MADISON, WI – This week, the Wisconsin Examiner published an article detailing Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein’s views on the current legislative session, next year’s election, and how a democratic majority would serve Wisconsin families. In the article Sen. Hesselbein emphasized Senate Democrats’ commitment to cutting costs and delivering bi-partisian results for our state.
Read more on State Senate Democratic Leader Dianne Hesselbein:
Wisconsin Examiner: Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein hopeful for more bipartisan work in 2026
- Hesselbein noted that at the start of the session, lawmakers introduced three bills she thought were “really strong.”
- “Unfortunately, Republicans are refusing to work with us on those issues,” Hesselbein said. “I am hopeful that they will go spend time with their families back home over the holidays, and they will realize that we can still get a lot of great things done for the state of Wisconsin in the spring.”
- “These were three really common-sense bills. I still really think they are, and all we needed was two Senate Republicans to help us get these bills across the finish line and show that they care about the people of the state of Wisconsin and that they want to do some bipartisan work,” Hesselbein said. “Unfortunately, they weren’t interested in doing that work with us, and they don’t have a plan to help people with the rising costs in the state of Wisconsin.”
- “Hesselbein said she believes that the Wisconsin State Senate is “the most flippable chamber” in the United States — and Democrats are working hard towards that goal. Wisconsin’s 17 odd-numbered Senate districts are up for reelections in 2026. It’s the first time new legislative maps adopted in 2024 that reflect the 50/50 partisan divide in the state will be in effect for those districts.”
- “‘Fair maps and great candidates matter, and we already have people on the field that are out there knocking on doors listening to voters today on a cold day in Wisconsin… We have people that want to be elected to do the right thing for the people in the state of Wisconsin,’ Hesselbein said.”
- “Democratic candidates in Wisconsin and nationwide are hammering a message about affordability. Through the State Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, senators and two current representatives seeking Senate seats in 2026 have been touring the state to highlight the effects of Republican policy choices, including tariffs and cuts to health care at the federal level. They also recently launched an ad titled ‘Aisle 5.’”
- “‘When Senate Democrats are fortunate enough to be the majority, we will continue to work with our Republican colleagues and get the best policies to help the people in the state of Wisconsin, especially when it comes to rising costs,’ she told the Examiner.”
- “Hesselbein said she is looking forward to seeing each candidate’s platform and a “robust” discussion among them.”
- “‘What are the plans that they have for the state of Wisconsin? How do they see us addressing rising costs and affordability? What is their plan for K-12 education, higher education? For the environment and all the things that we’ve been hearing about for years that people in the state of Wisconsin want us to effectively address,’ Hesselbein said.”
