La Follette Retires After 44 Years

Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette, who has held the job for more than 44 years, announced March 17 that he was retiring. Gov. Tony Evers thanked La Follette for his decades of service and appointed former Wisconsin treasurer Sarah Godlewski the same day.

“In a critical position that has seen no turnover in decades, maintaining continuity with a leader who’s prepared and committed to fulfilling this office’s constitutional obligations could not be more important,” Evers said on Twitter. “And there’s no one more uniquely qualified for the job than Sarah.”

La Follette was reelected last year by just 7,442 votes over Republican challenger Amy Loudenbeckran. He told Wisconsin Public Radio last year that he ran for reelection because he was “approached by people who were worried the office might fall into Republican hands. They believed that I was the most electable Democrat to hold that office for a Democrat, and prevent the Republicans and Wisconsin from setting up a situation where they can meddle with the election results,” La Follette told Wisconsin Public Radio. “So I said OK.”

His retirement announcement last week came just months into his latest term. 

La Follette, 82, was first elected in 1974, left for four years following a failed bid for lieutenant governor in 1978, then won again in 1982. He’s held the office ever since.

Godlewski, 41, won her first race for treasurer in 2018.