New Legislative Faces

November 9, 2022

 

Caucuses Schedule Meetings

The Senate and Assembly caucuses announced the schedule for their partisan caucuses in the next several days. These post- Election meetings are opportunities to gather the caucus together following the Election, introduce the new member-elects and select the Majority and Minority Leadership for the 2023-2024 Session.

Below is the Schedule-
  • Senate Republicans: Thursday, November 10th
  • Assembly Republicans: Thursday, November 10th
  • Senate Democrats: Tuesday, November 15th
  • Assembly Democrats: Thursday, November 17th

 

31 New Lawmakers

Going into the general election, we noted that legislative turnover was one of the highest in the history of Wisconsin. We knew there were going to be a minimum of 30 new lawmakers in the State Assembly and State Senate, and additionally that that number could be higher depending on the results of the general election. Pending any recounts, there will be 31 new lawmakers sworn into office in January. There was 1 incumbent that was defeated.
If there is any movement on these numbers, we will update you in the next Capitol Insights.

 

New Faces in the State Senate

Heading into election day we knew that there would be at least 7 new members of the State Senate in the 2023-2024 Legislative Session with the following law makers not seeking re-election:
  1. District 5- Dale Kooyenga (R)
  2. District 15- Janis Ringhand (D)
  3. District 19- Roger Roth (R)
  4. District 23- Kathy Bernier (R)
  5. District 25- Janet Bewley (D)
  6. District 27- Jon Erpenbach (D)
  7. District 29- Jerry Petrowski (R)
Below, please find the bios of the new members of the Wisconsin State Senate for the 2023-2024 Legislative Session. 
District 5- Rob Hutton (R)

Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield) won his general election for the 5th Senate District with 53% of the vote. He was unopposed in the Republican primary election. Hutton is the owner of two industrial coating firms that serve Wisconsin’s manufacturing industry. He also represented the 13th Assembly District from 2013 until 2021, when he was narrowly defeated by Sara Rodriguez (D-Milwaukee) in the 2020 general election, receiving 49% of the vote compared to Rodriguez’s 50.9%. While in the Assembly, Hutton served on the Small Business, Corrections, and Education committees. Hutton’s policy priorities include reducing government spending, expanding educational choices for all families, protecting life, and ensuring the safety of Wisconsin’s most vulnerable children. His website can be accessed here.

District 15- Mark Spreitzer (D)

Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) won his general election for the 15th Senate District with 61.4% of the vote. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary election. Spreitzer is the current representative for the 45th Assembly District and has served in that position since 2015, having been re-elected three times. While in the Assembly, Spreitzer served as Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus in 2017, 2019, and 2021. Prior to becoming a full-time legislator, Spreitzer worked at Beloit College as the assistant director of alumni and parent relations. Spreitzer’s policy priorities include implementing nonpartisan redistricting, raising the minimum wage, expanding BadgerCare, restoring access to abortion, and fully funding the public school system. His website can be accessed here.

District 19- Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R) 

Rachael Cabral-Guevara won her general election for the 19th Senate District with 54% of the vote. She won her Republican primary election with 64% of the vote. Cabral-Guevara is the current representative for the 55th Assembly District and has served in that position since 2021. During the 2021-2022 Legislative Session, she served as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Mental Health. In addition to serving as a legislator, Cabral-Guevara has worked as a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and a licensed Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber since 2008. She’s also the owner of Nurse Practitioner Health Services LLC, a cash-based clinic that does not take insurance, posts all prices online, and offers house-call services. Cabral-Guevara’s policy priorities include supporting a low-tax pro-growth market, reforming the welfare system, allowing abortion if the mother’s health is at risk, and ensuring parents have a say in their child’s education. Her website can be accessed here.

District 23- Jesse James (R)

Jesse James (R-Altoona) won his general election for the 23rd Senate District with an uncontested general election. He won his three-way Republican primary election with 50% of the vote. James is the current representative for the 68th Assembly District and has served in that position since 2019, having been re-elected once. During the 2021-2022 Legislative Session, he served as Chair of the Committee on Substance Abuse and Prevention and Vice Chair of the Committee on Family Law. James is a former active duty member of the U.S. Army and a former member of the U.S. Army Reserves’ 397th Engineer Battalion. James worked with the Altoona Police Department for nearly two decades, starting as a part-time officer and working his way to chief in 2013. James also served as the fire and EMS chief for Altoona. James’ policy priorities include growing the economy, supporting law enforcement, confronting the drug and mental health crises, protecting the unborn, and ensuring election integrity. His website can be accessed here.

District 25- Romaine Quinn (R)

Romaine Quinn (R-Cameron) won his general election for the 25th Senate District with 57% of the vote. He was unopposed in his Republican primary election. Quinn represented the 75th Assembly District from 2015-2021, having been re-elected twice before choosing to forgo another term so he could spend more time with his newborn son. Serving in the state Assembly wasn’t Quinn’s first experience with elected office; during his senior year of high school, he was elected to the Rice Lake City Council. After a year on the council, Quinn was elected Mayor of Rice Lake at just 19 years old. In addition to his legislative experience, Quinn works as a licensed realtor at Real Estate Solutions. Quinn’s policy priorities include ensuring future generations grow up in the same Wisconsin we all have, ensuring schools focus on teaching kids the basics while giving them opportunities to succeed, and promoting safe communities that respect law enforcement. His website can be accessed here.

District 27- Dianne Hesselbein (D)

Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton) won her general election for the 27th Senate District with 68% of the vote. She was unopposed in her Democratic primary election. Hesselbein has represented the 79th Assembly District since 2013, having been re-elected four times before choosing to run for state Senate. She was the Assistant Minority Leader from 2017 to 2022. Prior to her time in the state Legislature, Hesselbein served three terms on the Dane County Board of Supervisors. Her policy priorities include providing the best public education for our children, stopping the epidemic of gun violence, ensuring affordable access to quality healthcare, and fighting to restore reproductive freedom. Her website can be accessed here.

District 29- Cory Tomczyk (R)

Cory Tomczyk (R-Mosinee) won his general election for the 29th Senate District with 62% of the vote. He won his three-way Republican primary election with 43.2% of the vote. Tomczyk has been a resident of the Mosinee area since 1988 and is a lifelong Central Wisconsinite. He is the owner of Industrial Recyclers of Wisconsin (IROW), a business he started thirty-two years ago. Tomczyk identifies himself as a “Conservative first and a Republican second.” His policy priorities include taxing less, spending less, regulating less, and mandating less. Tomczyk is also a proponent of school choice and voucher programs. His website can be accessed here.

 

New Faces in the State Assembly

Heading into election day we knew that there would be at least 23 new members of the State Assembly in the 2023-2024 Legislative Session with the following law makers not seeking re-election:
  1. District 5- Jim Steineke (R)
  2. District 6- Gary Tauchen (R)
  3. District 10- David Bowen (D)
  4. District 13- Sara Rodriguez (D)
  5. District 15- Joe Sanfelippo (R)
  6. District 19- Jonathan Brostoff (D)
  7. District 27- Tyler Vorpagel (R)
  8. District 31- Amy Loudenbeck (R)
  9. District 33- Cody Horlacher (R)
  10. District 43 – Don Vruwink (D)
  11. District 45- Mark Spreitzer (D)
  12. District 46- Gary Hebl (D)
  13. District 52- Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R)
  14. District 54- Gordon Hintz (D)
  15. District 55- Rachel Cabral-Guebara (R)
  16. District 59- Tim Ramthun (R)
  17. District 61- Sam Kerkman (R)
  18. District 68- Jesse James (R)
  19. District 73- Nick Milroy (D)
  20. District 74- Beth Meyers (D)
  21. District 79- Dianne Hesselbein (D)
  22. District 80- Sondy Pope (D)
  23. District 82- Ken Skowronski (R)
  24. District 84- Mike Kuglitsch (R)
Below, please find the bios of the new members of the Wisconsin State Assembly for the 2023-2024 Legislative Session.
District 5- Joy Goeben (R)

Joy Goeben (R-Hobart) won her general election for the 5th Assembly District with 60% of the vote. She won her Republican primary election with 54% of the vote. Goeben received her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and her master’s degree in education from Walden University. She then taught 6th-grade students in the Ashwaubenon public school system until starting a family of her own. Goeben founded Joyful Hearts Family Childcare center, which she owned and operated for 10 years. She currently assists her husband in the operation of their family business, Classic Carpet Cleaning. Goeben’s policy priorities include enacting election reform, limiting the size and scope of government, reducing taxes, supporting law enforcement, and protecting parent’s rights through a Parent’s Bill of Rights. Her website can be accessed here.

District 6- Peter Schmidt (R)

Peter Schmidt (R-Bonduel) won his general election for the 6th Assembly District with 66% of the vote. He won his six-way Republican primary election with 23.4% of the vote. Schmidt earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He is the co-owner and operator of the Schmidt Farm, a family farm that has 1,600 head of dairy cattle as well as forages. Schmidt also served one term on the Shawano county board of supervisors. His policy priorities include securing our rights and freedoms by preventing government overreach. His website can be accessed here.

District 10- Darrin Madison (D)

Darrin Madison (D-Milwaukee) won his general election for the 10th Assembly District in an uncontested race. He won his Democratic primary election with 58% of the vote. Madison attended Howard University in Washington, D.C where he double majored in biology and political science. While attending Howard he worked to win political campaigns for progressive candidates in Baltimore, Washington D.C, and Alaska. After returning to Milwaukee, he served as an Americorps Public Ally where he worked for the Urban Ecology Center (UEC) expanding its Volunteer Program and the City of Milwaukee’s Environmental Collaboration Office (ECO) launching the Eco-neighborhoods initiative. Madison’s policy priorities include creating safe communities, enacting universal single-payer health care, changing the state’s funding formula for education by eliminating property taxes as a key factor, and building a robust network of modern public housing. His website can be accessed here.

District 13- Tom Michalski (R)

Tom Michalski (R-Elm Grove) won his general election for the 13th Assembly District with 56% of the vote. He won his two-way Republican primary election with 50.7% of the vote. Michalski is an alumnus of Greenfield High School and UW-Milwaukee. After graduating from college, Michalski worked at Marquette University for 30 years as an information technology specialist. He has significant experience as a local elected official, having served on the Elm Grove village board since 2011 and the Waukesha county board since 2016. Michalski also served as a volunteer member of the Elm Grove Fire Department for 16 years. Michalski’s policy priorities are election integrity, mental health, parental control of schools, and support for law enforcement. His website can be accessed here.

District 15- Dave Maxey (R)

Dave Maxey (R-New Berlin) won his general election for the 15th Assembly District in an uncontested race. He is one of only two first-time candidates in the 2022 state election cycle who did not have an opponent in either the primary or general election. Maxey is a U.S. Navy veteran. Following his military service, Maxey attended Waukesha County Technical College where he earned his associate degree in marketing. When his daughter started public school, Maxey ran for – and subsequently won – a seat on the New Berlin Board of Education. Maxey went on to serve three consecutive terms for a total of nine years. In 2019, Maxey was elected to the New Berlin City Council and was re-elected in 2022 to a second three-year term. His policy priorities include election integrity, reducing the regulatory burden on businesses, keeping taxes low, and ensuring schools are accountable to parents. His website can be accessed here.

District 19- Ryan Clancy (D) 

Ryan Clancy (D-Milwaukee) won his general election for the 19th Assembly District. He is one of only two first-time candidates in the 2022 state election cycle who did not have an opponent in either the primary or general election. After graduating from Beloit College with a degree in English and a secondary teaching certification, Clancy was accepted into the U.S. Peace Corps, where he assisted veteran English teachers on a remote island in the Philippines. His policy priorities include supporting public schools, promoting safety through community investment, and ensuring every Wisconsinite has a right to legal counsel. His website can be accessed here.

District 27- Amy Binsfeld (R)

Amy Binsfeld (R-Sheboygan) won her general election for the 27th Assembly District with 65% of the vote, facing only an independent challenger. She was additionally unopposed in her primary election. Amy is a lifelong resident of Sheboygan County. Amy has worked in her family-owned local furniture store, Bitter Neumann, since she was 19 years old. In 2012, Amy went back to school to receive her degree as a paralegal. She graduated with Presidential Honors and was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Her policy priorities include continuing to build on the strong family values that have been in the community, encourage Christian values in the home, provide a solid education to youth by providing school choice to those who seek it, and to ensure that all are able to make their own health care decisions and not just fall into a one-size-fits all approach.

District 31- Ellen Schutt (R)

Ellen Schutt (R-Clinton) won her general election for the 31st Assembly District with 59% of the vote. In the primary election, Schutt captured 43% of the vote. Ellen was born and raised in Darien on a family farm. She attended UW-Madison where she established the Young Americans for Freedom Chapter and Claire Booth Luce Society. During her college years, Ellen interned with Rep. Amy Loudenbeck and Congressman Paul Ryan. After graduating, she worked full time for Rep. Loudenbeck and most recently for Rep. Tony Kurtz. Her policy priorities are protecting communities, protecting the most vulnerable populations, having a first-rate education, reforming the tax code, supporting small businesses and rural Wisconsin, ensuring free and fair elections, a strong economy, supporting veterans, protecting the 2nd Amendment, and empowering patients and improving access to healthcare, especially in rural areas. Her website can be accessed here.

District 33- Scott Johnson (R)

Scott Johnson (R-Jefferson) won his general election for the 33rd Assembly District with 50.5% of the vote. In the primary election, Johnson captured 52% of the vote. Scott is a farmer from near Fort Atkinson. He received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics and has farmed in Jefferson County since. Scott also served on the Fort Atkinson School Board for 15 years, and worked as a substitute school bus driver in the district for 20 years. Scott’s policy priorities include fighting inflation and fixing the economy, keeping communities safe, promoting transparent education, investing in our roads, and strengthening our workforce. His website can be accessed here.

District 43- Jenna Jacobson (D)

Jenna Jacobson (D-Oregon) won her general election for the 43rd Assembly District with 62% of the vote. In the primary election, Jacobson captured 83% of the vote. Jenna is a Village of Oregon Trustee and the Chair of the Finance Committee for the Village. She holds a B.S. in Consumer Financial Planning from Purdue University and works as a Housing Program Specialist focusing on housing access and affordability in Dane County. Jenna’s policy priorities are strong public education resources, access to clean energy and clean water, providing resources to family farms, expansion of medicaid, better access to dental care, mental health support, reproductive rights, quality and affordable housing, and women’s rights. Her website can be accessed here.

District 45- Clinton Anderson (D)

Clinton Anderson (D-Beloit) won his general election for the 45th Assembly District with 56% of the vote. In the primary election, Anderson captured 65% of the vote. Clinton is a member of the Beloit City Council. He previously ran for the 31st Assembly District in 2016, losing to incumbent Rep. Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton) with 35.9% of the vote. His policy priorities include improving quality of life in Wisconsin, increasing education funding, increasing mental health access, expanding Badgercare, expanding renewable energy, and keeping dollars in public schools. His website can be viewed here.

District 46- Melissa Ratcliff (D)

Melissa Ratcliff (D-Cottage Grove) won her general election for the 46th Assembly District with 70% of the vote. She was unopposed in her Democratic primary election. Ratcliff has been a member of the Dane County Board, as well as the Cotte Grove Village Board, since 2018. In addition to serving as an elected official, Ratcliff is a paralegal for a Madison law firm, where she has worked for over 20 years. Her policy priorities include defending reproductive rights, ending gun violence, standing up for LGBTQIA+ rights, and supporting public schools. Her website can be viewed here.

District 52- Jerry O’Connor (R)

Jerry O’Connor (R-Fond Du Lac) won his general election for the 52nd Assembly District with 62% of the vote. In the primary election, he captured 56% of the vote. O’Connor attended the Minnesota Bible College and later graduated from the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking. He spent his career working in the financial sector and spent the past 22 years at a community bank in Waupun. O’Connor is the current board Chair of the Charis Pregnancy Help Center and the board Treasurer of the eCenter for Hope and Vision. His policy priorities include ensuring the economy has good paying jobs, ensuring the education system partners with parents in preparing children for productive successful lives, and ensuring government compliments this by living within its means and protecting citizens without over-reaching, over-regulating, or overtaxing. His website can be viewed here.

District 54- Lori Palmeri (D)

Lori Palmeri (D-Oshkosh) won her general election for the 54th Assembly District with 62% of the vote. She was unopposed in her Democratic primary election. Palmeri served two terms as a council member on the Oshkosh Common Council, and is in her second term as Mayor for the City of Oshkosh. In addition to serving as an elected official, Palmeri works as an international medical courier. Her policy priorities include fighting for fair wages and taxes, increasing the the stock of affordable housing, promoting a clean environment, expanding healthcare, and strengthening public schools. Her website can be viewed here.

District 55- Nate Gustafson (R) 

Nate Gustafson (R-Neenah) won his general election for the 55th Assembly District with 55% of the vote. He was unopposed in his Republican primary election. Gustafson works as an Epic Analyst for NOVO Health Technology Group and was Rep. Cabral-Guevara’s campaign manager for her successful 2020 campaign. He also co-founded Winnebago County for Freedom, a conservative grassroots organization. His policy priorities include passing tax cuts, promoting cyber security for critical infrastructure, advocating for public and private schools, and offering more extensive rehabilitation services and job training opportunities for non-violent offenders. His website can be viewed here.

District 59- Ty Bodden (R)

Ty Bodden (R-Hilbert) won his general election for the 59th Assembly District as he did not have an opponent. He won his Republican primary election with 64% of the vote. Bodden is a former Village of Stockbridge Trustee and the current Chairman of the Republican Party of Calumet County. During the past three years, Ty has worked for the Department of Corrections at the Kettle Moraine Correctional Institute and the Taycheedah Correctional Institution. Prior to that, Ty served as the farm manager for Cristo Rey Ranch in Mount Calvary, where he worked with the Villa Loretto Nursing Home. He currently serves as the board chairman of Cristo Rey Ranch, a non-profit which specializes in animal therapy. Bodden’s policy priorities include securing elections, eliminating election fraud, funding and advocating for law enforcement, addressing the labor shortage, helping businesses with current economic burdens, passing a pro-life heartbeat bill, expanding school choice, and banning the 1619 project. His website can be viewed here.

District 61- Amanda Nedweski (R)

Amanda Nedweski (R-Pleasant Prairie) won her general election for the 61st Assembly District with 64% of the vote. She won her Republican primary election with 57% of the vote. Nedweski is a member of the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors, having been elected in April of 2022. She also serves as vice chair of Mom’s For Liberty, a nonprofit organization that advocates for parental rights in all levels of government. Nedweski’s policy priorities include advocating for lowered taxes and government spending, promoting public safety, and expanding school choice. Her website can be viewed here.

District 68- Karen Hurd (R)

Karen Hurd (R-Fall Creek) won her general election for the 68th Assembly District with 61% of the vote. She won her Republican primary election with 57% of the vote. Hurd is a small business owner, U.S. Army veteran, and substitute teacher for the Fall Creek School System. She currently serves on the Village of Fall Creek Board of Trustees, as well as the Fall Creek Library Board. Hurd’s policy priorities include fixing our economy, keeping communities safe, and empowering parents and putting kids first. Her website can be viewed here.

District 73- Angie Sapik (R)

Angie Sapik (R-Lake Nebagamon) won her general election for the 73rd Assembly District with 58% of the vote. She won her Republican primary election with 58% of the vote. Sapik currently works in produce sales at Vee’s Marketing, Inc. in Superior. Her policy priorities include fixing the economy, empowering parents and putting kids first, and prioritizing Northern Wisconsin. Sapik’s website can be viewed here.

District 74- Chanz Green (R)

Chanz Green (R-Mason) won his general election for the 74th Assembly District with 53% of the vote. He won his Republican primary election with 68% of the vote. Green is the former Utilities Manager for the City of Ashland and has fifteen years of public works experience. He currently owns both the Pioneer Bar in Cable and Ashland Event Rentals. Green’s policy priorities include preserving sportsmen’s rights, prioritizing workforce development, and making sure northern Wisconsin gets its fair share of infrastructure spending. Green’s website can be viewed here.

District 79- Alex Joers (D)

Alex Joers (D-Middleton) won his general election for the 79th Assembly District with 74% of the vote. He won his Democratic primary election with 76% of the vote. Joers has worked as a policy aide for state Senator Melissa Agard, Sen. Jennifer Shilling, and most recently state Rep. Dianne Hesselbein. He also has served on the Dane County Board since 2020. Joers’ policy priorities include supporting small businesses, protecting our environment, defending reproductive freedom, and investing in education. His website can be viewed here.

District 80- Mike Bare (D)

Mike Bare (D-Verona) was elected with 70% of the vote for the 80th Assembly District. Bare was unopposed in the August primary election. He is a former longtime aide to U.S. Senator Russ Feingold. Bare currently represents the city and town of Verona on the Dane County Board, and is a former Alder for the city of Verona and a former member of the Plan Commission. He is the owner of Biergarten at Olbrich Park in Madison. Bare’s policy priorities are defending our democracy, protecting our rights, and saving our environment. His website can be accessed here.

District 83- Nik Rettinger (R)

Nik Rettinger (R-Mukwonago) was elected with 79% of the vote for the 83rd Assembly District. He won his Republican primary election with 58% of the vote. Rettinger is currently the chief of staff for Sen. André Jacque, but has worked for several Republican state legislators including former Rep./Sen. David Craig and former Rep. Jesse Kremer. He is also the co-owner of Campaign Tutors and is actively involved in the Republican Party of Wisconsin, having served in several leadership positions for the state GOP including as the current first congressional district chairman. Rettinger’s policy priorities include protecting the unborn, supporting the 1st and 2nd Amendments, and enacting regulatory and licensure reform. His website can be accessed here.

District 84- Bob Donovan (R)

Bob Donovan (R-Greenfield) was elected with 51% of the vote to represent the 84th Assembly District. Donovan defeated his opponent in the Republican primary with 73% of the vote. Donovan is a former Milwaukee Alderman and was the runner-up to Mayor Cavalier Johnson in the Milwaukee mayoral election this past April, receiving 28.3% of the vote. Donovan’s policy priorities include reducing crime, promoting public safety, and bridging the gap between Madison and local communities. His website can be accessed here.