Special election to fill the seat of retiring state senator taking place on April 4

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- To fill the seat set to be vacated by retiring State Sen. Alberta Darling (R. - River Hills), Gov. Tony Evers has announced a special election that will be taking place on April 4, 2023, in conjunction with the 2023 Spring Election that also features the election of a state Supreme Court Justice.

If a primary is necessary, that will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023.

In a statement announcing the election date, Evers wished Sen. Darling the best, saying, "Sen. Darling has earned the respect of colleagues on both sides of the aisle because she’s a diligent leader who’s always carried herself with poise, class, and grace. I’ve always appreciated her thoughtfulness in our conversations over the years,"

UW-Madison Political Science Professor Barry Burden spoke to CBS 58 following the announcement of Sen. Darling's retirement, offering an expectation that her seat could potentially be impacted by being featured on the same ballot as the Supreme Court Justice seat.

"If it's competitive as we expect with a liberal and conservative candidate making it to April general, I'm not sure the state Senate race would have a lot of impact," Burden said. "If it turns out to not be a very competitive race, then the Senate race probably comes more interesting to voters in that district."