The Sconi

Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley has decided not to seek re-election this fall, making her the fifth Democratic lawmaker to arrive at the same decision recently.

“After four years in the Assembly and almost eight years in the Senate, it is time for me to make way for a new generation of progressive and pragmatic leaders from a part of the state that has produced so many,” Bewley said, according to Madison.com. The veteran lawmaker joins Reps. David Bowen (D-Milwaukee), Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton), Beth Meyers (D-Bayfield), and Sara Rodriguez (D-Brookfield) in walking away.

Earlier this year, Senators Jon Erpenback (D-West Point) and Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls) announced their retirements. In December, Rep. Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) relinquished his role as Assembly minority leader; he is considering running again.

Bewley became the Democratic Senate Leader in 2020 after then-leader Jennifer Shilling said she would not seek another term, after serving two decades in the Legislature. Bewley served as assistant minority leader beginning in 2017.

“Janet has given a lot to the people of her district and our state over the course of her career, and her impact will be felt for years to come,” Greta Neubauer (D-Racine), Assembly minority leader, said, according to Madison.com. Neubauer took over from Hintz. “I am so thankful to have been able to work alongside her in serving the people of Wisconsin.”

Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) said, “Janet’s steadfast leadership, her integrity, and compassion are integral to our caucus. It is clear that her love of the 25th Senate District and the state of Wisconsin shines bright in everything she does."

Bowen and Rodriguez are now running for lieutenant governor.