MADISON — On Monday, April 13, District 17 State Senator Howard Marklein, (R-Spring Green) officially announced his intent to run for re-election this fall. Marklein will begin circulating nomination papers on April 15.
“I am proud of everything we have accomplished together to make Wisconsin a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Southwestern Wisconsin has a strong voice in the State Capitol and I am excited to continue our work in the next session,” Marklein said in a statement.
Marklein is Co-Chair of the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) and has a hand in shaping Wisconsin’s budget and priorities. Among his accomplishments is a state budget surplus of more than $4 billion.
“In addition to the state budget, I authored nearly 20 bills that were signed into law, each with bipartisan support. Many of these bills came directly from those I represent,” Marklein said.
However, social programs like child care and public education have lacked proper funding, forcing school districts to go to referenda in the past several years order to keep school-sponsored programs and educational options for students available.
Marklein and Gov. Tony Evers even went to the State Supreme Court on education funding. After the gerrymandered state maps were deemed unconstitutional in 2024, Marklein had his district reshaped, losing some of his more staunchly Republican-backing area for more liberal stretches of land closer to Madison.
Marklein already has three candidates running for the Democratic primary — Assembly District 50 Representative Jenna Jacobson (D-Oregon), business owner Lisa White (D-Potosi) and educator Corrine Hendrickson (D-New Glarus).
Feeling a potential “blue wave” of Democratic support at the polls might be coming this November, several in the Wisconsin GOP have chosen to retire rather than lose, like Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. In last week’s spring election, liberal Supreme Court Justice candidate Chris Taylor defeated her conservative opponent by more than 20 points. Taylor also won every county in Senate District 17.
“Senator Marklein talks about investments in our schools, investments in hospitals, in our healthcare system — ignoring the fact that while he’s been in office, schools in his district have closed their doors, hospitals in his district have closed their doors, and healthcare costs have skyrocketed,” said Will Karcz, State Senate Democratic Committee Communications Director. “Sen. Marklein sat back and did nothing as veterans’ housing facilities in Eau Claire and Green Bay closed their doors. When he could have acted. The people of Wisconsin’s 17th Senate district deserve better than the failed leadership Howard has brought to Madison.”
No Republican candidate has emerged to challenge Marklein, who has held his seat for over a decade. The Wisconsin state primary election will be held August 11, with the general election Nov. 3.