MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers appointed longtime Democratic state Sen. Lena Taylor, who has mounted numerous unsuccessful campaigns for local office, to be a Milwaukee County judge Friday.

What You Need To Know

  • Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has appointed longtime Democratic state Sen. Lena Taylor to be a Milwaukee County judge
  • Taylor was first elected to the Assembly in 2003 and has been in the Senate since 2005. She resigned on Friday and will take over as a Milwaukee County circuit judge Tuesday
  • Her departure leaves Republicans with a 22-10 majority in the Senate. Evers appointed Taylor to succeed Audrey Skwierawski, who resigned last month after being named by the new liberal majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court as state court administraton
  • Taylor will complete the remainder of her term, which ends July 31, 2025

Taylor, 57, was first elected to the Assembly in 2003 and has been in the Senate since 2005. She resigned Friday and will take over as a Milwaukee County circuit judge Tuesday. Her departure leaves Republicans with a 22-10 majority in the Senate.

Evers appointed Taylor to succeed Audrey Skwierawski, who resigned last month after being named by the new liberal majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court as state court administrator. Taylor will complete the remainder of her term, which ends July 31, 2025, and would have to run in the 2025 spring election to serve a full term.

Evers will call a special election to replace Taylor in the Legislature this spring, his spokesperson Britt Cudaback said. Whoever wins would have to run again in the general election because the seat is up for election this year. Further complicating things, the district lines may be redrawn as the Wisconsin Supreme Court ponders new legislative map s after tossing the current Republican-drawn ones as unconstitutional.

Taylor ran to be a Milwaukee municipal judge last year and lost. She also was defeated in races for Milwaukee mayor in 2020 and 2022, lieutenant governor in 2022 and Milwaukee County executive in 2008.

“Sen. Taylor is a committed public servant who has dedicated her life to pursuing justice for her community and the people of Wisconsin,” Evers said in a statement announcing the appointment.

During her time in the Legislature, most of which she was the only Black member of the Senate, Taylor has been a vocal advocate for justice reform and Milwaukee. She previously served as co-chair of the Legislature's powerful budget-writing Joint Finance Committee.

She has also faced controversies, most notably in 2018 when she was cited for disorderly conduct. The police report quoted multiple witnesses saying they heard Taylor call a Black bank teller a racial slur. Taylor defended her use of the term, saying she thought she could speak that way because both she and the teller are Black and conversations within Black culture are different than other conversations.

Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement:

“Effective today, at 5:00pm, I am resigning my position as State Senator with the Wisconsin State Senate. I have been appointed, by Governor Tony Evers, to fill a vacancy in Milwaukee County Circuit Court – Branch 41. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of the 4th Senate and the 18th Assembly Districts, over the course of my 20-year tenure with the Wisconsin State Legislature. It has, also, been a pleasure to work with my colleagues, staff, state employees, and the dedicated Capitol employees, that made it possible for me to serve my constituents. As I prepare for the next phase in my journey of public service, I must admit this feels like a full circle moment. I began my career as a public defender and then private practice attorney. Even in running for public office, the goal of justice reform, accountable and responsive systems, has always been my priority. I will take the many years of service on the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, my tenure as the committee chair, and wealth of legislative experience creating law, reviewing policy, and training to this new role. I am excited and appreciative of Governor Ever’s trust in my ability to serve the community in this capacity."