WAUSAU - Long-time Senator Herb Kohl announced his retirement last spring. He'll be replaced by Tammy Baldwin or Tommy Thompson after today's election.

Twenty four years, 13 committees and 7,209 votes in the Senate. Those are the numbers Sen. Kohl has racked up over his nearly two and a half decades representing the state of Wisconsin.

It was an experience he says was worth every minute.

"It's incredible to me that in over 24 years, people have never yelled at me, cursed me out or called me names, and you know how it is in politics. Well that is a reflection of who we are as a people in Wisconsin," says Sen. Kohl.

Being able to help people across the state is what Sen. Kohl says was the best part of his job. He feels fortunate to have been able do it without catering to special interests.

"I think I'm one of the very only people in Washington that doesn't solicit money. And if you don't do that it frees up your mind, and your time and your energy to focus entirely on what you're supposed to be doing every day, which is representing your state," says Sen. Kohl.

The Democratic Senator says he was never afraid to champion issues that were seen as Republican if it was in the interest of the state.

It's the people he says, who will keep the state strong.

"I think our future is very, very bright. I think that we are prepared to face the future. We're not a highly partisan state. Although, in the last couple of years we've become more partisan, but I think we've turned a corner to go back to the kind of state that tries to function, and does function without extreme partisan politics," says Sen. Kohl.

"It's been a great, great run and I'll never forget all the kindnesses the people of Wisconsin have shown me."

Story By: Lyndsey Stemm