Republicans Pick Bradley as Senate Minority Leader

Julian Bradley succeeds Devin LeMahieu as leader of Wisconsin Senate Republicans, who now enter the next session as the minority party.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in People

Republicans Pick Bradley as Senate Minority Leader

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Wisconsin Senate Republicans elected Sen. Julian Bradley as minority leader on Thursday, after the party lost its majority in Tuesday's election. Bradley succeeds Sen. Devin LeMahieu, who had served as majority leader since 2020 and announced in March he would not seek reelection.

Why it matters

The shift ends more than 15 years of Republican control of the Wisconsin Senate's majority and changes the party's leadership at the top of the chamber. The change follows Tuesday's results, which altered the majority math in the Senate.

Senate Republicans have been the majority for the first time in over 15 years is now reversed, with the party entering the next session in the minority. Bradley has served in office since 2021, while LeMahieu led the caucus as majority leader since 2020.

The players

Julian Bradley

Bradley is a Wisconsin state senator from New Berlin who previously worked as a professional wrestler under the name Kris Krude.

Devin LeMahieu

LeMahieu is a Wisconsin state senator from Oostburg who served as Senate majority leader from 2020 until he announced he would not seek reelection.

Senate Republicans

Senate Republicans are the Republican caucus of the Wisconsin State Senate, which became the minority party after Tuesday's election.

The details

Bradley, whose district includes portions of Waukesha, Racine and Walworth counties, was born in Baltimore and moved to Wisconsin with his mother in 1992. Before entering politics, he worked as a professional wrestler under the name Kris Krude, with his last match listed in 2006.

1992: Bradley moves to Wisconsin with his mother.
2006: Bradley last wrestles professionally.
2020: LeMahieu begins serving as majority leader.
2021: Bradley begins serving in office.
March 2026: LeMahieu announces he will not seek reelection.

Legacy Majority

The move ends a stretch of more than 15 years in which Senate Republicans held the chamber's majority. It marks the first time the caucus has entered a session in the minority in that period.

Wisconsin residents will see Senate Republicans in the minority when the next session begins, which may affect how bills move through the chamber. Bradley's district covers parts of Waukesha, Racine and Walworth counties.

The takeaway

Leadership changes in the Wisconsin Senate reflect the shifting majority that followed Tuesday's election. Readers tracking state politics can follow how the new minority caucus approaches the next session.