Martha Laning

Martha Laning
Chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin
Assumed office
June 6, 2015
Preceded by Mike Tate

Martha Kniess Laning (born 1961 or 1962) is the chairperson of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. A businessperson, activist, and politician from Plymouth, Wisconsin, Laning was elected Democratic chairperson on June 5, 2015.

Life and political career

Laning received her undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of Wisconsin.[1] She was employed by Target Stores and Kraft Foods before moving to Plymouth, Wisconsin, where she worked as executive director of an intergenerational center.[2] In 2013, Laning announced that she would challenge state Senator Joe Leibham, a Republican, for reelection to his 9th District.[3] Leibham did not seek reelection, instead pursuing the Republican congressional nomination for Wisconsin's 6th congressional district, so Laning faced Sheboygan County Board Chairman Devin LeMahieu in the 2014 general election.[4] Laning was defeated in the election, losing by about 20 percentage points.[2]

In 2015, Laning announced her candidacy to succeed outgoing Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairperson Mike Tate. The campaign for the chairmanship was crowded and contentious; Laning faced former party chair Joe Wineke, Milwaukee consultant Jason Rae, and former state representatives Jeff Smith and Stephen Smith.[5] Prior to the party convention in Milwaukee, Jeff Smith controversially offered Laning the party's executive directorship if she exited the race; she declined the offer,[5] and Smith ultimately dropped out of the race and endorsed Laning. On June 5, 2015, she was elected chairperson at the party's annual convention in Milwaukee receiving 721 votes to Rae's 428 and Wineke's 191 .[5]

Laning attended the 2016 Democratic National Convention as a super-delegate, and pledged support to Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Martha Laning's Biography". Project Vote Smart. One Common Ground. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  2. 1 2 Smathers, Jason (18 June 2015). "Laning: Less Walker, more issues for state Dem Party". Sheboygan Press. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  3. ↑ Rochester, Chris (14 November 2013). "Senator Joe Leibham to face Martha Laning: 9th Senate District". Morning Martini. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  4. ↑ Mathews, Charlie. "GOP's LeMahieu captures 9th Senate seat". HTR News. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Kissinger, Meg (6 June 2015). "Martha Laning elected state Democratic Party chairwoman". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  6. ↑ List of Democratic Party superdelegates, 2016
Party political offices
Preceded by
Mike Tate		 Chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin
June 6, 2015 – present 		Succeeded by
incumbent
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