National Democratic Group Will Target 9 Wisconsin Legislative Seats

The Wisconsin Capitol at night. (Isiah Holmes | Wisconsin Examiner)

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), the national organization responsible for helping elect Democrats to state legislatures, announced a slate of six Wisconsin Assembly and three Senate districts they plan to provide support for this session.

The new target seats belong to Republican incumbents facing Democratic challengers or are open due to Republican retirements.

“2026 presents a historic opportunity to fundamentally transform the balance of power in Wisconsin and take control of the legislature,” DLCC President Heather Williams said in a statement.

The organization consulted with the state Legislature’s Democratic caucuses to identify the races. According to the DLCC, the group will provide support and resources for data, research, polling, paid communication and direct voter contact for target seats. In addition, the organization also provides a direct link for fundraising for individual Democratic candidates who are featured on its website.

A first slate of target seats for the midterms was announced in April, comprised of incumbent Democrats running for another term in office in competitive districts including Reps. Joe Sheehan (D-Sheboygan), Ryan Spaude (D-Ashwaubenon), Jodi Emerson (D-Eau Claire), Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) and Sen. Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick).

During the 2024 election cycle, the DLCC invested heavily in Wisconsin and six other states.

This year, the organization is hoping to build on that momentum and flip the Senate and Assembly and its first step is identifying target seats. The DLCC has not yet said how much it will spend in upcoming elections.

Democrats currently hold 45 of 99 Assembly seats and 15 of 33 Senate seats, meaning they need to flip at least five Assembly seats and at least two Senate seats to hold majorities next session.

“For over a decade, Republicans in the Wisconsin legislature have rigged their way to power and rubber-stamped Trump’s harmful agenda that’s raising costs, but now the tide is turning as Republicans retire in droves and Democrats build undeniable momentum,” Williams said.

There are a total of 27 states and 42 legislative chambers on the DLCC’s target list this year, though Wisconsin has been identified as one of its top priorities, given the potential to win Democratic majorities for the first time in 16 years and the success in the last election cycle when Democrats flipped 14 legislative seats. The success came after new legislative maps were adopted by the Republican-led Legislature and Gov. Tony Evers following a state Supreme Court decision that found the previous voting maps were an unconstitutional gerrymander.

There have been a number of Republican retirements in Wisconsin this year including both Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R- Rochester), Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) and Sens. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) and Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield), who both represent competitive districts.

Apart from the developments in Wisconsin, the DLCC is looking at Democratic wins in the off-election years as a positive sign for the midterms. According to the DLCC, Republicans failed to flip any state legislative seats in elections since President Donald Trump was elected to a second term in 2024. Since then, Democrats in off-year elections have flipped 30 legislative seats, allowing them to secure a supermajority in New Jersey and flipping 13 seats in Virginia’s state legislative bodies.

Williams said the DLCC would be with Wisconsin candidates “every step of the way until November.”

Wisconsin Assembly races targeted by the DLCC:

• Assembly District 30 where Kevin Knoke, a veteran and educator from Hudson, is challenging incumbent Rep. Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls).
• Assembly District 51 where Ben Gruber, a conservation warden in Wisconsin who is member of AFSCME Local 1215, is challenging incumbent Rep. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville).
• Assembly District 53 where Becky Nichols, a former Menasha City Council member, is running for an open seat. Incumbent Rep. Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) is retiring and David Daniels is the Republican candidate. Rachael Dowling is running as an independent.
• Assembly District 85 where John Kroll, a Marathon County Board supervisor, is challenging Rep. Patrick Snyder (R-Weston)
• Assembly District 88 where Brandy Tollefson, a De Pere School Board member, is challenging Rep. Benjamin Franklin (R-De Pere).
• Assembly District 92 where Jeremiah Fredrickson, a fish farmer from Elk Mound, is challenging Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie).

The Wisconsin Senate races targeted by the DLCC:

• Senate District 5 where Rep. Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) is running for an open seat against Republican Mike Roberts, a physical therapist from Waukesha.
• Senate District 21 where Trevor Jung, who most recently worked as the transit director for the city of Racine, is running against Republican Jim Croft.
• Senate District 25 where Charly Ray, a small business owner, is running for the seat left open by Sen. Romaine Quinn (R-Birchwood). There are two Republicans, Angie Sapik and Erik Severson, running for the Republican spot on the ticket in November.

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announces 9 Wisconsin Legislature targets was originally published by Wisconsin Examiner.