Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu will not seek reelection
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu not seeking reelection
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) announced on Thursday, March 19, that he will not seek reelection. LeMahieu has served in the Senate since 2015 and has served as Majority Leader since 2020.
OOSTBURG, Wis. - Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) announced on Thursday, March 19, that he will not seek reelection.
Devin LeMahieu
LeMahieu has served in the Senate since 2015 and has served as Majority Leader since 2020. Before that, he served on the Sheboygan County Board for nine years.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
Devin LeMahieu statement
What they're saying:
"After careful reflection and prayer, I have made the difficult decision to not seek re-election.
"Serving in the State Senate has been the privilege of a lifetime, and I’m proud of our accomplishments. The REINS Act has become model legislation in statehouses across the country and, since 2020, we’ve enacted the two largest income tax cuts in state history, despite divided government.
"However, the time has come for a new chapter in my life. I am looking forward to spending more time with my wife in our new Madison-area home and, for the first time since 2006, rooting for bold conservative reform from the sidelines.
"Thank you to the people of Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Calumet and Fond du Lac Counties for the trust you’ve placed in me as your State Senator; to the countless colleagues and staff who have made this an unforgettable journey; and a special thank you to my mom for her tireless support knocking doors and walking in parades."
Madison power shift
Dig deeper:
His decision adds to a growing list of top state leaders stepping away from office.
It follows news that Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, the state’s longest-serving speaker, also will not run again. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has already announced he will not seek reelection, meaning Wisconsin’s top political leadership will see significant turnover by 2027.
Political analysts say the timing is notable, as new legislative maps reshape the balance of power in Madison.
"Certainly we have to take them at their word. They're leaving voluntarily. They're choosing not to run for reelection. That's part of democracy. But I think there are some coincidences going on here that really need to be interpreted," UW-Milwaukee Professor Emeritus Mordecai Lee said. "I suspect that this is all about the remapping of the state Senate districts to be a little less partisan, tilting to Republicans and being a little more nonpartisan sort of tilting nobody trying to be in the middle."
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
Previous district lines helped give Republicans a supermajority in the state Senate. However, new maps are expected to make districts more competitive.
Democrats are optimistic they could flip control of the chamber, as the state's top two Republicans will be out of office; they need to gain two seats in November to take the majority.
State officials react
What they're saying:
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers:
"As a fellow son of Sheboygan County, I have always enjoyed working with Majority Leader LeMahieu and his quiet and polite but frank approach to our work together. While we haven’t always seen eye to eye on every issue all of the time, I’ve never doubted his commitment to doing what he believes is best for the folks and families in Sheboygan County and across our state.
"For the past five years he’s served as majority leader, we’ve navigated difficult issues facing the state of Wisconsin, and we’ve gotten good work done together by putting politics aside and staying focused on doing the right thing. So much of what we’ve accomplished could not have been done without Majority Leader LeMahieu’s patience and persistence.
"We cut taxes for working families and retirees, invested in our state’s child care industry to support kids and families and providers across our state, supported shared revenue for the first time in a generation to help local communities with basic and unique needs alike, kept MLB and our Milwaukee Brewers in Wisconsin for the next generation of fans, and so much more. Just this week, we extended postpartum coverage for moms and babies and expanded healthcare coverage and breast cancer screenings for Wisconsin women, and I look forward to signing into law legislation soon to fight PFAS contamination statewide and save Wisconsin taxpayers money by investing in FoodShare.
"I wish Devin and his wife, Eileen, a lifetime of happiness and adventures together. I also thank him for his many years of public service to the people of our state. Thank you, Majority Leader LeMahieu.
"In the meantime, we’re not done yet, and I look forward to getting more good bipartisan work accomplished before our time together in office comes to an end."
Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos:
"I enjoyed working with Devin and appreciate everything he has done for the conservative movement in the Senate. I have always said that being Senate Majority Leader is the hardest job in the Capitol but Devin approached each challenge deliberately and with the goal to move our state forward. We accomplished a lot during our time leading our respective chambers that I am proud of and – even when it was difficult – he always wanted to do what was right and best for the people of Wisconsin.
"I wish Devin great success in his next chapter and I want to thank him for his service as Majority Leader for the last 5 years."
Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Devin Remiker:
"All potential Republican candidates should take note: Both of your leaders have abandoned you. Your policies are causing working people to turn against you in droves as the Trump administration crashes and burns. Consider retiring alongside your colleagues before you are voted out in November."
Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming:
"Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu has been a tireless advocate for our shared conservative values and a key force in maintaining Republican majorities. His leadership has strengthened our state, and we thank him for his dedicated service to Wisconsinites," said Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming. "We look forward to continuing the fight and keeping a majority in the Senate this November."
The Source: The information in this post was provided by the office of Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, UW-Milwaukee Professor Emeritus Mordecai Lee, as well as the offices of the various political officials and party leaders quoted in this report.