Chris Larson

For 2020, some of Larson's main legislative issues include public education in Milwaukee, addressing climate change issues, tackling lawmaker corruption, improving access to senior care, and improving infrastructure in areas such as childcare and public transportation. In 2019, Larson has also called for increased regulation of trampoline parks and other amusement parks, which have seen an increase in the number of children injured.

In November 2019, Larson announced that he was running for Milwaukee County Executive, after incumbent county executive Chris Abele announced that he was not seeking re-election.

Larson was re-elected to the Wisconsin State Senate for a third term in November 2018.

In early 2016, Larson and a group of environmental advocates and organizations led a fight against a bill that would have made it easier for Wisconsin water utility systems to be taken over by non-Wisconsin, for-profit companies and corporations. After intense public outrage, the bill was not scheduled for a vote in the Senate and failed to become law.The lead poisoning of families in Flint Michigan galvanized opposition to water privatization in Wisconsin.

During the 2015-16 legislative session, Larson introduced numerous proposals aimed at improving public schools. For instance, Larson co-authored a proposal to implement and invest in the community schools model, which provides wraparound services for students, such as providing access to health care and a healthy diet. He introduced legislation to give schools support to provide services for students with disabilities.

In May 2014, Larson was named in the Washington Post's list of top 40 political rising stars under 40 years old. On November 11, 2014 Larson announced he would be stepping down as leader of the Wisconsin Senate Democrats.

Less than two years into Larson's first term and a day after turning 32, he was elected by his colleagues to serve as Senate Democratic Leader for the 2013-14 Legislative Session. This selection made Larson the youngest Senate leader since 1937, when Maurice Coakley was selected at age 30. It was the fastest ascent to leader since Warren Knowles was selected in 1942 after also serving only two years in the Senate.

In February 2013, Democrats introduced a package of six jobs bills, which included funding for technical colleges and required state agencies, as well as state and local governments, to buy from Wisconsin businesses.

Larson and his Democratic colleagues all signed on to a proposed constitutional amendment (2013 SJR 74) to reverse Wisconsin's ban on same-sex marriage. Larson co-sponsored legislation to reinstate laws to prevent workplace discrimination against women, which had been removed from Wisconsin statutes during the 2011-12 legislative session.

Larson introduced legislative proposals during the 2013-2014 Legislative Session to reform Wisconsin's jobs agency, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, which has seen numerous scandals since it was created in 2011, including losing track of $56 million in loans, misuse of taxpayer funds, exaggerated jobs claims, and lack of basic oversight, according to a national report by Good Jobs First.

During the 2013-2014 legislative session, Larson served on the Committee on Senate Organization, the Joint Legislative Council, and the Joint Committees on Employment Relations, and on Legislative Organization.

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, funding for local public schools was cut by $1.6 billion, and during the 2013-2014 session 50% of Wisconsin school districts received less state money than they did under the previous session. Larson supported initiatives to fully restore funding for local public schools.

During the 2011-2012 legislative session, Larson served as co-chair of the Joint Committee on Review of Administrative Rules, and as a member of the Joint Committees on Finance, Audit, and Information Policy and Technology; on the Senate Committees on Education; Education and Corrections; Natural Resources and Environment; Housing and Insurance; and Environment, Natural Resources and Tourism. He also served on the Governor's Commission on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse; and the Special Task Force on University of Wisconsin Restructuring and Operational Flexibilities.

He sought to restore jobs at General Mitchell Field that had been cut out of the county budget by Walker; helped found the Coalition to Save the Hoan Bridge; and authored legislation to create a community garden site at 6th & Howard Avenue, which passed on February 3, 2010; the gardens have since expanded, and still are operating as of August 2014.

On September 14, 2010, Larson defeated incumbent Senator Jeffrey Plale in the primary election, contending that Plale was far too conservative for the district. Larson won by 7,962 (60.7%) to 5,148 (39.3%) for Plale.

Larson subsequently defeated Republican Jesse Ripp with 57.11 percent of the vote on November 2, 2010.

In April 2008, Larson successfully ran for Milwaukee County supervisor on a platform of improving his local community by adequately investing in the area's shared parks and transit system.

Larson was born and raised in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. He graduated from Thomas More High School (Milwaukee) in 1999 and earned a Bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, with a minor in political science. Before entering politics, Larson was business manager of a sporting goods store.

Christopher J. Larson (born November 12, 1980) is a Wisconsin politician who has represented the state's 7th Senate District since 2011. A Democrat, Larson served as the Wisconsin Senate's minority leader from 2013 until 2014. A member of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors from 2008 until 2010, Larson was a candidate for Milwaukee County Executive in the 2016 and 2020, but was defeated in both attempts.