Republican lawmakers return LeMahieu to leadership role in Wisconsin Senate

The Republican caucus in the Wisconsin Senate reelected state Sen. Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, as majority leader for the 2025-26 session, when will have fewer seats following several wins by Democrats in the 2024 election.

Associated Press

November 7, 2024

Devin LeMahieu walks in a room with out-of-focus marble walls in the background.

Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu walks in the Wisconsin Senate chambers on March 8, 2022, at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. On Nov 11, 2024, the Republican caucus in the state Senate reelected LeMahieu as Majority Leader. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Devin LeMahieu will return as the Republican majority leader of the Wisconsin Senate.

The GOP caucus elected LeMahieu to the position during a meeting on Nov. 7. LeMehieu said in a news release that the top issue for Republicans in the 2025-26 legislative session will be returning the state’s funding surplus to families.

LeMahieu, of Oostburg, has represented parts of Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Fond du Lac counties in the Legislature since 2015. He served as majority leader during the 2021-22 and 2023-24 sessions.

He’ll preside over a smaller majority in the session. Bolstered by new district boundaries that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers enacted in early 2024, Democrats flipped four Republican districts in the Nov. 5 election and shrank the GOP majority from 22-11 to 18-15. The gains have given Democrats hope of retaking the chamber in the 2026 elections.

The new electoral maps also helped Democrats make substantial gains in the Assembly. They flipped 10 Republican districts, shrinking the Republican advantage in that chamber from 64-35 to 52-44, with three races still undecided.

Assembly Republicans are expected to pick their leaders on Nov. 12. Speaker Robin Vos has said he plans to run for the chamber’s top spot again.