Speaker Robin Vos to retire from Wisconsin Assembly

MADISON, WI—(CIVIC MEDIA)—Wisconsin’s Assembly Speaker Robin Vos will not seek reelection. 

“ My time has lasted quite a while, but my service in this chamber will end when the new class of freshmen are sworn in. I’ve been so honored to serve with all of you in this chamber, and I will miss many of you, but not all of you. Uh, but to those of you who I will miss and actually all of you, I appreciate your service,” he said in Madison on Thursday.

The surprise announcement from Vos came at the beginning of the Assembly’s final planned floor session of this period. During his speech, he said a mild heart attack he suffered last year contributed to his decision to retire at the end of his term. 

From Racine County, Vos is the longest-serving Speaker in state history. He’s led the Assembly under Republican control since 2013. He was first elected in 2004.

Reaction to Vos’ announcement

Just minutes after the Vos Announcement, Gov. Tony Evers today released a statement.

“The Speaker’s retirement marks the end of an era in Wisconsin politics, and I’m grateful to have served as governor during Speaker Vos’ tenure. Although we’ve disagreed more often than we didn’t, I respect his candor, his ability to navigate complex policies and conversations, and his unrivaled passion for politics.”

Vos issued a statement on his YouTube account about his retirement announcement.

The Speaker has been a thorn in the side of the Democratic Governor, blocking policies and stalling bills. But he also angered fellow Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who said Vos didn’t do enough to look into voting fraud in the 2020 election when Trump lost the state. Trump even backed a Vos challenger in the 2022 primary.

His term will end in January when the new class of freshman legislators is sworn in.