Senate Dem Leader Shilling Not Seeking Re-election

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By Pat Kreitlow

April 2, 2020

She becomes the 5th Senator and 4th Democrat to leave the Legislature

State Senate Democratic Leader Jen Shilling has become the fourth Senate Democrat and 5th Senator up for re-election in 2020 to announce there won’t be a re-election bid.

The La Crosse Democrat was first elected to the Senate in a 2011 special election after having served in the State Assembly starting in 2000. She has been the Democratic Leader since 2014.

“It was not an easy decision,” Shilling said in a statement, “but I know it is time to put my family first and look to a future where I can put away my little red suitcase that has accompanied me on my weekly travels to Madison for the past 20 years.”

Shilling joins Democrats Dave Hansen of Green Bay, Madison area Senators Fred Risser and Mark Miller, and Republican Luther Olsen in leaving the Legislature.

The Senate district has one Republican Assembly representative and two Democrats, Steve Doyle and Jill Billings.

Author

Pat Kreitlow

The Founding Editor of UpNorthNews, Pat was a familiar presence on radio and TV stations in western Wisconsin before serving in the state Legislature. After a brief stint living in the Caribbean, Pat and wife returned to Chippewa Falls to be closer to their growing group of grandchildren. He now serves as UNN's chief political correspondent and host of UpNorthNews Radio, airing weekday mornings 6 a.m.-8 a.m on the Civic Media radio network and the UpNorthNews Facebook page.

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CATEGORIES: POLITICS

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