September 2024 Legislative Update 

DNR Requests 10-year Reauthorization in 2025-27 Budget Request.
The 2025-27 state budget development process is now underway. On September 16, Wisconsin state agencies submitted their 2025-27 state budget requests to the governor and Department of Administration (DOA). In his June budget instructions to the state agencies, Governor Evers directed agencies to assume zero budget growth (with a few exceptions like exceptions for K-12 school aids and cost-to-continue programs including Department of Health Services institutions and the state Medical Assistance program).

Notably for WPRA, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requested the reauthorization of the Stewardship program funded at $100 million per year for another 10 years (through fiscal year 2036). DNR did not include subprogram funding levels in the request.

During fall and early winter 2024, the DOA State Budget Office develops a budget based on the governor’s agenda and agencies’ requests. The governor then presents his budget to the state legislature for its consideration at the beginning of the next legislative session – typically January or February 2025.

All Hands-on Deck for Stewardship
WPRA members need your help to defend the Stewardship Program and work for its reauthorization. Gathering Waters, the state’s land trust organization, has compiled a coalition website (https://knowlesnelson.org/)  for the effort. WPRA encourages all members to identify the KNSP projects in your community and educate your local government leaders about this effort. We need everyone working hard to advocate for KNSP and that starts now.

State Senate Race Preview
Wisconsin’s new state legislative maps will very likely result in a narrowing of Senate Republicans’ current 22-11 majority.  Running on staggered four-year terms, 16 of the Senate’s 33 seats are up for election. Three of those seats are considered toss-ups, two of those seats are “lean” to “likely” Democrat while the other 11 seats are not considered competitive.  While it is not possible for Democrats to capture the majority in the Senate in 2024, they have the possibility to significantly narrow the gap putting the majority in play in 2026. Making gains won’t be easy though as Republicans have incumbent senators running in two of the three toss-ups.

From the Democrat’s perspective the goal is a sweep of the three seats which would put them at 15 for the first time since they lost the majority in 2010.  Getting to 15 would not only put a majority take-back in 2026 squarely in play it would also make legislating very difficult for the Republicans knowing they can only lose one member’s vote on any given issue.

From the Republican perspective, if they can win two out of three of the toss-ups they would come back at 20, giving them breathing room in their caucus while putting any majority talk in 2026 out of play. 

Senate District 8
Current incumbent Sen. Duey Stroebel is running for reelection in a district that looks different from past cycles. The new map produced a 51 percent GOP seat in this northern Milwaukee suburb seat that includes parts of southern Washington and Ozaukee counties, with the northern pieces of Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. Challenging Stroebel is environmental attorney Jodi Habush Sinykin, who narrowly lost in 2023 in a special election to Senator Dan Knodl. Under the new maps, Knodl’s and Stroebel’s districts were combined into the new Senate District 8, prompting Knodl to return to the Assembly, where he is anticipated to win his race in November. Fresh off her special election race in 2023 and with notable name ID (Habush), Habush Sinykin is calling her race against Stroebel “Take Two.” This race will likely be the most expensive and contentious race of the cycle.

Senate District 14
State Sen. Joan Ballweg is seeking reelection in a district that looks quite different from her previous rural, predominantly red farming area. The new 14th District now spans Columbia, Sauk, and Richland counties and extends into Dane County, covering the solidly Democratic northeast side of Madison. With 20 years of experience in the legislature, Ballweg is no novice, but she will need to reintroduce herself to significant portions of her new constituency. Meanwhile, the Democratic candidate, Sarah Keyeski, a mental health practitioner from Lodi, is emphasizing her Democratic credentials in a district that now leans 52 percent Democratic. Republicans will highlight Ballweg as a moderate and hope her incumbency advantage will win out over the relatively unknown Keyeski. Keyeski backers will point to the district makeup and the fact that Mandela Barnes won the district in 2022, and Biden won it in 2020.

Senate District 18
This newly created district stretches from Appleton to Oshkosh along the shores of Lake Winnebago and includes Menasha, Neenah, and Fox Crossing. On the Republican side, physician Anthony Phillips emerged as the clear winner in the August primary and will face Kristin Alfheim, an Appleton City Council member, retirement planner, and advocate. Alfheim has been campaigning in this district, which leans 54 percent Democratic, for several months, giving her a head start against Phillips. Political insiders expect Alfheim to win and this seat is considered a “lean/likely” Dem seat.

Senate District 30
In the game of musical redistricting chairs, no incumbent Republican wanted to run in the new 30th. This district, which includes the city of Green Bay and the villages of De Pere, Bellevue, and Allouez, initially encompassed the areas of three current state senators: Eric Wimberger, Andre Jacque, and Rob Cowles. However, all three chose to bow out—either by moving to more favorable Republican seats or, in Cowles’ case, retiring altogether. This left the 30th District an open competitive seat, with two well-known local candidates now facing off in the general election: Democrat Jamie Wall, a business and economic development consultant, and Republican Jim Rafter, a member of the Allouez Village Board.  This is a toss-up in the truest sense and is expected to come down to the wire.

Senate District 32
Incumbent State Senator Brad Pfaff is well-acquainted with much of his new district, with parts of the Western border of the state along the Mississippi, including La Crosse and extending down through Vernon County. This district, which leans 54 percent Democratic, is a blend of rural dairy land and the more urban area of La Crosse. Pfaff faces Republican Stacey Klein, a Trempealeau County Board member who initially launched a bid for the U.S. Senate before shifting her focus to the state Senate race. While incumbents typically have an advantage, the redrawn district and various other factors could put this seat in play if Trump were to have a big night. Barring that scenario, Senator Pfaff is expected to hold his seat.