Jessica King

For the American dancer, see So You Think You Can Dance (season 4) finalists § Jessica King. For the main character of the TV series, see King (2011 TV series).
Jessica King
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 18th district
In office
August 25, 2011 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by Randy Hopper
Succeeded by Rick Gudex
Personal details
Born (1975-07-21) July 21, 1975
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Alma mater University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Religion Roman Catholicism

Jessica King is a former Democratic member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 18th Wisconsin District when elected in 2011. She defeated incumbent Republican Senator Randy Hopper in a special recall election on August 9, 2011,[1] and took office August 25, 2011;[2] but lost the seat to another Republican, Rick Gudex, in the November 2012 general election, helping to revert that chamber back to Republican control.

Background

King was born and raised in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.[3] Her parents were disabled, and she became a ward of the state at age 15. She put herself through the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, working in a juicebox factory and doing similar work, and went on to earn a law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in California.[4] In 2004, she returned to Wisconsin to care for her aging parents. She opened a small business, and served as an adjunct professor at University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. King was elected to the Oshkosh Common Council, eventually becoming deputy mayor,[3] In 2008, she ran against Hopper for the Senate losing by only 163 votes (41,741 to 41,904).[5]

2011 election

In the wake of the 2011 Wisconsin protests, King was one of two Wisconsin Democratic challengers successful in unseating Republican incumbent senators who had supported Governor Walker. The 18th District includes Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, and Waupun. She narrowly defeated Hopper by 1254 votes (28,191 votes to 26,937)[6] amid a scandal in March 2011 regarding Hopper's reported marital infidelity [7]

2012 election

On November 13, 2012, King conceded to Republican Rick Gudex, current Fond du Lac City Council president.[8] As a result of this race, the Wisconsin State Senate reverted to Republican control by a two-vote majority in January 2013.

References

  1. ↑ Veremis, Lindsay (August 10, 2011). "District 18: King defeats Hopper". WLUK-TV.
  2. ↑ Associated Press. "Wis. Dems to Take Oaths of Office Next Week" KSTP-TV August 18, 2011
  3. 1 2 King Campaign Site
  4. ↑ Jessica King '01 is a Contributing Author
  5. ↑ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau State of Wisconsin 2009-2010 Blue Book Madison: Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, Wisconsin Legislature, 2009; p. 911
  6. ↑ Official election results
  7. ↑ Ferguson, David. "WI Repub lives outside district with mistress, says wife" rawstory.com March 13, 2011
  8. ↑ "Jessica King Concedes District 18 Race"
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