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Wisconsin State Senate District 4
Wisconsin State Senate District 4 is represented by Dora Drake (D).
As of the 2020 Census, Wisconsin state senators represented an average of 178,711 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 172,674 residents.
About the office
Members of the Wisconsin State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Half of the senate is up for election every two years. Wisconsin legislators assume office the first Monday in January following the election, unless the first Monday of January falls on January 1 or 2. In those cases, legislators assume office on January 3.[1]
Qualifications
Section 6 of Article 4 of the Wisconsin Constitution states, "No person shall be eligible to the legislature who shall not have resided one year within the state, and be a qualified elector in the district which he may be chosen to represent."[2]
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[3] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $57,408/year | $140/day for senators. Dane County senators are allowed half that amount. $155.70/day (with overnight) or $77.85/day (no overnight) for representatives. Dane County representatives receive only $77.85/day. |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Wisconsin State Legislature, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat.[4] The governor can call for an election when allowed by law. The election cannot be held after February 1 before a spring general election, unless it is held on the same day of the election, which is the first Tuesday in April. The same requirement applies to any election preceding the fall general election (after August 1), with the exception of elections held on the first Tuesday in November.[5] Also, all vacancies must be filled quickly as long the vacancy happened before the second Tuesday in May during an election year.[6]
See sources: Wisconsin Cons. Art. IV, § 14
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
On February 19, 2024, Gov. Tony Evers (D) signed Senate Bill 488 into law, adopting new Wisconsin legislative maps.[7] The maps were approved by majority votes in both chambers of Wisconsin's state legislature on February 13. The state Senate voted 18-14 in favor of adopting the new legislative maps, while the state Assembly vote total was 63-33.
In the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, Janet Protasiewicz had defeated Daniel Kelly, changing the balance of the court from a conservative to a liberal majority for the first time in 15 years.[8][9] Later that year on December 22, 2023, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 vote that the state's legislative maps were unconstitutional and ordered new maps to be drawn before the 2024 election.[10] The court rejected the least change approach the conservative majority had adopted for the 2022 maps and ruled that the new maps must satisfy the state constitution's contiguity requirements.[11]
How does redistricting in Wisconsin work? In Wisconsin, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the Wisconsin State Legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[12]
The Wisconsin Constitution requires that state legislative districts be compact and "that they be bounded by county, precinct, town, or ward lines where possible." The state constitution further stipulates that state legislative districts should be contiguous.[12]
Below are the maps in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle. The map on the right was in effect for Wisconsin's 2024 state legislative elections.
Wisconsin State Senate District 4
before 2020 redistricting cycle
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Wisconsin State Senate District 4
after 2020 redistricting cycle
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2024
Regular election
See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Wisconsin State Senate District 4
Dora Drake won election in the general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 4 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Dora Drake (D) | 98.4 | 67,215 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.6 | 1,061 | ||
| Total votes: 68,276 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 4
Dora Drake defeated LaKeshia Myers in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 4 on August 13, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dora Drake | 62.3 | 12,630 |
| LaKeshia Myers | 37.5 | 7,605 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 23 | ||
| Total votes: 20,258 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Brandon Jackson (D)
- Alma Edwards (D)
Special election
A special election for Wisconsin State Senate District 4 was called for July 30, 2024. A special primary was held on July 2, 2024. The candidate filing deadline was June 4, 2024.[13]
The seat became vacant after Lena Taylor (D) resigned following an appointment to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.[14]
General election
Special general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 4
Dora Drake won election in the special general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 4 on July 30, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dora Drake (D) | 96.6 | 4,843 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 3.4 | 172 | ||
| Total votes: 5,015 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Special Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 4
Dora Drake defeated LaKeshia Myers in the special Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 4 on July 2, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dora Drake | 65.8 | 4,439 |
| LaKeshia Myers | 34.0 | 2,298 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 14 | ||
| Total votes: 6,751 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Brandon Jackson (D)
2020
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Wisconsin State Senate District 4
Incumbent Lena Taylor won election in the general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 4 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Lena Taylor (D) | 98.3 | 62,405 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.7 | 1,053 | ||
| Total votes: 63,458 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Lance Allen (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 4
Incumbent Lena Taylor advanced from the Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 4 on August 11, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lena Taylor | 99.0 | 16,898 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.0 | 174 | ||
| Total votes: 17,072 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Brandon Jackson (D)
2016
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.
Incumbent Lena Taylor ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Senate District 4 general election.[15][16]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 4 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Lena Taylor Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 62,099 | |
| Total Votes | 62,099 | |||
| Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission | ||||
Incumbent Lena Taylor defeated Mandela Barnes in the Wisconsin State Senate District 4 Democratic primary.[17][18]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 4 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Lena Taylor Incumbent |
60.64% | 11,454 | |
| Democratic | Mandela Barnes | 39.36% | 7,433 | |
| Total Votes | 18,887 | |||
2012
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2012
Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 14, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. Democratic incumbent Lena Taylor defeated Independent candidate David King in the general election. Taylor was unopposed in the Democratic primary election.[19][20]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lena Taylor Incumbent |
86.1% | 64,064 | |
| Independent | David D. King | 13.6% | 10,154 | |
| - | Scattering | 0.3% | 208 | |
| Total Votes | 74,426 | |||
Campaign contributions
From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Wisconsin State Senate District 4 raised a total of $1,032,683. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $51,634 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Wisconsin State Senate District 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $179,398 | 7 | $25,628 |
| 2020 | $32,570 | 1 | $32,570 |
| 2016 | $237,518 | 2 | $118,759 |
| 2012 | $82,539 | 2 | $41,270 |
| 2010 | $24,131 | 1 | $24,131 |
| 2008 | $233,854 | 1 | $233,854 |
| 2006 | $29,280 | 1 | $29,280 |
| 2004 | $150,173 | 3 | $50,058 |
| 2002 | $4,640 | 1 | $4,640 |
| 2000 | $58,580 | 1 | $58,580 |
| Total | $1,032,683 | 20 | $51,634 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Wisconsin Statutes, "Chapter 13: Legislative Branch: 13.02 Regular sessions," accessed October 5, 2021
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Annotated Wisconsin Constitution- Article IV, Section 6," accessed May 23, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes," accessed February 10, 2021 (Statute 17.19 (1), Wisconsin Statutes)
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes," accessed February 10, 2021 (Statute 8.50, Wisconsin Statutes)
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes," accessed February 10, 2021 (Statute 8.50(4)-(d), Wisconsin Statutes)
- ↑ Office of the Governor, "Gov. Evers Signs Fair Maps for Wisconsin," February 19, 2024
- ↑ NBC, "In heated Wisconsin Supreme Court debate, candidates tangle over 'fake elector' scheme," March 21, 2023
- ↑ NBC News, "Wisconsin governor signs new state legislative maps into law, ending a GOP gerrymander," February 19, 2024
- ↑ The New York Times, "Justices in Wisconsin Order New Legislative Maps," December 22, 2023
- ↑ Wisconsin Examiner, "Wisconsin Supreme Court rules state voting maps unconstitutional," December 22, 2023
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 All About Redistricting, "Wisconsin," accessed May 7, 2015
- ↑ The State of Wisconsin Office of the Governor, "EXECUTIVE ORDER #225 ," May 14, 2024
- ↑ WEAU 13 News, "Gov. Evers Calls Special Elections for the 4th Senate District and 8th Congressional District," May 14, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidates on Ballot by Election - 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016," accessed November 4, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "2016 Fall General Election Results," accessed December 2, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidate Tracking by Office," accessed June 20, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections and Ethics Commissions, "2016 Partisan Primary," accessed September 16, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Secretary of State, "2012 General Election Candidates by Office," accessed November 23, 2013
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, Official 2012 primary results, accessed November 23, 2013
