Ellen Schutt (born October 16, 1995) is an American politician from southern Wisconsin. A Republican, she is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Wisconsin's 31st Assembly district, which includes portions of Walworth and Rock Counties, since January 2023.

Ellen Schutt
Official portrait, 2023
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 31st district
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byAmy Loudenbeck
Personal details
Born (1995-10-16) October 16, 1995 (age 29)
Darien, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Eric Barbour
(m. 2021)
Children1
ResidenceClinton, Rock County, Wisconsin
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison (BA)
WebsiteOfficial website

Biography

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Ellen Schutt grew up in the town of Darien, Wisconsin, and was raised there on her family's farm. She graduated from Delavan Darien High School and earned her bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[1] While attending the University of Wisconsin, she became active in conservative politics on campus and re-founded the Madison chapter of Young Americans for Freedom, and founded a chapter of the Luce Society—for conservative women. She interned with Wisconsin state representative Amy Loudenbeck and in the district office of congressman Paul Ryan, handling constituent services and questions.[1] In her senior year, she received a fellowship with the Clare Booth Luce Center for Conservative Women in Herndon, Virginia.[1]

After earning her bachelor's degree, she was hired as a legislative aide to representative Amy Loudenbeck and worked for her for several years, as well as representative Jesse James. She also worked as chief of staff in the office of representative Tony Kurtz.[1]

Political career

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In December 2021, Amy Loudenbeck announced that she would run for Secretary of State of Wisconsin, and therefore would not be able to run for another term in the Wisconsin State Assembly. A few days later, Schutt announced that she would be a candidate for the Republican nomination in Loudenbeck's 31st Assembly district seat.[2] Ultimately two other candidates entered the Republican primary field, but Schutt prevailed with 42% of the vote.[3] She went on to defeat the Democratic candidate, Whitewater city councilmember Brienne Brown.[4]

Schutt assumed office in January 2023.

On May 31, 2024 Schutt announced she would not seek re-election.[5]

Personal life and family

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Ellen Schutt has two brothers and two sisters. She married Eric Barbour and moved to the village of Clinton, Rock County, Wisconsin. Schutt and Barbour have one child. Barbour is also a legislative staffer and a Republican Party organizer. He worked for Representative Samantha Kerkman in the Assembly and was campaign manager for state senator Van H. Wanggaard in his 2018 re-election campaign. He is currently a staffer in the State Senate, and was clerk of the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties during the 2021–2022 session.[6]

Electoral history

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Wisconsin Assembly (2022)

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2022 31st district Wisconsin State Assembly election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Primary, August 9, 2022[3]
Republican Ellen Schutt 3,245 42.45%
Republican Maryann Zimmerman 2,405 31.46%
Republican Jason Dean 1,977 25.86%
Scattering 18 0.24%
Plurality 840 10.99%
Total votes 7,645 100.0%
General Election, November 8, 2022[4]
Republican Ellen Schutt 14,704 59.15%
Democratic Brienne Brown 10,134 40.77%
Scattering 20 0.08%
Plurality 4,570 18.38%
Total votes 24,858 100.0% +24.34%
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "About Me". Ellen Schutt for State Assembly. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  2. ^ Montgomery, Austin (December 8, 2021). "Ex-Loudenbeck aide eyes Assembly run". Beloit Daily News. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Canvass Results for 2022 Partisan Primary - 8/9/2022 (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. August 26, 2022. p. 34. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Canvass Results for 2022 General Election - 11/8/2022 (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 21, 2022. pp. 15–16. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  5. ^ "Rep. Schutt: Announces she will not seek reelection". WisPolitics. May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  6. ^ "2021 Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties". Wisconsin Legislature. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
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Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 31st district
January 3, 2023 – present
Incumbent