BELOIT — State Sen. Mark Spreitzer has officially launched his re-election campaign, submitting more than 1,000 signatures from residents across Wisconsin’s 15th Senate District to qualify for the November ballot.

Spreitzer, a Democrat from Beloit, is seeking a second term in the Wisconsin Senate after first winning the seat in 2022. The 15th District includes most of Rock County as well as the Whitewater area in Walworth and Jefferson counties.

“It has been an honor to serve the people of the 15th District in the State Senate,” Spreitzer said in a statement announcing his campaign. He highlighted priorities including reducing the cost of child care, health care, housing and higher education, investing in public schools, addressing property taxes, regulating data centers and preparing Wisconsin for the impact of artificial intelligence.

Spreitzer is one of Wisconsin’s openly LGBTQ elected officials and currently serves as chair of the Wisconsin Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus. He has been a leading voice on LGBTQ issues at the Capitol, helping introduce the caucus’ 2025 Equality Agenda, which includes proposals to ban conversion therapy for minors, repeal Wisconsin’s constitutional same-sex marriage ban, eliminate the so-called “gay and trans panic” legal defense, and update state laws to ensure equal treatment of same-sex couples and families. He has also spoken out against legislation targeting transgender youth and restrictions on transgender student-athletes.

Wisconsin currently has a record number of openly LGBTQ legislators serving at the Capitol. Alongside Spreitzer, the Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus includes lawmakers such as Angela Stroud of Ashland, as well as Greta Neubauer of Racine, Christian Phelps of Eau Claire, Lee Snodgrass of Appleton, Tim Carpenter of Milwaukee, Kristin Dassler-Alfheim of Appleton, Angelina Cruz of Racine, Amaad Rivera-Wagner of Green Bay, Ryan Spaude of Ashwaubenon and Randy Udell of Fitchburg. The caucus entered the 2025-26 legislative session with 12 members, more than double its previous size and the largest LGBTQ legislative caucus in Wisconsin history.

Before joining the Senate, Spreitzer served four terms in the Wisconsin Assembly and previously served on the Beloit City Council, including as council president. He lives in Beloit with his husband, Philip Gorman.

The general election will be held Nov. 3, 2026.