La Crosse’s Shilling hopeful about Dem chances in state Senate races

Wisconsin Democrats who want to regain control of the State Senate in 2020 may have more of an uphill battle than they had planned. 

Two Democratic Senators, Mark Miller and Dave Hansen, announced they are retiring, rather than seeking re-election this fall.

Senate Democratic leader Jennifer Shilling of La Crosse isn’t worried about keeping Miller’s Madison-area seat, but says Republicans have had their eye on Hansen’s Green Bay-area district.

The GOP controls the Senate by a 19-to-14 margin, meaning that Democrats would have to take three seats now held by Republicans to win the majority. 

Shilling says that some issues important to Democratic voters haven’t gotten much attention under a Republican majority, such as health care costs and transportation.

Each party has eight Senate seats on the ballot in November, including Shilling’s seat in the 32nd District. 

The last time Democrats controlled the Wisconsin Senate was for a few months in 2012, after recall elections.