On November 6,1956, Americans re-elected Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower over Democratic challenger Adlai Stevenson, Wisconsin voters elected Republican Vernon Wallace Thompson Governor over Democrat William Proxmire, and voters in the Wisconsin 26th Assembly District elected 29-year old World War II Navy veteran Fred Risser as their representative. Six years later, Risser won a special election for the 26th district state Senate seat. He never left, winning thirteen elections in a row and becoming the longest-serving elected official in U.S. history. Last week, Senator Fred Risser, now 92, announced he will not seek reelection this November, ending a 64-year career in state politics. Fred Risser joined the 8 O’Clock Buzz on Monday, March 30th.
