The voters spoke, and in a 2024 election cycle that saw partisan divides further deepen, Wisconsin was an outlier. The Badger State was one of just three states to vote for Republican President-elect Donald Trump while also narrowly reelecting a Democratic senator. Of those states, Wisconsin was the only one that reelected its incumbent (Sen. Tammy Baldwin).  

“Senator Baldwin has a very strong track record for Wisconsin and for Wisconsin farmers. She’s done a lot for agriculture and agribusiness, but I think that result is a testament to her as an individual candidate,” said Jordan Lamb, who lobbies on behalf of the Wisconsin Soybean Association (WSA). “In Wisconsin in the general election, you can split the ticket and that is a very interesting result. It was not something that I think people expected.”  

Both races were within the polling margin of error: Trump, who was in a dead heat with Vice President Kamala Harris heading into Nov. 5, prevailed by .9% (just under 30,00 votes), while Sen. Baldwin earned reelection by also defeating GOP challenger Eric Hovde by .9% (29,116 votes). Baldwin, who was first elected in 2012, will be sworn in for another six-year term in January 2025. Though WSA doesn’t endorse candidates, the organization has appreciated Baldwin’s farm-related advocacy efforts, including her support for biofuels and tackling trade barriers.  

“Tammy has proven to be a friend of the farmer,” WSA President Sara Stelter said. “She’s always been very receptive to us coming and talking with her and bringing issues forward to her. Over the years, we have worked closely with her on a number of different items.”  

All eight of Wisconsin’s seats in the House of Representatives were also up for election, and each predicted winner emerged victorious. With Republicans poised to control the presidency, Senate and House, WSA is hopeful that party leaders protect agriculture’s interests, support biofuels and avoid a renewed trade war with China. Wisconsin soybean farmers export about 65% of their product, with China being a major customer. Further trade tensions could limit China’s demand for U.S. soy.  

“If they put on those tariffs, that is going to be extremely harmful to soybeans and soybean exports,” said Stelter, who farms in Wautoma. “That’s one of the things to watch out for going forward.”  

Lawmakers must also address the status of a new Farm Bill, a battle that is likely to extend into 2025. The 2017 tax cuts also expire in 2025, which could create opportunities for farmers to advocate for reforms to the estate tax. 

“That would be a big benefit to the farmers,” WSA Vice President Doug Rebout said. “We’ve got to work on those things that President-elect Trump favors and we’ve got to help to push those priorities along now.”  

WSA and the American Soybean Association (ASA) – Tanner Johnson and Don Lutz represent Wisconsin on ASA – are also prepared to continue defending legislative efforts to repeal the soybean checkoff program.  

“The checkoff is very important to the future of all commodities,” Rebout, who farms in Janesville, said. “The Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board puts a lot of money into research and new products that we’re advocating for – they’re giving us factual information that we can use when we talk to our legislators.” 

Congress’ lame-duck session began Nov. 12 and will run into December. The 119th Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3, 2025, and Donald Trump will begin his second term on Jan. 20.  

“Right now, we just have to wait and see what happens and work with legislators and see who the new USDA secretary is,” Stelter says.  

Moves in Madison 

At the state level, Democrats chipped away at the Republicans’ large margins in both the state house and state assembly. Following a new outline of district maps, Democrats cut the GOP’s advantage in the State Assembly down to 54-45 and flipped four Senate seats to cut their deficit to 18-15, which removed the Republicans supermajority. The Democrats are now optimistic about their chances to flip the Senate in 2026 when the even-numbered seats are up for election.  

Rebout said he and his fellow directors are excited to build relationships with the new class of legislators.  

“There are so many new legislators that we’re going to have to work really hard to go and educate a lot of them because a lot of them probably don’t have a whole lot of agriculture background,” Rebout said. “Hopefully we’ll educate them on what we’re doing and why we’re doing it, then we can get some favorable votes on both sides.” 

Heading into 2025, Wisconsin will once again have a divided government, meaning all bills signed by Gov. Tony Evers must have bipartisan support. For WSA, that’s not a negative proposition.