On Friday, Jan. 26, Gov. Tony Evers appointed State Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Taylor immediately resigned from the Senate and will fill her new role starting on Jan. 30.

Taylor, 57, was first elected to the state Assembly in 2003 and has served in the Senate, representing the 4th Senate District, since 2005. Her departure from the Senate creates a vacancy, with Republicans now holding a 22-10 majority in the 33-seat legislative body. Evers said he will call a special election this spring to fill Taylor’s seat, which leans heavily Democratic.