Senate Democrats elect Janet Bewley to leadership role

TownNews.com Content Exchange

Senate Democrats on Friday unanimously elected Sen. Janet Bewley, the party’s second in charge, to lead their caucus through the tumultuous era of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She replaces Sen. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, who was elected minority leader in 2015.

Bewley, of Mason, in far northern Wisconsin’s Bayfield County, is faced with the momentous task, along with other Wisconsin leaders, of addressing the new coronavirus pandemic, skyrocketing unemployment, possible state budget shortfalls and a presidential election year during which a chance at becoming the majority is at stake for Senate Democrats.

The shift in leadership comes amid a number of other changes in the Senate. Those include the retirement of several members, including the nation’s longest-serving lawmaker, Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, and the likely departure of another Senate fixture, Republican majority leader Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, who is running for Congress.

Bewley, who has served as the assistant minority leader, was selected by Senate Democrats Friday in a virtual election. Sen. Janis Ringhand, D-Evansville, was elected as the new assistant Democratic leader.

“I am excited to work with my colleagues in the Senate in this new role, especially in light of the current COVID-19 crisis,” Bewley said in a statement. “Senate Democrats will continue to champion the values and ideals of Wisconsin’s hard-working families across the state, from Milwaukee to Port Wing. This is a stressful time for our state and now more than ever, we need to fight for the small businesses, communities and families that are feeling the brunt of this pandemic.”

Bewley said in an interview she decided to take on the role to provide continuity and to keep her caucus together in order to position Democrats to best make a difference this session and ahead of the November election.

She said she hasn’t yet committed to running for leader of her caucus in the legislative term starting next year.

She wants lawmakers to focus on passing additional legislation addressing COVID-19 to ensure resources are distributed to those who need it most, including local governments and health departments to test and track the disease. She said she fears Republican leaders may not call lawmakers back into session to pass such legislation.

Bewley, who is not up for re-election in November, will also be tasked with leading her caucus into the November elections. Democrats are not expected to win back the Senate majority this year, but Bewley said the reaction to the COVID-19 epidemic has highlighted how the Democratic Party’s policies fit into what it takes to keep Wisconsin strong.

Both Bewley and Ringhand were elected to the Assembly in 2010 and, in 2014, they were elected to the Senate.

“I want to be helpful as we move forward and reestablish a sense of normalcy in Wisconsin,” Ringhand said in a statement. “Right now, the most important thing for everyone is to continue to practice safety measures so we can open up as soon as possible.”

Shilling announced Tuesday she would step down as the Senate Democratic leader later in the week. She announced earlier this month that she would not seek another term this fall to spend more time with family after serving two decades in the Legislature. She will continue to serve the remainder of her term in the 32nd Senate District seat.