Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, was reelected Assembly speaker as two of his GOP colleagues abstained from voting.
In the Senate, meanwhile, 12 Dems voted against the resolution naming officers for the 2025-26 session.
Freshman Rep. Lindee Brill, of Sheboygan Falls, and Rep. Chuck Wichgers, of Muskego didn’t vote as Vos was reelected to the post 52-44. Members otherwise voted for either Vos or Dem Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, during yesterday’s roll call.
One Dem, freshman Rep. Karen Kirsch, D-Greenfield, was absent from the vote.
Brill said in a statement late yesterday that her vote shouldn’t come as any surprise since it was “no secret that a central theme of my Assembly campaign was the frustration that Wisconsinites across our state bear towards the leadership of the Assembly Republican caucus.”
Brill added, “I had hoped for a change in leadership, I remain convinced that we can deliver common-sense, conservative reforms for the people of our state this session. I will work with anyone in order to realize that goal.”
Vos, the longest-serving speaker in state history, has held the role since 2013. He told the chamber after his reelection that legislators should never forget “we are not here to satisfy our personal needs or passions.”
“We are here to represent our constituents and their wishes, not simply our own,” he added.
During his remarks, Vos also vowed money set aside for proposed tax cuts “will not be spent by this Legislature.”
Two years ago, four Assembly Republicans abstained from the speaker’s vote as Vos secured another term 60-35. At the time, Republicans had a 64-35 majority, and Wichgers was one of the four who declined to back Vos. Weeks prior, Vos eliminated the committee that Wichgers chaired during the 2021-22 session.
Republicans begin this session with a 54-45 majority under new maps, and Vos appointed Wichgers chair of the Constitution and Ethics Committee for this session.
Rep. Scott Allen, R-Waukesha, backed Vos during yesterday’s vote after unsuccessfully challenging him during November’s caucus leadership elections. Vos has since appointed Allen to lead the State and Federal Relations Committee.
Vos was nominated by Rep. Pat Snyder, R-Weston. Snyder praised Vos, who he said “does listen,” although he “doesn’t always agree.”
Also elected were:
- Rep. Tyler August, of Walworth, as majority leader
- Rep. Scott Krug, of Nekoosa, as assistant majority leader
- Kevin Petersen, of Waupaca, as speaker pro tempore
- Rob Summerfield, of Bloomer, as caucus chair
- Cindi Duchow, town of Delafield, as caucus vice-chair
- Rep. Nancy Vandermeer, of Tomah, as caucus secretary.
- Treig Pronschinske, of Mondovi, as sergeant at arms
Vos faced two unsuccessful recall efforts last year by opponents who accused him of rejecting efforts to impeach Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe.
Ahead of yesterday’s vote, Vos opponents announced plans for a noon rally to urge opposition to reelecting him. A handful of people showed up in front of the Capitol to hand out literature critical of Vos.
12 Dems vote against resolution naming officers
Senate GOP leaders last month fired Chief Clerk Linsay Hale, and no one was listed in that position in the resolution. Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, told WisPolitics last month Hale didn’t have the needed support in his caucus to continue in the role, but didn’t provide additional details.
Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, didn’t mention Hale by name as she told the chamber the motion should have one more name, but a “rash decision was made without consultation or consent.”
The resolution passed 21-12 with freshman Dems Jodi Habush Sinykin, of Whitefish Bay, Melissa Ratcliff, of Cottage Grove, and Jamie Wall, of Green Bay, joining Republicans in voting for it.
After officially taking the gavel as Senate president, Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk, noted she is only the second woman to serve in the role while acknowledging former GOP Sen. Mary Lazich, who was president for the 2015-16 session. Felzkowski also said she is the first member whose district is entirely north of Wisconsin Highway 29 to be elected president.
She vowed to strive for fair, honest and open debate on the floor.
“In this time of sensationalized politics and 30-second Twitter clips, true debate on the Senate floor is needed more than ever,” she said.
