Democrats have chipped away at the massive GOP majority in the Wisconsin Senate, flipping at least a couple Republican districts and possibly two more with the help of the state’s new competitive political maps.
The maps were drawn by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and passed by Republican lawmakers earlier this year under pressure from the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s new liberal majority. Unlike the Republican-drawn maps that preceded them, the new district lines gave either party a realistic shot at winning the Legislature.
In the Assembly, where all 99 districts are up for election every two years, that gave either party a chance to win control of the chamber. This year, it was Republicans who won a majority.
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In the Senate, where half the chamber is up for election every two years, Democrats had no realistic shot at winning the chamber this year. Republicans went into the election with a 22-10 supermajority, with one Democratic seat open.
That trained both parties’ focus on a handful of competitive seats, which could set up a battle for control of state government in 2026.
Here’s how it played out.
14th Senate District: Democrat Sarah Keyeski defeats Republican Joan Ballweg
In the 14th Senate District, Democrat Sarah Keyeski of Lodi defeated Republican Sen. Joan Ballweg by about a 2 percent margin, according to preliminary numbers by the Associated Press. Ballweg is a longtime lawmaker from Markesan. Keyeski is a mental health counselor with no previous political experience.
While Ballweg was the incumbent, the new district bore little resemblance to the one she held under the old map, running east and west instead of north and south. The new seat includes all of Richland and Sauk counties and portions of several others, including Dane County, a Democratic stronghold.
30th Senate District: Democrat Jamie Wall defeats Republican Jim Rafter
In Green Bay’s 30th Senate District, an open seat, Democrat Jamie Wall defeated Republican Jim Rafter by about a 5 percent margin, according to the AP. Wall is a business consultant who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House in 2012. Rafter spent a career working in the tech sector, and has been on the Allouez Village Board for the past decade, spending the last eight years as president.
The new 30th Senate District includes much of the city of Green Bay, along with neighboring De Pere, Ashwaubenon, Allouez and Bellevue. It was previously held by Republican Sen. Eric Wimberger, who ran for the neighboring 2nd Senate District, a strongly Republican seat.
8th Senate District: Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin leads Republican Duey Stroebel
In southeast Wisconsin’s 8th Senate District, Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin narrowly led Republican Sen. Duey Stroebel nearly all votes counted as of early Wednesday morning. Sinykin, an attorney who specializes in environmental law, is a partner at the Milwaukee-based Habush Habush and Rottier.
Stroebel has served for 14 years in the Legislature, including nine in the Senate, but the district was about 80 percent new to him.
The winner will fill the seat currently held by Republican Sen. Dan Knodl, who decided to run for a state Assembly seat instead.
The 8th Senate District was part of the critical battle for the suburbs, a region once dominated by Republicans where Democrats have made inroads.
18th Senate District: Democrat Kristin Alfheim leads Republican Anthony Wayne Phillips
In the 18th Senate District, Democrat Kristin Alfheim was leading Republican Anthony Wayne Phillips with about 76 percent of the vote counted. Both Alfheim and Wayne are from Appleton.
The new map gave Democrats a sizable advantage in the 18th, which is currently held by Republican Sen. Dan Feyen. After redistricting, Feyen ran in the 20th Senate District, the most Republican-leaning seat up for election this year.
Both parties hold other seats
Other state Senate races went largely as expected.
In one left-leaning district, the 32nd, Democratic Sen. Brad Pfaff of Onalaska fended off Republican challenger Stacey Klein of Trempealeau.
In all other seats currently held by Democrats, there were no Republican challengers. And in six right-leaning districts currently held by Republicans, the GOP candidates won handily.
View results for all 16 Senate districts on the ballot this year.
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