Following an election filled with landslide Republican victories, state senators from both parties in Madison voted last week for their respective party leadership for the upcoming legislative session.
The session, which will begin in January, will see some new faces in leadership positions.
Republicans elected Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, will serve as Senate majority leader. Fitzgerald had been serving as minority leader since 2007, and previously was the majority leader for two months in 2004.
Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, will assist Fitzgerald and was unanimously elected as Assistant Majority Leader.
Grothman said in a statement he is looking forward to improving the business climate in the state and restoring faith in the government.
The Republicans now control both houses of the state Legislature as well as the governor’s office. In the Senate, Republicans gained four seats on Tuesday and now have a 19 to 14 seat advantage. This marks the first time Republicans will have a majority in the Senate since 2006.
After losing several prominent leaders in the Senate, Democrats had to elect different leadership for the upcoming session.
Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona, was elected Senate Minority Leader after serving as the Democratic Caucus chair since 2007.
In a statement, Sen. Miller promised the Democrats would still fight for the citizens of Wisconsin despite being the minority party and he pledged to work with the Republican majority.
“Senate Democrats stand ready and willing to work on a bipartisan basis with the incoming legislative majorities and administration to continue creating well paying jobs in Wisconsin, improving education and strengthening our communities,” Miller said in a statement.
In his statement, Miller added the Democrats will not obstruct the legislative process by opposing legislation without cause.
However, Miller warned the Democrats would not allow what he calls “policies that move our state backward.”
According to Miller, such policies would include taxing the middle class, senior citizens and working families, making higher education less accessible and reducing funding for police and fire services.
Barry Burden, a UW political science professor, said while cooperation between the parties will be key, the Democratic voice will most likely be muted.
“Unless the GOP is seriously divided on some issues, the Democratic minority will largely be absent from the policy making process,” Burden said in an e-mail.
At their party caucus meeting Thursday, Republicans voted for a similar leadership structure to the one they had as the minority party last session.
Sen. Mike Ellis, R-Neenah, who has served in the Senate for nearly 30 years, was elected by Republicans to be president of the Senate. In addition, Sen. Joe Leibham, R-Sheboygan, will serves as president pro tempore.
Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, previously the assistant majority leader, will serve the same role in the minority party this session.
Democrats also elected Sen. Julie Lassa, D-Stevens Point, as chair of the Senate Democratic caucus. Lassa returns to the Senate after losing her bid for U.S. Congress.
Leadership changes will take effect Jan. 3 when newly-elected senators are inaugurated.
