The Capitol Report, produced by WisPolitics.com — a nonpartisan, Madison-based news service that specializes in coverage of government and politics — provides a weekly analysis of issues being debated in Wisconsin state government. It is underwritten by the WNA and produced exclusively for its members. WisPolitics.com President Jeff Mayers is a former editor and reporter for the Associated Press and a former political writer for the Wisconsin State Journal.
The 2026 midterms in Wisconsin could be summed up as an election of “firsts,” as in:
–The first Black governor of Wisconsin, David Crowley, who will take office in January. The Milwaukee County executive’s gubernatorial campaign died and then was revived as Gov. Tony Evers and establishment Dems rushed to block state Rep. Francesca Hong’s rise in the August Dem primary. He also will be the first Milwaukee Dem to win the office since 1890.
During his Nov. 3 victory speech in his hometown, Crowley referred to growing up in poverty in a disadvantaged Milwaukee neighborhood.
“This is a very good day. Because of you, a boy who grew up facing evictions will now live in the governor’s residence,” the former lawmaker told supporters.
–2027 will be the first time in 16 years that Dems have full control of the Capitol as GOP legislative incumbents fell and Dems won open seats. Back in 2010, Dems controlled the Legislature and had Jim Doyle in the governor’s office. Then came the 2010 elections that ushered in Scott Walker and GOP domination of the Legislature. Dems began to claw their way back with Evers’ two terms as governor and new legislative maps.
–The new Legislature in January will feature the first female speaker of the Assembly, as Rep. Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, leads a caucus that will total 53, a big boost from the 45 Dem reps in the current session. She will join Sen. Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, in leading the Legislature, marking a changing of the guard as Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, leaves as speaker and the Assembly after an historic run and outgoing Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R–Oostburg, leaves the chamber after not seeking reelection.
Hesselbein, who will lead a caucus of 18 in the 33-member chamber (up from the current 15), pledged the new Dem majority would fully fund public schools, rein in property taxes and “stand for our brothers and sisters in labor.”
“Wisconsin elected a new majority that will put money back in your pocket, make life cost less and build a future in Wisconsin where the minimum wage is a livable wage,” Hesselbein said.
Neubauer said the Dem trifecta “will end decades of Republican obstructionism. We will build great schools, make sure families can afford a summer vacation and save for retirement. We will hold big tech accountable, protect our rights and freedoms, and make Wisconsin a state where everyone can thrive.”
Neubauer added, “We know that people will be counting on us to deliver, and we will.”
–Democrat Yee Leng Xiong, a Wausau-born Marathon County supervisor, beat GOP Treasurer John Leiber to become the first Hmong American elected to statewide office in the country.
–Former Dem state Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa of Milwaukee won a three-way race for secretary of state and is the first Latina elected to statewide office in Wisconsin.
–And in the 1st Congressional District, Mitchell Berman will be the first Dem to hold the seat in more than 30 years as the emergency room nurse from Racine County beat incumbent Bryan Steil, R-Janesville, in his first run for political office.
Republicans have held the seat since 1995, most notably with Paul Ryan representing the southeastern Wisconsin district. The last Dem to hold the seat was Peter Barca of Kenosha, who served in Congress from 1993-95 and failed two years ago to defeat Steil in a comeback bid after serving as a state representative and Evers’ secretary of revenue.
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