Joan Ballweg | |
|---|---|
 Ballweg in 2007 | |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 14th district | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Luther Olsen |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 41st district | |
| In office January 3, 2005 – January 4, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Luther Olsen |
| Succeeded by | Alex Dallman |
| Mayor of Markesan, Wisconsin | |
| In office April 1991 – April 1997 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 16, 1952 Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Thomas Ballweg (m. 1974) |
| Children | Jeffrey, Kristen, Becky |
| Residence | Markesan, Wisconsin |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point (BA) |
| Profession | Teacher, business owner, politician |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Official website |
Joan A. Ballweg (née Gottinger; born March 16, 1952) is an American business owner and Republican politician from Green Lake County, Wisconsin. She is a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 14th Senate district since 2021. She previously served eight terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, from 2005 to 2021, and was mayor of Markesan, Wisconsin, from 1991 to 1997.[1]
Early life and education
Joan Ballweg was born Joan Gottinger in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and raised in the Milwaukee suburb West Allis. She graduated from Nathan Hale High School in West Allis in 1970 and went on to attend the University of Wisconsin–Waukesha before earning her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point in 1974.[2] She is married to Tom Ballweg, with whom she has four children.[3]
Early career
Ballweg worked as a first grade teacher from 1974 to 1976 in Memphis, Tennessee, before returning to Wisconsin with her family. They settled in Sauk City, Wisconsin, before later relocating to Markesan, Wisconsin. They started the Ballweg Implement Company in December 1976.[4] In 1986, she was elected to the Markesan city council, and served in that role until she was elected mayor of Markesan in 1991.[2] She won re-election in 1993 and 1995, and chose not to run for a fourth term in 1997.[5] Her most noteworthy achievement as mayor was a merger of the city fire department with that of neighboring township.
In 1998, the Ballweg company bought out another farm implement store in Waupun, Wisconsin, and made that their primary business, closing their store in Markesan.[6] After leaving office, she also served on the board of directors of Waupun Memorial Hospital, and became chairman of the board in 2001.[7]
State legislature
In 2004, the incumbent state representative in her district, Luther Olsen, chose to run for state senate, creating an open seat in the 41st Assembly district. Ballweg entered the Republican primary in March 2004, citing her experience in education, local government, small business, and the health care industry.[7] The race ultimately attracted a huge number of ambitious area Republicans, including the former Green Lake County sheriff, Lance Buchholtz, and Ballweg's successor as Markesan mayor, Rich Slate. Ballweg ultimately prevailed over eight Republican primary opponents, taking 28% of the primary vote.[8] Ballweg faced only a Constitution Party opponent in the general election, and prevailed with 84% of the vote.[9] She would win re-election seven times in the 41st Assembly district. In the Assembly, she was elected to caucus leadership in the 2011 and 2013 terms, serving as majority caucus chair.[1] During the Trump administration, she also served as a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region V advisory council.[1]
In February 2020, state senator Luther Olsen announced he would not run for re-election later that year, creating an open seat in the 14th Senate district. Later that day, Ballweg announced that she would run to succeed him in the Wisconsin Senate.[10] Her only opponent in the 2020 primary was newcomer Ken Van Dyke, who she defeated with 69% of the vote.[11] She faced retired union machinist Joni Anderson in the general election, and prevailed with 65% of the vote.[12] In the state Senate, Ballweg was again elected to leadership, serving as caucus vice chair in the 2023 term.[1]
In the 2024 redistricting act, Ballweg was drawn out of the 14th Senate district. She has since declared that she will run for re-election in the 14th Senate district, implying that she will relocate to maintain residency in the redrawn district.[13]
Personal life
Joan Gottinger took the last name Ballweg when she married Tom Ballweg in 1974. They now have three adult children.[1]
Electoral history
Wisconsin Assembly (2004–2018)
| Year | Election | Date | Elected | Defeated | Total | Plurality | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Primary[8] | Sep. 14 | Joan Ballweg | Republican | 2,406 | 28.63% | Peter Sensenbrenner | Rep. | 1,179 | 14.03% | 8,405 | 1,227 |
| Lance Buchholtz | Rep. | 1,089 | 12.96% | |||||||||
| Mike Gustin | Rep. | 929 | 11.05% | |||||||||
| Rich Slate | Rep. | 860 | 10.23% | |||||||||
| Dan Priske | Rep. | 802 | 9.54% | |||||||||
| Marv Wagner Jr. | Rep. | 628 | 7.47% | |||||||||
| Matt Metoxen | Rep. | 374 | 4.45% | |||||||||
| Leon Zuehls | Rep. | 130 | 1.55% | |||||||||
| General[9] | Nov. 2 | Joan Ballweg | Republican | 18,937 | 84.19% | James E. Tostenson | Con. | 3,493 | 15.53% | 22,492 | 15,444 | |
| 2006 | General[14] | Nov. 7 | Joan Ballweg (inc) | Republican | 13,629 | 64.50% | Maura Robinson | Dem. | 6,449 | 30.52% | 21,129 | 7,180 |
| James E. Tostenson | Con. | 1,042 | 4.93% | |||||||||
| 2008 | General[15] | Nov. 4 | Joan Ballweg (inc) | Republican | 16,658 | 62.78% | Scott Milheiser | Dem. | 9,853 | 37.14% | 26,532 | 6,805 |
| 2010 | Primary[16] | Sep. 14 | Joan Ballweg (inc) | Republican | 6,051 | 73.12% | Nicholas Quade | Rep. | 2,215 | 26.77% | 8,275 | 3,836 |
| General[17] | Nov. 2 | Joan Ballweg (inc) | Republican | 13,163 | 65.34% | Scott Milheiser | Dem. | 5,183 | 25.73% | 20,146 | 7,980 | |
| Jay Selthofner | Ind. | 1,786 | 8.87% | |||||||||
| 2012 | General[18] | Nov. 6 | Joan Ballweg (inc) | Republican | 15,035 | 57.92% | Melissa Sorenson | Dem. | 10,906 | 42.01% | 25,958 | 4,129 |
| 2014 | General[19] | Nov. 4 | Joan Ballweg (inc) | Republican | 13,152 | 60.99% | Joe Kallas | Dem. | 8,409 | 39.00% | 21,563 | 4,743 |
| 2016 | General[20] | Nov. 8 | Joan Ballweg (inc) | Republican | 17,711 | 70.55% | Bradley Pearson | Dem. | 7,382 | 29.40% | 25,105 | 10,329 |
| 2018 | General[21] | Nov. 6 | Joan Ballweg (inc) | Republican | 15,257 | 62.92% | Frank T. Buress | Dem. | 8,984 | 37.05% | 24,249 | 6,273 |
Wisconsin Senate (2020–present)
| Year | Election | Date | Elected | Defeated | Total | Plurality | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Primary[11] | Aug. 11 | Joan Ballweg | Republican | 11,096 | 68.97% | Ken Van Dyke Sr. | Rep. | 4,982 | 30.97% | 16,088 | 6,114 |
| General[12] | Nov. 3 | Joan Ballweg | Republican | 61,883 | 64.87% | Joni D. Anderson | Dem. | 33,459 | 35.08% | 95,389 | 28,424 | |
References
- ^ a b c d e "Senator Joan Ballweg". Wisconsin Legislature. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
- ^ a b Sophie Carson (October 9, 2018). "41st Assembly District: Q&A with Republican Joan Ballweg of Markesan". Oshkosh Northwestern. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
- ^ "Tom Ballweg: Sun Prairie Connections". Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
- ^ "Biography". State Senator Joan Ballweg. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
- ^ "June Dairy Days salutes Markesan area farmers". Fond du Lac Reporter. June 12, 1997. p. 33. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Markesan implement dealer buys Waupun operation". Daily Citizen. April 22, 1998. p. 8. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Kottke, Colleen (March 21, 2004). "Former teacher running for seat in Wisconsin State Assembly". Fond du Lac Reporter. p. 6. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/14/2004 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 10, 2004. pp. 43–44. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
- ^ a b Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2004. p. 24. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
- ^ White, Laurel (February 24, 2020). "Longtime Republican State Sen. Luther Olsen Announces Retirement". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
- ^ a b Canvass Results for 2020 Partisan Primary - 8/11/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. August 26, 2020. p. 7. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
- ^ a b Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 18, 2020. p. 5. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
- ^ "Ballweg campaign: Announces bid for re-election to State Senate". Joan Ballweg for Senate (Press release). March 6, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Wispolitics.com.
- ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2006 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 11, 2006. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
- ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/04/2008 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2008. p. 23. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
- ^ Results of Fall Primary - 9/14/2010 (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. October 4, 2010. p. 39. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
- ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/2/2010 (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 1, 2010. p. 19. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
- ^ Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election - 11/6/2012 (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 26, 2012. p. 18. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
- ^ Canvass Results for 2014 General Election - 11/4/2014 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. November 26, 2014. p. 18. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Wisconsin Elections Commission.
- ^ Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 22, 2016. p. 18. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
- ^ Canvass Results for 2018 General Election - 11/6/2018 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. February 22, 2019. p. 19. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
External links
This page was last edited on 22 March 2024, at 23:32