8th Wisconsin Legislature

The Eighth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 10, 1855, to April 2, 1855, in regular session.
This was the first Wisconsin legislature seated after the establishment of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.
Senators representing odd-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first year of a two-year term. Assemblymembers were elected to a one-year term. Assemblymembers and odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 7, 1854. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the second year of their two-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 8, 1853.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Democrat William A. Barstow, of Waukesha County, serving the second year of a two-year term, having won election in the 1853 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events

February 1, 1855: Charles Durkee elected United States Senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in joint session.
November 6, 1855: In the 1855 Wisconsin gubernatorial election, incumbent William A. Barstow was initially declared the winner. The election results were contested and eventually Coles Bashford, the Republican candidate, prevailed and became the next Governor of Wisconsin.

March 8, 1855: Act to provide for the division of the County of Adams, and to submit the question to a Vote of the people, . The referendum passed and resulted in the creation of Juneau County from the western half of Adams County.
March 23, 1855: Act relative to the rights of married women, . Granted married women the rights to own property and conduct business in circumstances where the husband had been negligent or otherwise irresponsible.

1st Regular session: January 10, 1855 - April 2, 1855

Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Eighth Wisconsin Legislature :

District	Counties	Senator	Party	Residence
01	Calumet, Manitowoc, Sheboygan		Rep.	Sheboygan
02	Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Marathon, Oconto, Outagamie, Portage, Waupaca		Dem.	Green Bay
03	Ozaukee		Dem.	Grafton
04	Washington		Ind.	Jackson
05	Milwaukee		Dem.	Milwaukee
06	Milwaukee		Dem.	Milwaukee
07	Racine		Rep.	Racine
08	Kenosha		Rep.	Salem
09	Waukesha		Rep.	Summit
10	Waukesha		Dem.	Denoon
11	Dane		Rep.	Stoughton
12	Walworth		Dem.	Whitewater
13	Lafayette		Dem.	Cottage Inn
14	Jefferson		Dem.	Jefferson
15	Iowa, Richland		Rep.	Mineral Point
16	Grant		Dem.	Lancaster
17	Rock		Rep.	Janesville
18	Rock		Rep.	Shopiere
19	Bad Ax, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Jackson, La Crosse, La Pointe, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix		Dem.	Black River Falls
20	Fond du Lac		Dem.	Fond du Lac
21	Winnebago		Rep.	Oshkosh
22	Dodge		Dem.	Mayville
23	Adams, Marquette, Sauk, Waushara		Dem.	Montello
24	Green		Rep.	Monroe
25	Columbia		Rep.	Fall River

Members of the Assembly for the Eighth Wisconsin Legislature :