2026 Wisconsin Senate election
November 3, 2026
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17 of 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate 17 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Map of the incumbents: Republican incumbent Democratic incumbent Democratic and Republican incumbent No incumbent No election | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Wisconsin |
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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.
This election will be significantly influenced 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.[1]
This will be the first state Senate elections held in these seats under the new redistricting plan. Under the new maps, control of the Senate could go to either party due to Democratic gains in the 2024 Wisconsin Senate election.[2]
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.[3] 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.[4]
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.[5][6] During the 2024 campaign, both parties spent heavily on the competitive races in that cycle.[7] As a result of the election, where Democrats gained four seats, Democrats were put on a path to win a majority in 2026, where three senate districts could determine the majority.[8][9]
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.
Summary
| Party (majority caucus shading)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | |||
| Last election (2024) | 6 | 10 | 16 | |
| Total after last election (2024) | 15 | 18 | 33 | |
| Total before this election | 15 | 18 | 33 | |
| Up for election | 5 | 12 | 17 | |
| of which: | Incumbent retiring | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vacated | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Open | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Unopposed | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Incumbents and candidates
| Dist. | 2024 Pres.[10] |
Incumbent | This election | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | First elected | Status | Declared candidate(s) | ||
| 01 | R+20.3 | André Jacque | Rep. | 2018 | TBD |
|
| 03 | D+27.7 | Tim Carpenter | Dem. | 2002 | TBD | |
| 05 | D+5.9 | Rob Hutton | Rep. | 2022 | TBD |
|
| 07 | D+28.5 | Chris Larson | Dem. | 2010 | TBD | |
| 09 | R+15.7 | Devin LeMahieu | Rep. | 2014 | TBD | |
| 11 | R+28.0 | Stephen Nass | Rep. | 2014 | TBD | |
| 13 | R+30.9 | John Jagler | Rep. | 2021 (special) | TBD |
|
| 15 | D+7.7 | Mark Spreitzer | Dem. | 2022 | TBD | |
| 17 | D+1.0 | Howard Marklein | Rep. | 2014 | TBD |
|
| 19 | R+25.8 | Rachael Cabral-Guevara | Rep. | 2022 | TBD |
|
| 21 | D+1.2 | Van H. Wanggaard | Rep. | 2010[a] 2014 |
TBD |
|
| 23 | R+35.9 | None (open seat) | No incumbent |
| ||
| 25 | R+13.6 | Romaine Quinn | Rep. | 2022 | Running for 23rd district |
|
| 27 | D+52.7 | Dianne Hesselbein | Dem. | 2022 | TBD | |
| 29 | R+19.3 | Cory Tomczyk | Rep. | 2022 | TBD |
|
| 31 | D+2.2 | Jeff Smith | Dem. | 2018 | Incumbent running |
|
| Jesse James[b] | Rep. | 2022 | Incumbent running | |||
| 33 | R+33.7 | Chris Kapenga | Rep. | 2015 (special) | TBD |
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See also
- Redistricting in Wisconsin
- 2026 Wisconsin elections
- 2026 United States elections
- Elections in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Senate
Notes
References
- ^ "Wisconsin Supreme Court consultants say Republican-drawn legislative maps are gerrymanders, don't deserve consideration". WPR. February 2, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
- ^ "Dem wins in state Senate keep open shot at majority in '26". WisPolitics. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ Kremer, Rich (February 1, 2024). "Wisconsin Supreme Court consultants say Republican-drawn legislative maps are gerrymanders, don't deserve consideration". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- ^ Kremer, Rich (February 19, 2024). "Evers signs new maps into law, effectively ending Wisconsin redistricting lawsuit". WPR. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ Kremer, Rich (February 22, 2024). "What do Wisconsin's new maps mean for the Legislature's balance of power?". WPR. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Karnopp, Hope (February 21, 2024). "You have questions about Wisconsin's new election maps and how they affect you? We have answers". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Democrats commit $7 million to TV ads in 5 key state Senate races". AP News. May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ Richmond, Todd (November 6, 2024). "New maps help Wisconsin Democrats make legislative gains and set up a push for majorities in 2026". Associated Press. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
- ^ Kelly, Jack; Claflin, Hallie; DeFour, Matthew (November 7, 2024). "Democrats flip 14 legislative seats, affirming GOP gerrymander is dead". Wisconsin Watch.
- ^ "Wisconsin - State Navigate". State Navigate. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
- ^ "State Senate Democratic Committee: Sturgeon Bay business owner Sean Grorich announces campaign for Wisconsin State Senate in the 1st District". WisPolitics. September 29, 2025. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
- ^ "Harrison campaign: Announces bid for Wisconsin State Senate district 5". WisPolitics. June 13, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ "Robyn Vining for State Senate". Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ^ @AJBayatpour (July 17, 2025). "NOW: Democratic State Rep. Robyn Vining announces she's running for state Senate. She will challenge GOP Sen. Rob Hutton in a swing district that straddles Wauwatosa and Brookfield. Dems take the majority if the pick up two seats in 2026" (Tweet). Retrieved July 17, 2025 – via Twitter.
- ^ "State Senate Democratic Committee: Marquette County educator, Sasha Ripley, announces campaign for Wisconsin's 13th State Senate District". WisPolitics. October 13, 2025. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
- ^ Gunn, Erik (September 18, 2025). "Child care advocate Corrine Hendrickson officially enters Senate 17th District contest". Wisconsin Examiner. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
- ^ Kaska, Jimmie (July 7, 2025). "Jacobson announces state Senate run in southwestern Wisconsin". Civic Media. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ Spears, Baylor (July 8, 2025). "Democratic Rep. Jenna Jacobson launches challenge to one of GOP's top senators". Wisconsin Examiner. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Emily Tseffos announced run for Senate District 19". CivicMediaUS. November 9, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
- ^ "Trevor Jung, fiancé of 'Farmer Wants a Wife' star, is running to flip a state Senate seat". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. September 16, 2025. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
- ^ "Senate shuffle: James moves to take on Smith in redrawn 31st; Quinn to run in 23rd". WisPolitics. October 17, 2025. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Bayfield County supervisor enters race for newly drawn 25th Senate District". Spooner Advocate. November 26, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
- ^ Ornat, Marisa (October 22, 2025). "Angie Sapik announced run for State Senate district 25 seat". Northern News Now. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ Gendron, Michael (October 17, 2025). "Former state representative announces Wisconsin 25th Senate District campaign". WDIO-DT. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ "State Senate Democratic Committee: Gillian Battino announces candidacy for the 29th state senate district". WisPolitics. November 11, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
- ^ "Senate shuffle: James moves to take on Smith in redrawn 31st; Quinn to run in 23rd". WisPolitics. October 17, 2025. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "TUE AM Update: Smith 'absolutely running' for reelection to Senate as fundraising picks up". WisPolitics. July 15, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
- ^ "State Senate Democratic Committee: Mike Van Someren announces campaign for Wisconsin's 33rd Senate District". WisPolitics. August 13, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2025.