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Marquette Today
By the People, for the People
Stunning Number of GOP State Leaders Quit Over Trump Chaos
More than a dozen Republican state legislators have announced retirements in the past 14 months, mirroring a parallel exodus in Congress.
Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:19pm
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More than a dozen Republican leaders in state legislatures across the country, including in key battleground states like Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, and Iowa, have announced their retirements over the past 14 months. Analysts say this could be an ominous sign of midterm trouble for the GOP, which is already reeling from Donald Trump's cratering approval ratings.
Why it matters
The departures of high-profile Republican state legislators, including Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, leave the party defending razor-thin margins on redrawn maps that have already cost them 10 Assembly seats. Democrats are seizing on the opportunity, with the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee investing a record $50 million to target 42 state legislative chambers in the 2026 elections.
The details
The Republican exodus mirrors a parallel trend happening in Congress, where 36 Republican House members and seven GOP senators have announced they won't seek reelection in November. Analysts say Trump's actions and behavior are a major factor, with one Colorado GOP consultant stating, 'They can't stand it anymore.' The losses have been particularly damaging in Wisconsin, where the redrawn maps have already cost Republicans 10 Assembly seats.
- Over the past 14 months, more than a dozen Republican state legislators have announced their retirements.
- In recent months, Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu both announced their retirements.
The players
Robin Vos
The former Wisconsin Assembly Speaker who recently announced his retirement.
Devin LeMahieu
The former Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader who recently announced his retirement.
Dick Wadhams
A Colorado GOP consultant who commented on the Republican exodus.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
The organization spending a record $50 million to target 42 state legislative chambers in the 2026 elections.
What they’re saying
“I think he puts Republicans on the defensive with his actions. They can't stand it anymore.”
— Dick Wadhams, Colorado GOP consultant
What’s next
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is spending $50 million — its largest investment ever — targeting 42 chambers this November, with party officials explicitly comparing 2026 to 2010, when Republicans flipped 22 chambers in a single wave election.
The takeaway
The exodus of Republican state legislators, including high-profile leaders in key battleground states, could signal significant midterm trouble for the GOP, which is already facing headwinds from Trump's declining popularity and the party's struggles to defend redrawn legislative maps. Democrats are seizing on the opportunity, investing heavily to target state chambers and potentially replicate the Republican wave of 2010.
