MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Democrats are expressing growing confidence about their chances of seizing legislative control after a second top GOP leader announced Thursday he’s stepping away from politics this fall.
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu joined Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in declaring he won’t pursue reelection, marking the departure of Wisconsin’s two most powerful Republican lawmakers. The announcements follow the implementation of redrawn legislative districts that provide Democrats with better electoral opportunities.
LeMahieu, who has served since 2014 and led the Senate GOP caucus since 2020, stated his intention to step down after three terms. “The time has come for a new chapter in my life,” LeMahieu declared in his retirement statement, though he didn’t reveal his future plans. Vos, Wisconsin’s longest-tenured Assembly speaker, made a similar announcement last month.
The wave of Republican departures extends beyond legislative leadership. Multiple GOP lawmakers have opted against seeking reelection in what political observers expect will be a difficult cycle for the party nationwide.
Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Devin Remiker characterized the leadership exodus as a cautionary tale for remaining Republicans. “All potential Republican candidates should take note: Both of your leaders have abandoned you,” Remiker stated.
The political landscape shifted dramatically after liberals secured a Wisconsin Supreme Court majority in 2023. By December of that year, the court struck down Republican-drawn legislative boundaries, paving the way for new maps signed by Democratic Governor Tony Evers in 2024.
Republicans had maintained legislative dominance since 2011, when then-Governor Scott Walker approved district lines that strengthened GOP majorities for over a decade. During that period, Wisconsin became a conservative policy laboratory, with Republicans eliminating collective bargaining rights for most government employees, reducing taxes, and implementing voter ID requirements.
Under the revised maps, Democrats need to gain just two Senate seats and five Assembly seats to claim majorities in their respective chambers.
Will Karcz, representing the Democratic Senate campaign committee, suggested LeMahieu’s departure reflects Republican pessimism about their electoral prospects. “There are no two ways about it: Senate Republicans see the writing on the wall,” Karcz observed, calling the Wisconsin Senate “the most flippable chamber in the country.”
The gubernatorial race is also wide open for the first time in 16 years due to Evers’ retirement decision. Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany, backed by President Donald Trump, appears positioned as the GOP nominee, while seven prominent Democrats are competing in the August primary.
Despite partisan tensions, Evers commended LeMahieu’s collaborative approach, praising his “patience and persistence” and ability to prioritize “doing the right thing” over politics.
Recent bipartisan achievements under LeMahieu’s leadership include expanding Medicaid coverage for new mothers, enhancing cancer screening coverage for women with dense breast tissue, funding PFAS chemical cleanup efforts, increasing state support for local governments, and securing the Milwaukee Brewers’ continued presence in Wisconsin.
However, LeMahieu’s tenure also saw setbacks, including the collapse of Wisconsin’s flagship land conservation program due to funding shortfalls and the failure of a bipartisan agreement to maintain the state’s public affairs television network.
