Wisconsin State Senate


The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the larger Wisconsin State Assembly they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin. The powers of the Wisconsin Senate are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate.
The Wisconsin Constitution ties the size of the State Senate to that of the Assembly, by limiting its size to no less than 1/4, nor more than 1/3, of the size of the Assembly. Currently, Wisconsin is divided into 33 Senate Districts apportioned throughout the state based on population as determined by the decennial census, for a total of 33 senators. A Senate district is formed by combining three Assembly districts. Similar to the U.S. Senate, in addition to its duty of reviewing and voting on all legislation passed through the legislature, the State Senate has the exclusive responsibility of confirming certain gubernatorial appointments, particularly cabinet secretaries and members of boards and commissions. Senators are elected for four-year terms, staggered so that approximately half of the Senate is up for election every two years. If a vacancy occurs in a Senate seat between elections, it may be filled only by a special election. The Senate chamber is in the south wing of the Wisconsin State Capitol, in Madison.

Salary and benefits

The salary for legislators serving in the 2017 Wisconsin Legislature - $50,950 - is unchanged from the previous session. The salary for legislators serving in the 2015 session was increased by 2 percent from the $49,943 rate that had been in effect for the previous three bienniums. Before that increase, the most recent increase was an increase of 5 per-cent from the 2007 session to the 2009 session. The Speaker of the Assembly receives an additional stipend, which is currently $25 per month.
In addition to their salaries, senators outside Dane County may receive a per diem up to $88 to cover living expenses while they are in Dane County on state business. Members of the Madison delegation may receive a per diem up to $44 to cover expenses. Each senator also receives $75 per month in "out-of-session" pay when the Legislature is in session for three days or less. Over two years, each senator is allotted $66,008 to cover general office expenses, printing, postage and district mailings.

Current session

Composition

Senate officers

Members

SenatorDistrictPartyResidenceCurrent ageFirst electedNext election
André Jacque01RepBellevue20182022
Robert Cowles02RepGreen Bay19872020
Tim Carpenter03DemMilwaukee20022022
Lena Taylor04DemMilwaukee20042020
Dale P. Kooyenga05RepBrookfield20182022
La Tonya Johnson06DemMilwaukee20162020
Chris Larson07DemMilwaukee20102022
Alberta Darling08RepRiver Hills19922020
Devin LeMahieu09RepSheboygan20142022
Patty Schachtner10DemSomerset5720182020
Stephen Nass11RepWhitewater20142022
Vacant122020
Scott Fitzgerald13RepJuneau19942022
Luther Olsen14RepRipon20042020
Janis Ringhand15DemEvansville20142022
Mark F. Miller16DemMonona20042020
Howard Marklein17RepSpring Green20142022
Dan Feyen18RepFond du Lac20162020
Roger Roth19RepAppleton20142022
Duey Stroebel20RepSaukville20152020
Van H. Wanggaard21RepRacine20142022
Robert Wirch22DemKenosha19962020
Kathy Bernier23RepChippewa Falls20182022
Patrick Testin24RepStevens Point20162020
Janet Bewley25DemAshland20142022
Fred Risser26DemMadison19622020
Jon Erpenbach27DemMiddleton19982022
Dave Craig28RepVernon20162020
Jerry Petrowski29RepMarathon20122022
Dave Hansen30DemGreen Bay20002020
Jeff Smith31DemEau Claire20182022
Vacant322020
Chris Kapenga33RepDelafield20152022

Past notable members