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Joan Ballweg

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Joan Ballweg
Ballweg in 2007
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 14th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 4, 2021
Preceded byLuther Olsen
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 41st district
In office
January 3, 2005 – January 4, 2021
Preceded byLuther Olsen
Succeeded byAlex Dallman
Mayor of Markesan, Wisconsin
In office
April 1991 – April 1997
Personal details
Born (1952-03-16) March 16, 1952 (age 72)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
SpouseThomas Ballweg (m. 1974)
ChildrenJeffrey, Kristen, Becky
ResidenceMarkesan, Wisconsin
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Stevens Point (BA)
ProfessionTeacher, business owner, politician
Signature
WebsiteOfficial 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

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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

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Ballweg worked as a first grade teacher from 1974 to 1976 in Memphis, Tennessee, before returning to Wisconsin with her family. They settled in Waunakee, 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

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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 2023, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the Republican legislative gerrymander and compelled the Legislature to adopt remedial maps for the 2024 elections. Ballweg was significantly affected by the redistricting, and was drawn out of the 14th Senate district. She quickly declared that she would relocate in order to maintain residency.[13] The new 14th Senate district was significantly reorganized, the only areas of the previous district which remained were the areas of the district in Columbia and Sauk counties, and part of the area in southern Adams County; the new district added more areas of Columbia County, all of Sauk and Richland counties, and parts of southern Juneau County and north-central Dane County. In its new configuration, the 14th Senate district was projected to be one of the most competitive in the state and lived up to that expectation. Ballweg narrowly lost the election to mental health counselor Sarah Keyeski of Lodi, Wisconsin, falling about 2.2% short of Keyeski.[14]

Personal life

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Joan Gottinger took the last name Ballweg when she married Tom Ballweg in 1974. They now have three adult children.[1]

Electoral history

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Wisconsin Assembly (2004–2018)

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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[15] 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[16] Nov. 4 Joan Ballweg (inc) Republican 16,658 62.78% Scott Milheiser Dem. 9,853 37.14% 26,532 6,805
2010 Primary[17] Sep. 14 Joan Ballweg (inc) Republican 6,051 73.12% Nicholas Quade Rep. 2,215 26.77% 8,275 3,836
General[18] 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[19] Nov. 6 Joan Ballweg (inc) Republican 15,035 57.92% Melissa Sorenson Dem. 10,906 42.01% 25,958 4,129
2014 General[20] Nov. 4 Joan Ballweg (inc) Republican 13,152 60.99% Joe Kallas Dem. 8,409 39.00% 21,563 4,743
2016 General[21] Nov. 8 Joan Ballweg (inc) Republican 17,711 70.55% Bradley Pearson Dem. 7,382 29.40% 25,105 10,329
2018 General[22] 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, 2024)

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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
2024 General[14]
(unofficial) 		Nov. 5 Sarah Keyeski Democratic 52,473 51.14% Joan Ballweg (inc) Rep. 50,132 48.86% 102,605 2,341

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Senator Joan Ballweg". Wisconsin Legislature. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Sophie Carson (October 9, 2018). "41st Assembly District: Q&A with Republican Joan Ballweg of Markesan". Oshkosh Northwestern. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  3. ^ "Tom Ballweg: Sun Prairie Connections". Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  4. ^ "Biography". State Senator Joan Ballweg. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  5. ^ "June Dairy Days salutes Markesan area farmers". Fond du Lac Reporter. June 12, 1997. p. 33. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Markesan implement dealer buys Waupun operation". Daily Citizen. April 22, 1998. p. 8. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ White, Laurel (February 24, 2020). "Longtime Republican State Sen. Luther Olsen Announces Retirement". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ a b "2024 Wisconsin General Elections Results - State Senate District 14". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  15. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2006 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 11, 2006. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 22, 2016. p. 18. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  22. ^ Canvass Results for 2018 General Election - 11/6/2018 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. February 22, 2019. p. 19. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
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Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 41st district
January 3, 2005 – January 4, 2021 		Succeeded by
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 14th district
January 4, 2021 – present 		Incumbent
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