Patrick Testin (born June 9, 1988) is an American Republican politician from Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He is the current President pro tempore of the Wisconsin Senate, since 2021, and has served in the Senate since 2017. He represents Wisconsin's 24th Senate district, which includes the cities of Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids in central Wisconsin.
Patrick Testin | |
|---|---|
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| President pro tempore of the Wisconsin Senate | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Howard Marklein |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 24th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Julie Lassa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 9, 1988 Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Hannah Henderson (m. 2017) |
| Education | University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point (BS) |
| Website | Official website |
Biography
editBorn in Madison, Wisconsin, Testin graduated from Marinette High School in 2006.[1] He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, where he earned his bachelor's degree in political science in 2011.
While in college, Testin became actively involved with the Republican Party of Wisconsin and served as a deputy field director for the successful congressional campaign of Sean Duffy. A few months later, he was hired as field director for Republican candidate Kim Simac in the 2011 Wisconsin Senate recall elections. Over the next several years, after graduating from college, Testin was primarily employed as a store manager for a mattress retailer (2011–2014), and then as a sales representative for M Shiraz Wines of Wisconsin (since 2014).[1]
In 2012, following the implementation of the 2011 Republican redistricting plan, he made his first bid for elected office, running for Wisconsin State Assembly in the open 71st Assembly district—based in Stevens Point, Plover, and neighboring parts of Portage County.[2] He fell far short of fellow first-time candidate Katrina Shankland, who carried 60% of the general election vote.[3]
In 2016, Testin was again a candidate for office, challenging 13-year incumbent State Senator Julie Lassa.[4] This time he prevailed, taking 52% of the vote in a year when the Republican presidential candidate carried the state for the first time since 1984.[5] He was subsequently reelected in 2020.[6] Following the 2020 election, the Senate Republican caucus elected him President pro tempore for the 2021–2022 session.[7]
In September 2021, Testin announced his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin in the 2022 election.[8] He lost the Republican primary to fellow state senator Roger Roth.[9]
Electoral history
editWisconsin Assembly (2012)
edit| Year | Election | Date | Elected | Defeated | Total | Plurality | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012[3] | General | Nov. 6 | Katrina Shankland | Democratic | 17,619 | 60.82% | Patrick Testin | Rep. | 11,279 | 38.94% | 28,968 | 6,340 |
Wisconsin Senate (2016–present)
edit| Year | Election | Date | Elected | Defeated | Total | Plurality | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016[5] | General | Nov. 8 | Patrick Testin | Republican | 45,139 | 52.32% | Julie Lassa (inc) | Dem. | 41,091 | 47.63% | 86,275 | 4,048 |
| 2020[6] | General | Nov. 3 | Patrick Testin (inc) | Republican | 53,720 | 56.43% | Paul Piotrowski | Dem. | 41,419 | 43.51% | 95,198 | 12,301 |
References
edit- ^ a b "About Patrick". State Senator Patrick Testin. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "Wisconsin Legislative Districts - Assembly District 71 Boundaries". Wisconsin Legislature. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ a b Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election - 11/6/2012 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 26, 2012. p. 25. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ Rundio, Steve (January 7, 2016). "Lassa has Republican challenger in 24th Senate District". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ a b Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 22, 2016. pp. 7–8. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ a b Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 18, 2020. p. 6. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ Schmidt, Mitchell (November 6, 2020). "Sen. Devin LeMahieu to be next Senate Majority Leader". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "State Senator Patrick Testin launches campaign for Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor". CBS 58. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "Testin campaign: Sen. Testin concedes in GOP primary for Lt. Gov". Wispolitics.com. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.