Democrat Sarah Keyeski wins 14th Senate District

WISCONSIN (Civic Media) – Democrat Sarah Keyeski has been called the winner of the race for the 14th Senate District in Wisconsin.

The Associated Press made the call Wednesday morning.

The Democratic Party was favored in this district going into the election, according to CNalysis. The district was considered lean Democrat with a projected margin of 5 points.

Keyeski, a political newcomer, was initially going to run for Assembly before Gov. Evers signed the new maps into law. Keyeski has worked as a mental health counselor for nearly 25 years, and founded the community nonprofit, “Lift Lodi,” in 2021. In May of this year, the terrific New York Times podcast “The Run-Up” featured Keyeski, reporting from her home town of Lodi, with an episode titled, “The Democrats’ New Chance in Wisconsin.”

Keyeski defeated incumbent Republican Joan Ballweg, who is moving to remain in the 14th. Ballweg, who did not face a primary challenge in this district, is seeking her second term in the State Senate, after serving eight terms in the State Assembly, beginning in 2004. She is currently the Chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Tourism and sits on the Joint Committee on Finance, and is part of Republican leadership as the Majority Caucus Vice-Chair.

The same week she announced her re-election campaign, Ballweg joined Democrats on a Senate committee to vote against a bill that would bar transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports, and also voted against a similar bill in 2021. Ballweg also has a long record of being anti-abortion and has opposed exceptions for rape or incest.

The 12th Senate District covers Richland and Sauk counties, as well as parts of Columbia, Adams, Juneau, and Dane counties. The district represents south-central Wisconsin. The 40th, 41st, and 42nd Assembly Districts are in the 14th Senate District.

For more analysis on the 2024 Election, you can visit our Election Coverage website here. A preview of all state races is available on our 2024 Wisconsin Legislature Voter Guide.