Jesse James
Wisconsin State Senator, District 23 since 2022. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.
- In office
- 3 yrs
- Since 2022
- Bills became law
- 28
- 183 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 0.0%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +21.9
- Won 2020
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Judiciary and Public Safety · vice chair
- Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families · chair
- Health
- Utilities, Technology and Tourism
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Crime and criminals — Felony · Became law Apr 2026
Funeral and funeral director · Became law Apr 2026
County — Taxation · Became law Apr 2026
Drivers' education · Became law Apr 2026
Electricity · Became law Apr 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where James sits in the Wisconsin State Senate
James is closer to the center than 28% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: John Jagler, Cory Tomczyk, Dan Feyen
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:09 PM ET
With James’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans100%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills67%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Wisconsin State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: James’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | James | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 17, 2026 | AB 248: Relating to: vacancies in appointive state offices. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 17–16 |
| Mar 17, 2026 | AB 595: Relating to: compliance with the federal Help America Vote Act, voter registration data… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 18–15 |
| Mar 17, 2026 | AB 461: Relating to: an income tax subtraction for certain overtime compensation. (FE) | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 21–12 |
| Mar 17, 2026 | AB 1034: Relating to: name, image, and likeness rights for University of Wisconsin System student… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 17–16 |
| Mar 17, 2026 | AB 601: Relating to: excluding certain event or sports wagers from the definition of “bet”. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 21–12 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time James was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Wisconsin State Senate, District 23 | Won | — |
| 2020 | Wisconsin State Assembly, District 68 | Won | R+21.9 |
| 2018 | Wisconsin State Assembly, District 68 | Won | R+15.2 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats James has held
- Wisconsin State Senate, District 23 · since 2022
- Wisconsin State Assembly, District 68 · 2018–2022
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who James has run against
- Emily Berge (D) · 2020 general, won
- Wendy Sue Johnson (D) · 2018 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know James
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/79d7550b-bb75-453b-bfd7-3f273debe3e4
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET