Trevor Jung Flips Key State Senate Seat for Democrats
Racine Democrat defeats Jim Croft to replace longtime Republican Sen. Van Wanggaard.
Democrat Trevor Jung, left, and Republican Jim Croft, right. Both are vying for a seat in the 21st Senate District. Source: Jung and Croft campaigns
Democrat Trevor Jung has defeated Republican Jim Croft in one of Wisconsin’s most closely watched legislative races, flipping a key state Senate seat long held by Republicans.
Jung’s victory in the 21st Senate District is a major pickup for Democrats as they attempt to wrest control of the Wisconsin Senate from Republicans.
The Democrat earned 58% of the vote with 88% of precincts reporting.
The district, which includes northern Racine County and the southwestern corner of Milwaukee County, has become increasingly competitive following the adoption of new legislative maps in 2024.
Jung, the City of Racine‘s transit and mobility director and a former Racine alderman, launched his campaign before longtime Republican Sen. Van Wanggaard announced in March that he would not seek reelection.
Wanggaard’s retirement eliminated the advantage of incumbency and created one of the Democrats’ best opportunities to flip a Republican-held seat.
An analysis by John D. Johnson, a researcher at Marquette University Law School, determined that the redrawn district favored Democrats by 1.2 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election and 2.2 points in the U.S. Senate election. Liberal Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford carried it by an even wider margin in April 2025.
Wanggaard first won election in 2010, was ousted in a 2012 recall election during the political battles over Act 10 and reclaimed his seat in 2014. A former police officer, he became a prominent Republican voice on public safety and criminal justice issues, chairing the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.
He cited his age and family health challenges in announcing his retirement.
Croft, a political newcomer, sought to keep the seat in Republican hands. Both campaigns made affordability a central issue, and the contest attracted millions of dollars in campaign spending.
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