Martha Laning

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