Fred Risser

This article is about the Democratic state senator and former state representative. For his father, the Progressive state senator, see Fred Risser (Progressive politician).

Fred A. Risser
Risser in 2009
President of the Wisconsin Senate
In office July 17, 2012 – January 7, 2013
Preceded by	Michael G. Ellis
Succeeded by	Michael G. Ellis
In office January 8, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Alan Lasee
Succeeded by	Michael G. Ellis
In office January 4, 1999 – January 6, 2003
Preceded by	Brian Rude
Succeeded by	Alan Lasee
In office July 9, 1996 – April 21, 1998
Preceded by	Brian Rude
Succeeded by	Brian Rude
In office May 1, 1979 – January 9, 1995
Preceded by	Russell Olson
Succeeded by	Brian Rude
President pro tempore of the Wisconsin Senate
In office January 6, 1975 – May 1, 1979
Preceded by	Robert P. Knowles
Succeeded by	Vacant until 1983 William A. Bablitch (1983)
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 26th district
In office December 1, 1962 – January 4, 2021
Preceded by	Horace W. Wilkie
Succeeded by	Kelda Roys
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Dane 2nd district
In office January 7, 1957 – December 1, 1962
Preceded by	Ivan A. Nestingen
Succeeded by	Edward Nager
Personal details
Born	(1927-05-05) May 5, 1927 Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Nancy Risser
Parent	Fred E. Risser (father)
Relatives	Ernest Warner (grandfather) Clement Warner (great-grandfather)
Alma mater	University of Wisconsin University of Oregon
Profession	Legislator
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1945–1946
Battles/wars	World War II

Fred A. Risser (born May 5, 1927) is a retired American Democratic politician from Madison, Wisconsin. He holds the record as the longest-serving state legislator in American history, having served 58 years in the Wisconsin State Senate and six years in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Risser represented most of the city of Madison, including the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He was president of the Senate for 26 years and never lost an election. By 2019 Risser was the last World War II veteran serving as a state legislator in the United States. Risser was the fourth generation of his family to serve in the state legislature. His father, Fred E. Risser, had represented the same state senate district.

Early life, education and career

Risser was born in Madison, Wisconsin on May 5, 1927 into a prolific Wisconsin political family. Risser's father (Fred E. Risser), grandfather (Ernest Warner), and great-grandfather (Clement Warner) served at various times as Wisconsin legislators representing part or all of Dane County, although none were Democrats.

Risser served in the United States Navy during World War II from 1945 to 1946. He was sworn into the Navy shortly before his high school graduation and Victory in Europe Day. He was a medic and served in Newport, Rhode Island, and the Panama Canal Zone.

Risser used the G.I. Bill to attend college, attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, before earning a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Oregon School of Law. He became a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Oregon State Bar and practiced law in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Legislature

Wisconsin Assembly

Risser was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1956, succeeding fellow Democrat Ivan A. Nestingen (who had resigned in April of that year after he was elected mayor of Madison). Risser was re-elected in 1958 and 1960. He was elected to the state Senate in a 1962 special election triggered by the appointment of Horace W. Wilkie to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. He was succeeded in the Wisconsin Assembly by fellow Democrat Edward Nager.

Wisconsin Senate

Risser in 2009

Risser was elected to a full term in 1964 and was reelected every four years until his retirement. He rose through the ranks quickly, becoming the minority leader in 1967, which he credits to his intense study of parliamentary procedure. After the Democrats gained the Senate majority in the 1974 election, Risser was elected as president pro tempore, beginning in the 1975 session. He continued as president pro tempore until a state constitutional amendment in 1979 separated the offices of Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin and President of the Senate. When the amendment was certified on May 1, 1979, Risser was elected president of the Senate and the office of president pro tempore became defunct for a number of years. Risser held the office of president of the Senate continuously for the next 16 years, until Democrats lost the majority in the 1994 election. He was returned to the office of president every time the Democrats held the majority in the subsequent 20 years. In total, he served about 26 years as president of the Senate.

2011 Wisconsin protests

See also: 2011 Wisconsin protests § Legislative walkout

Risser speaking at the March 12, 2011 protest outside of the Wisconsin State Capitol

During the protests in Wisconsin, Risser, along with the 13 other Democratic State Senators, left the state to deny the State Senate a quorum on Governor Scott Walker's "Budget Repair" legislation.

Retirement

On March 26, 2020, Risser announced that he would not run for re-election in November 2020.

Other political involvement

Risser was a delegate to both the 1960 Democratic National Convention and the 1964 Democratic National Convention. He served as the Chair of Wisconsin's Presidential electors during the 1964 presidential election.

Personal life

Risser's first wife, Betty, died after 21 years of marriage. Risser is married to Nancy Risser, a retired Spanish teacher. He has three children and several grandchildren.

External links

• Profile at Vote Smart
• Fred Risser at Ballotpedia
• Fred Risser recalls his 1959 vote to give public employees in Wisconsin the right to join unions and bargain collectively, Wisconsin Eye, February 22, 2011, video interview
• Appearances on C-SPAN