Republican Senator Jesse James Declines to Run, Marking 5th Major Senate Retirement
Apr 14, 2026, 6:04 AM CT
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State Senator Jessie James, who had announced his intention to challenge Democratic incumbent Jeff Smith in Wisconsin’s 31st district (including Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and Menomonie) announced today that he will not be seeking re-election.
“This journey of being a past 68th Assembly state representative and current state senator has been amazing. I had the opportunity of a lifetime. However, this role came at a price, a price of being away from my family,” James said. “For this reason, and for other personal reasons I have decided to retire from the Wisconsin State Senate.”
James is the fifth Senate Republican to call it quits, nearly half of the 12 who were initially up for reelection this fall.
The GOP will now be without an incumbent in three of the four races considered in play.
John is a seasoned media and marketing executive with experience programming and promoting iconic radio brands in some of the nation’s most competitive markets, including New York City, Boston, Memphis, Dallas, and San Francisco. He has taught graduate-level courses in branding and marketing at the country’s largest private art and design school and has held business development and marketing roles at multiple technology startups. Reach him at [email protected].
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