines, signed into law by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in 2024, allowed Democrats to jump on the majority this year with the goal of flipping one or both chambers.

Democrats need to pick up just two seats in the Senate and five seats in the House to have a majority.

Will Karcz, spokesman for the committee that works to elect Democrats to the state Senate, said LeMahieu’s decision shows Republicans know the Wisconsin Senate is “the most reversible chamber in the country.”

“There’s no two ways about it: Senate Republicans see the writing on the wall,” Karcz said.

Thanks to Evers’ decision to retire, the race for governor is open for the first time in 16 years. Republican U.S. Representative Tom TiffanyHe is the presumptive GOP nominee who has the support of President Donald Trump. There are seven high-profile Democrats running. The first one is in August.

Evers praised LeMahieu’s “patience and determination” and said he was able to put politics aside and focus on “doing the right thing.”

Just this week, Evers signed bills LeMahieu supports Expand Medicaid coverage It includes additional cancer screenings for postpartum mothers and women with dense breast tissue. LeMahieu and Republicans also worked with Evers to spend money. Fighting PFAS chemicalsexpand state funding for local communities and keep the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team in Wisconsin.

But under LeMahieu, the state’s flagship land conservation program ended this year due to a lack of funding; just as a bipartisan agreement continues to maintain funding. public relations network this is Wisconsin’s version of C-SPAN.