State of the State Address to Be Delivered January 24; Comings and Goings

Earlier this week, Senate President Roger Roth (R-Appleton) and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) invited Governor Walker to deliver his yearly State of the State address on January 24, 2018. A time has not yet been set.

As we near the end of the 2017-18 legislative session, resignations and retirements are starting to be announced. Below is a list of some of the most recent shake-ups.

The next possible floor session for the Legislature begins January 16. The Legislature will likely adjourn the 2017-18 session in February or March.

Comings and Goings

Representative Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) is stepping down from his Assembly seat to become Assistant Deputy Secretary at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. No special election will be held.

Senator Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) is stepping down from his Senate seat to serve as the Division Administrator for Worker's Compensation. No special election will be held.

Senator Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) has been appointed to the Joint Finance Committee to fill the seat vacated by Senator Harsdorf.

Senator Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) gave up her seat to become the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Representative Adam Jarchow (R- Balsam Lake) won the Republican primary against Representative Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls) in December. Jarchow will face Patty Schachtner, a Democrat from Somerset, in the general election on January 16 to fill Harsdorf's Senate seat. 

Senator Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) is giving up her State Senate Seat to run for U.S. Senate. Representative Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) is giving up his State Assembly Seat to run for Vukmir’s State Senate Seat.

State Superintendent Tony Evers, Representative Dana Wachs (D- Eau Claire) and Senator Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) are among the crowded field of Democrats vying to challenge Governor Walker when he is up for re-election in November 2018. The primary will be held August 14, 2018.

Representative Cory Mason (D-Racine) was recently elected mayor of Racine and vacated his Assembly seat. Greta Neubauer, a Democrat from Racine, won the Democratic primary and is unopposed in the general election to fill Mason's seat. 

Representative Bob Gannon (R-Slinger) passed away unexpectedly this year. Rick Gundrum, a Republican from Slinger, will face Dennis Degenhardt, a Democrat from West Bend, in the general election on January 16 to fill Gannon's seat.