Newly elected Senate President Mary Felzkowski told WisPolitics she will seek to fill a “void” for members left by the outgoing president, Chris Kapenga.
The Tomahawk Republican said in an interview that members have come to her and her staff seeking help on various matters, both inside and outside the building. Felzkowski said she enjoyed providing that guidance and decided to run for president because of it.
Kapenga opted against seeking another term in the Senate’s No. 2 leadership post, telling WisPolitics in a text message yesterday that he didn’t have the votes to beat back the challenge from Felzkowski.
“Sen. Kapenga has done a great job of preserving the decorum and the institution,” Felzkowski said. “But I think how he has taken on the president’s role has left a little bit of a void by not being present as much as I think he should’ve been.”
Senate Republicans yesterday met for leadership elections, bringing back the bulk of their team from this session: Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg; President Pro Tempore Pat Testin, R-Stevens Point; Assistant Majority Leader Dan Feyen, R-Fond du Lac; and Caucus Chair Van Wanggaard, R-Racine.
The caucus also elected Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton, caucus vice-chair. GOP Sen. Joan Ballweg, who lost her reelection bid on Tuesday, served in that role this session.
Kapenga and LeMahieu had a contentious relationship this session that sometimes played out in public. Kapenga also didn’t make any campaign contributions to the Committee to Elect a Republican Senate this year, while Felzkowski transferred $145,000 to the caucus.
Felzkowski said both factors influenced members in who they supported for president.
Meanwhile, she said the 18 Republicans who will be in the caucus come January need to have a series of conversations about how to work better together to pass legislation and to prepare for what could be a difficult environment in 2026. The caucus will have three seats to defend in two years with the majority on the line.
“Disputes should be behind closed doors, not public,” Felzkowski said. “I think caucus is a lot like a family. My family and I don’t always agree. But that’s for behind closed doors.”
