November 7, 2024
By Lane Kimble
A lawmaker from the Northwoods who prefers people just call her Mary–not “Senator”–will preside over the new state Senate.
Thursday, Senate Republicans elected Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma) as president, replacing Sen. Chris Kapenga, who opted to take his name out of the running.
“Sen. Kapenga has done a great job of preserving the decorum and the institution,” Felzkowski told Wis Politics. “But I think how he has taken on the president’s role has left a little bit of a void by not being present as much as I think he should’ve been.”
WATCH: Sen. Felzkowski details her views on transportation funding in WTBA video series
Entering election night with a 22-13 majority in the Wisconsin State Senate, Republicans will hold a majority in the state’s upper house next session, but by a significantly reduced margin, WTBA’s contract lobbyist Eric Petersen’s Wimmer & Co. explained.
Democrats successfully defeated Republican incumbents Duey Stroebel and Joan Ballweg, and likely picked up two open seats, leaving the chamber with an 18 GOP versus 15 DEM split. Needing at least two pickups to put the State Senate in play in 2026, Senate Democrats outperformed and are well-positioned for the midterms.
REPUBLICAN LEAD IN ASSEMBLY NARROWS
Newly drawn maps also helped Democrats flip a number of state Assembly seats from red to blue.
“After holding a sizable 64 seat GOP majority in the state’s 99-member lower house, Wisconsin State Assembly margins will be much closer come January,” Petersen’s newsletter from Wednesday afternoon said.
Still, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos pledged to return much of the state’s $3.5 billion surplus to taxpayers, expressing frustration over Gov. Tony Evers’ tax cut vetos from the previous session, WisPolitics reported.
“Assembly Republicans secured at least 51 seats last night with the outcome of three races still outstanding. Assuming Republican leads in each of those three races hold, the chamber will likely return to Madison with a 54 GOP versus 45 DEM split,” Petersen/Wimmer & Co.’s analysis stated.
