Wikler to step down as DPW chair after helping Democrats regain their footing in state
Wikler attributes his winning record to year-round organizing, his talented team, and many passionate volunteers. All this was possible because he was able to fundraise over $260 million during his time as chair.
“It’s been the honor of my life to serve as your chair,” Ben Wikler announced on Thursday. Wikler, who has been the Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin since 2019 is stepping down. He will be passing the torch in June.
As chair, Wikler has an impressive record. He has overseen the Democrats 12 victories in 15 statewide races; hundreds of local victories at every level; the successful defeat of an attempted impeachment of Janet Protasiewicz after she tipped the state supreme court from conservative to liberal majority; a return to fair maps and an end to gerrymandering; a flip of 10 assembly and four state senate seats and “more red-to-blue state legislative flips than any state in the country.”
Two years ago, The Atlantic, in a story on Wikler, referred to him as ‘the most important Democrat in America.”
Wikler attributes his winning record to year-round organizing, his talented team, and many passionate volunteers. All this was possible because he was able to fundraise over $260 million during his time as chair.
“Our work has always been grounded in the idea that every person deserves freedom, dignity, and respect, and that our country should work for working people—not just the wealthiest few.” he declared. “We've demonstrated that, by carrying those values into our work, we could elect people who would turn those values into policy.”
Earlier this year, Wikler lost his bid to be the head of the national Democratic Party leadership to Minnesota’s Ken Martin. Wikler said he has no immediate definite plans going forward.
“Now is the right time for me to take a breath, and to find new ways to advance the fight for a country that works for working people, and one that honors every person's fundamental freedom and dignity.”
The new chair will be elected at the WisDems State Convention in June. Potential candidates include Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki, former U.S. Senate candidate Alex Lasry, Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, and former state Democratic Party executive director Devin Remiker.
The WisDems State Convention will be held in Wisconsin Dells on June 14 and 15. Tickets, hotel reservations, and the convention schedule are available at https://wisdems.org/2025convention/
