Republican caucus continues to shrink as Sen. Jacque calls It quits

Republican state Sen. André Jacque announced Wednesday he will not seek reelection to his northeastern Wisconsin seat, becoming the sixth GOP senator to announce a retirement this year.

“This is not farewell – there is still much to be done,” Jacque said in a statement. “I do not yet know all of what will come next, but I do know this: I have been greatly blessed, and God’s not done with me yet.”

Jacque, 45, served four terms in the Assembly before winning election to the Senate in 2018. His tenure has not been without controversy — last fall, WisPolitics reported he was among at least five Republican lawmakers who still owned homes in their old districts after redistricting, with their spouses using those addresses to vote in spring 2025 elections.

The wave of retirements has significantly reshaped Wisconsin’s Senate landscape. Republicans began 2026 with 12 incumbents up for reelection; that number has since been cut in half. Joining Jacque on the retirement list are Sens. Rob Hutton (SD-5), Stephen Nass (SD-11), Devin LeMahieu (SD-9), Van Wanggaard (SD-21) and Jesse James (SD-23).