GOP state Sen. Van Wanggaard, of Racine, has told colleagues he will not seek reelection this fall, a source told WisPolitics.
Wanggaard, 73, posted a video message in December that he planned to take the holidays to discuss with his family whether to retire at the end of this term and would announce a decision after the New Year.
In subsequent interviews with WisPolitics earlier this year, Wanggaard said he was still weighing whether to run, citing his family’s health as a significant factor in his final decision.
He is one of three Senate Republicans who won’t seek another term this fall, joining Rob Hutton, of Brookfield, and Steve Nass, of Whitewater.
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Wanggaard was first elected to the state Senate in 2010. He was then recalled in June 2012 over his support of former Gov. Scott Walker’s push to strip most public employees of their powers to collectively bargain. He won back the seat in 2014 and has represented it since.
The seat was significantly redrawn in 2024 to make it a swing district, and Wanggaard was going to be a top Dem target this fall if he had sought reelection. The seat is one of four considered up for grabs this fall; Dem Kamala Harris took more votes than Donald Trump in 2024 in each of the districts.
