Joan Marie Fitzgerald (née Wypiszynski; born c.1965) is an American Democratic politician and retired high school teacher from Jefferson County, Wisconsin. She is a member-elect of the Wisconsin State Assembly, and will represent Wisconsin's 46th Assembly district in the 2025–2026 term. She previously served five years as a member of the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors.
Joan Fitzgerald | |
|---|---|
| Member-elect of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 46th district | |
| Assuming office January 6, 2025 | |
| Succeeding | Melissa Ratcliff |
| Member of the Board of Supervisors of Jefferson County, Wisconsin, from the 26th district | |
| In office February 2019 – April 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Gregg Patrick |
| Succeeded by | Amanda Golson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joan Marie Wypiszynski 1964 or 1965 (age 59–60) Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Gerald Reed Fitzgerald |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin |
| Education | University of Wisconsin–Whitewater (B.S., M.S.) |
| Profession | Educator |
| Website | Campaign website |
Biography
editJoan Fitzgerald was born Joan Wypiszynski in Wisconsin.[1] She was raised and educated in Greendale, Wisconsin, graduating from Greendale High School in 1982. She attended the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, earning her bachelor's degree in secondary education, and then her master's in educational curriculum and instruction. She worked for 33 years as a high school math teacher in the public schools of Jefferson, Wisconsin, before retiring in 2020. She was a founding member of the Whitewater Area Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.[2]
Political career
editJoan Fitzgerald obtained her first public office in 2019, when she was appointed to the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors.[3] She was elected to a full two-year term in 2020 and re-elected without opposition in 2022.
In February 2024, Fitzgerald announced that she would run for Wisconsin State Assembly. At the time, the state's legislative maps were in flux, as the Wisconsin Supreme Court had struck down the decade-old Republican gerrymander but a remedial plan had not yet been adopted.[4] Within days of her announcement, the state adopted a remedial redistricting plan. Fitzgerald's home region was significantly affected by the redistricting, moving her from the 33rd district to the 46th. Her new district comprised most of the western half of Jefferson County along with part of eastern Dane County; the only incumbent residing in the district, Melissa Ratcliff, had already announced a bid for state Senate, leaving an open seat in the 46th Assembly district. Fitzgerald faced no opponent in the Democratic Primary, and went on to the general election against Republican Jenifer Quimby, the mayor of Waterloo, Wisconsin.[2] Fitzgerald won the election by 1,766 votes, and is set to take office in January 2025.[5]
Personal life and family
editJoan Fitzgerald is one of three children born to Robert J. and Mary Lou (née Crabb) Wypiszynski.[1]
Joan Wypiszynski took the last name Fitzgerald when she married Gerald Fitzgerald. They reside in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, and have two adult children.[3]
Electoral history
editWisconsin Assembly (2024)
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 5, 2024[5] | |||||
| Democratic | Joan Fitzgerald | 18,985 | 52.39% | −17.26pp | |
| Republican | Jenifer Quimby | 17,219 | 47.52% | +17.25pp | |
| Scattering | 32 | 0.09% | |||
| Plurality | 1,766 | 4.87% | |||
| Total votes | 36,236 | 100.0% | +21.86% | ||
| Democratic hold | |||||
References
edit- ^ a b "Mary Lou Wypiszynski". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. May 6, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2024 – via Legacy.com.
- ^ a b "Candidate Q&A: Assembly District 46". Wisconsin State Journal. October 7, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ a b "About Joan". Joan Fitzgerald Democrat for Assembly. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ "Fitzgerald announces campaign for 33rd state Assembly District seat". Fort Atkinson Online. February 12, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ a b "County by County Report - 2024 General Election" (PDF). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 27, 2024. p. 46. Retrieved December 4, 2024.