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2026 Wisconsin Senate election

The 2026 Wisconsin Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026. Seventeen of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate are up for election—those in the odd-numbered districts. Republicans currently hold 12 of these 17 seats and have an 18–15 majority in the Senate overall.

Background
Partisan background In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Republican nominee Donald Trump won 9 districts, while Democratic nominee Kamala Harris won 8 districts. Republicans currently hold three districts where Harris won in 2024: District 5 (Harris +5.81%), represented by Rob Hutton; District 17 (Harris +1.03%), represented by Howard Marklein; and District 21 (Harris +1.23%), represented by Van Wanggaard. Redistricting This election will be significantly affected by the legislative maps drawn as a result of the Wisconsin Supreme Court decision in Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, which declared the previous legislative district map to be unconstitutional on December 22, 2023. The court was in the process of selecting a remedial plan, when the legislature chose to embrace the remedial map proposal from Governor Tony Evers. Evers signed the plan into law on February 19, 2024. 2024 elections In 2024, Democrats gained four seats in the Senate under the new maps, with the expectation they would not be able to win a majority then because only even-numbered seats were up for election that year. During the 2024 campaign, both parties spent heavily on the competitive races in that cycle. The Democrats' gains put them on a path towards winning a majority in 2026, where three senate districts could determine control of the chamber. Democrats last won a majority of seats in the state senate in the 2012 recall elections, but they last seated a majority of seats in a session after the 2008 elections. == Campaign ==
Campaign
Primary elections As part of their effort to gain control of the Senate, the Senate Democratic caucus has endorsed several candidates in competitive districts in an attempt to clear the field for their preferred candidates. In the 5th district the State Senate Democratic Campaign Committee has supported representative Robyn Vining over businesswoman Sarah Harrison, who withdrew from the race in early January citing a lack of funding. In the 17th district, one candidate, business owner Matt Roboin, declined to run, citing the Committee's endorsement of representative Jenna Jacobson for the nomination. In the 21st district, city official Trevor Yung is running unopposed for the nomination after being endorsed by the Committee. This strategy received criticism from candidates running in the various districts, who argued that it was undemocratic for the party campaign arm to intervene in primary elections and give support to certain candidates over others. ==Predictions==
Predictions
Senators are running for the first time under new districts implemented as a result of Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission giving Democrats an opportunity to win control of the chamber for the first time in over a decade. == Summary ==
Outgoing incumbents
Retiring Rob Hutton (R–Brookfield), representing district 5 since 2023, is retiring. • André Jacque (R–New Franken), representing district 1 since 2019, is retiring. • Jesse James (R–Thorp), representing district 23 since 2023, is retiring. • Stephen Nass (R–Whitewater), representing district 11 since 2015, is retiring. • Van Wanggaard (R–Racine), representing district 21 since 2015, is retiring. == Incumbents and candidates ==
Race details
District 1 In Wisconsin's 1st Senate district, the incumbent, André Jacque (R–New Franken), has not indicated whether he will run for re-election. He has represented the district since 2019, winning a contested primary in 2018, winning the 2018 general election, and then winning re-election in 2022. He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for U.S. House of Representatives in Wisconsin's 8th congressional district in 2024. At this point, one Independent candidate has announced to run for the seat, Luxemburg small business owner Mark Becker. District 3 In Wisconsin's 3rd Senate district, the incumbent, Tim Carpenter (D–Milwaukee), has not indicated whether he will run for re-election. He has represented the district since 2003, winning a contested primary in 2002, winning the 2002 general election, and then winning re-election five times. At this point, no Republican candidate has announced to run for the seat. Under Wisconsin's 2024 maps, the 3rd Senate district comprises much of the south side of the city of Milwaukee, as well as the village of West Milwaukee and eastern parts of the cities of West Allis and Greenfield, all within central Milwaukee County. District 5 In Wisconsin's 5th Senate district, the incumbent, Rob Hutton (R–Brookfield), has announced that he will not run for re-election. He has represented the district since 2023, after winning the general election in 2022. At this point, state representative Robyn Vining (D–Wauwatosa) and Republican—Pewaukee small business owner Mike Roberts—have announced to run for the seat. These western Milwaukee suburbs and Waukesha-area exurbs were a Republican stronghold as recently as 2014, but have moved steadily away from the Republicans since the election of Donald Trump. The 5th Senate district is a top pickup target for Wisconsin Democrats in 2026. District 9 In Wisconsin's 9th Senate district, the incumbent, Devin LeMahieu (R–Oostburg), is retiring. District 11 In Wisconsin's 11th Senate district, the incumbent, Stephen Nass (R–Whitewater), has announced he will not run for re-election. District 13 In Wisconsin's 13th Senate district, the incumbent, John Jagler (R–Watertown), has not indicated whether he will run for re-election. He has represented the district since 2021, winning a contested special primary in 2021, then winning a 2021 special election, and winning re-election in 2022. At this point, one Democratic candidate—Montello educator Sasha Ripley—and one independent candidate—Beaver Dam city councilmember Jeff Bierman—have announced to run for the seat. District 15 In Wisconsin's 15th Senate district, the incumbent, Mark Spreitzer (D–Beloit), has not indicated whether he will run for re-election. He has represented the district since 2023, after winning the 2022 general election. At this point, no Republican candidate has announced to run for the seat. Under Wisconsin's 2024 maps, the 15th Senate district comprises most of Rock County and parts of northwest Walworth County and southern Jefferson County. It includes the cities of Janesville, Beloit, Edgerton, Evansville, Milton, and Whitewater. District 17 In Wisconsin's 17th Senate district, the incumbent, Howard Marklein (R–Spring Green), has not indicated whether he will run for re-election. He has represented the district since 2015, after winning the 2014 general election, and winning re-election in 2018 and 2022. At this point, three Democratic candidates have announced to run for the seat, state representative Jenna Jacobson (D–Oregon), New Glarus child care advocate Corrine Hendrickson, and Potosi small business owner Lisa White. District 19 In Wisconsin's 19th Senate district, the incumbent, Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R–Fox Crossing), has not indicated whether she will run for re-election. She has represented the district since 2023, after winning the 2022 general election. At this point, one Democratic candidate has announced to run for the seat, rural organizer Emily Tseffos. District 21 In Wisconsin's 21st Senate district, the incumbent, Van H. Wanggaard (R–Racine), has announced he will not run for reelection. District 23 In Wisconsin's 23rd Senate district, the incumbent, Jesse James (R–Thorp), was drawn out of this district and decided to retire. District 25 In Wisconsin's 25th Senate district, the incumbent, Romaine Quinn (R–Birchwood), was drawn out of this district and will run for re-election in the 23rd district instead. District 27 In Wisconsin's 27th Senate district, the incumbent, Dianne Hesselbein (D–Middleton), has not indicated whether she will run for re-election. She has represented the district since 2023, after winning the 2022 general election. She is also the current minority leader in the Senate. At this point, no Republican candidate has announced to run for the seat. Under Wisconsin's 2024 maps, the 27th Senate district comprises most of the northwest quadrant of Dane County. It includes much of the west side of the city of Madison, as well as portions of Madison's far north side, and the suburban cities of Middleton and Verona, and the villages of Black Earth, Cross Plains, Dane, Mazomanie, and Waunakee. District 29 In Wisconsin's 29th Senate district, the incumbent, Cory Tomczyk (R–Mosinee), has indicated that he will run for re-election. He has represented the district since 2023, after winning the 2022 general election. At this point, one Democratic candidate has announced to run for the seat, retired Wausau radiologist Gillian Battino. District 31 In Wisconsin's 31st Senate district, the incumbent, Jeff Smith (D–Brunswick), has announced he will run for re-election. District 33 In Wisconsin's 33rd Senate district, the incumbent, Chris Kapenga (R–Delafield), has not indicated whether he will run for re-election. He has represented the district since 2015, winning a contested primary in 2014, winning the 2014 general election, and then winning re-election in 2018 and 2022. At this point, one Democratic candidate has announced to run for the seat, Delafield attorney Mike Van Someren. == See also ==
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