SD 31: Jeff Smith (D) vs Jesse James (R) Competitive Senate District 2026
Two entrenched incumbents battle it out in the new Senate District 31 during the 2026 Election cycle. With the new maps, Jesse James is drawn into this district and will face Incumbent Jeff Smith. I touched on this back in October 2025 in my preview article about the upcoming 2026 election, and I laid down some strong predictions!
Senator Jesse James (R)
James is redistricted into the Senate District 31, which will lean 53.6% Democrat and there will be a Democrat Incumbent in the new Senate 31.
Back in the Assembly, James was a leading prohibitionist in the Assembly. Then Rep. Jesse James, was also a co-sponsor of the 2019 Republican attempt to create a medical marijuana program (the “pill bill” that did not allow smoking products or home grows).
He has been outspoken as wanting to be the lead on stopping recreational marijuana reform from happening in Wisconsin. Long time prohibitionist and mega rich man Senator Duey Stroebel was listening when Rep. James was mouthing off, and the two collaborated to concentrate on finding some way to increase penalties for certain cannabis use, extracts. During the 2021 legislation session, Rep. Jesse James circulated a bill to increase the penalty levels for BHO, butane hash oil products, both manufacturing and simple possession. Author of SB 440 – Butane Hash Oil Enhanced Penalty Bill.
James is a Member of the Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse.
More recently, in 2025 Senator James co-author of the controversial “Tavern League Three Tier Bill” that attempted to ‘highjack’ the hemp cannabis industry.
Although Jesse James campaign website still is branded with “SD 23”, I highly expect this guy to run. Follow his campaign facebook page also. He is not the worst Republican on the issue, but he definitely has not listened or responded to industry experts regarding SB 681/AB 606.
Assistant Minority Leader Senator Jeff Smith
- Elected to Town of Brunswick Board (chair), 2001-2007; Assembly 2006–10. Elected to Senate since 2018.
- Leadership positions: Assistant Minority Leader 2023-26; Minority Caucus Chair 2021.
Member of Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Former member of the Wisconsin Council on Tourism.
His 2023 Op Ed piece in the Peirce County Journal entitled Save lives, stop prohibition touched on the Senator’s support for taxation of cannabis and went on to say “Like other food, drug and alcohol products, our elected bodies determine what is legal and regulated. When we buy our food in a grocery store or alcoholic beverages in a tavern, consumers can be confident that they are buying products that have been approved and inspected for safe consumption. Marijuana legalization will create a safe product for consumers while opening doors for farmers and entrepreneurs to get involved in a well-regulated market.”
Senator Smith has been a consistent voice of reform and as well as a co-sponsor of legislation to reform the cannabis laws in Wisconsin.
The Senator’s 2024 Winter Survey and his 2025-26 Winter Survey includes cannabis legalization question to constituents. Senator Smith has always been willing to engage with his constituent base and industry stakeholders on the subject of hemp cannabis reform.
Interesting election/political history: Smith was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2006, unseating the Republican incumbent Rob Kreibich. Then Smith left the Assembly for several years before getting elected to the Senate in 2018. Kreibich (R) is now back in the Assembly after winning an election in 2024. Kreibich served 14 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1993–2007 and was back for 2025-26), representing Eau Claire County. It is kind of unusual for politicians to leave Madison and then come back, but it seems to be more common in the past two decades.
Please visit the official campaign website for Jeff Smith and follow his campaign facebook page for upcoming events.
Where in Wisconsin is the 31st Senate
The 31st Senate district of Wisconsin is located in western Wisconsin, the district comprises all of Eau Claire County, southeast Dunn County, and parts of southern Chippewa County and northern Trempealeau County. It includes the cities of Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, and Menomonie.
