Shilling hopes to avoid gridlock between Democrat Gov. Evers and GOP-led state legislature

Jennifer Shilling won’t get to be majority leader in the Wisconsin Senate next session. 

Democrats needed to pick up two seats to get control of the Senate in Madison, but ended up losing one to the GOP instead.

Shilling is hopeful that state leaders can avoid gridlock and that Republicans can find ways to work with Evers and argued Republicans often had trouble agreeing among themselves.

“They had gridlock within themselves, within their own party,” Shilling said. “The budget wasn’t delivered until September, when they voted on it, when they should have voted on it in July.

“I think if we have a balanced or a split legislature or a split governor’s office or legislature, you have to compromise to get stuff done,” Shilling said.

The midterms were a mixed blessing for Wisconsin Democrats, getting the governor’s office back and keeping Tammy Baldwin in the U.S. Senate.

Shilling continues to lead Senate Democrats, and she predicts what issues will get serious attention under new Governor Tony Evers.

“We want to work with his administration on his agenda,” Baldwin said, “that certainly includes supporting funding on education, making sure that we have a long-term fix on our roads that is sustainable, health care, and protecting pre-existing conditions here.”

Shilling says the election of Evers shows that Wisconsin voters were ready for a change after eight years under Republican Gov. Scott Walker.