Neubauer Elected Speaker, Hesselbein Set to Lead Senate

Greta Neubauer's election as Assembly Speaker and Dianne Hesselbein's expected Senate leadership make both top Wisconsin Legislature leaders women for the first time.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in People

Neubauer Elected Speaker, Hesselbein Set to Lead Senate

Live Poll

Do you think Wisconsin's state government is doing enough to make life more affordable?

The Wisconsin Assembly elected Greta Neubauer as Speaker on Tuesday, making her the first woman to hold the post. Dianne Hesselbein is set to become Senate majority leader, the first woman in that role in two decades and the second woman to lead the Wisconsin Senate.

Why it matters

Robin Vos and Devin LeMahieu, who led their chambers for years, declined to seek another term, opening leadership changes across the Legislature. The shift comes as Republicans are expected to focus largely on affordability in the new session.

The Legislature's budget committee approved $124,400 in transition funding for Crowley, up from $94,600 for Governor Tony Evers' 2018 transition. The committee's GOP control ends in January, and the Assembly has yet to name its new members.

The players

Greta Neubauer

Neubauer, a Racine Democrat, is the first woman elected Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly.

Dianne Hesselbein

Hesselbein, a Middleton Democrat, will become the first woman Senate majority leader in two decades and the second woman to lead the Wisconsin Senate.

Robin Vos

Vos is the longtime Republican Assembly Speaker who declined to seek another term.

Devin LeMahieu

LeMahieu is the Republican Senate leader who declined to seek another term.

Tony Evers

Evers is the Wisconsin governor who declined to seek another term.

The details

Neubauer was elected Speaker by the Assembly on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. Senate Democrats elected Hesselbein and Mark Spreitzer to Senate leadership roles, and Hesselbein plans to govern differently than her Republican predecessors, including giving Republican bills hearings.

Tuesday, November 10, 2026: Neubauer elected Assembly Speaker and budget committee approves Crowley transition funding.
January: Legislature's budget committee GOP control ends.
Within a week: Assembly to announce budget committee nominations.

Leadership Shift

The approval of $124,400 for the Crowley transition exceeds the $94,600 provided for Evers' 2018 transition, marking a larger outlay for the incoming administration's handover. The Legislature's leadership turnover, with Vos, LeMahieu and Evers all leaving their posts, follows the 2018 changeover in which Evers succeeded Scott Walker.

Wisconsin residents will see new leaders steer the Assembly and Senate starting in January, with Republicans focusing largely on affordability. The Assembly's budget committee nominations, expected within a week, will determine who shapes state spending decisions.

The takeaway

Leadership changes in both chambers mean Wisconsin's state budget priorities could shift as new committee members take their seats. Residents interested in how these changes affect spending should watch the Assembly's upcoming budget committee announcements.