Wisconsin State Senate
District 17
Candidates
Election Results
Race overview
Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, faces state Rep. Jenna Jacobson, D-Oregon, in the general election. Marklein, one of the chairs of the powerful Joint Finance Committee, was elected to the seat in 2014. The district is viewed as a potential flip opportunity for Senate Democrats, as former Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin won the district in 2024.
Campaign funds raised
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Data reflects monetary and in-kind contributions reported to the Wisconsin Ethics Commission with 2026 transaction dates. Personal loans are excluded. Data was retrieved on Aug. 4, 2026.What does this position do?
State senators write, review and vote on legislation that becomes state law if approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor.
They vet some political appointees made by the governor, including cabinet secretaries.
Senators serve on one or more of 20 committees that take public testimony on bills and review legislation.
They work on a state budget every other year to determine how tens of billions of dollars are spent.
Senators also oversee a staff that helps provide constituent services. Each member of the state Senate represents roughly 175,000 people.