{{Short description|21st century American politician (born 1986)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Mark Spreitzer | image = | caption = | state = Wisconsin | state_senate = Wisconsin | district = [[Wisconsin's 15th Senate district|15th]] | term_start = January 3, 2023 | term_end = | predecessor = [[Janis Ringhand]] | successor = | state_assembly1 = Wisconsin | district1 = [[Wisconsin's 45th Assembly district|45th]] | term_start1 = January 3, 2015 | term_end1 = January 3, 2023 | predecessor1 = [[Janis Ringhand]] | successor1 = [[Clinton Anderson (Wisconsin politician)|Clinton Anderson]] | party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|12|16}} | birth_place = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = Philip Gorman | education = [[Beloit College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) | occupation = | website = [https://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/15/spreitzer Official website] }} '''Mark Spreitzer''' (born December 16, 1986) is an American [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] politician from [[Beloit, Wisconsin]]. He is a member of the [[Wisconsin Senate]], representing [[Wisconsin's 15th Senate district]] since 2023. He previously served four terms in the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]], from 2015 to 2023, and before that was a member of the Beloit City Council.

== Early life and education == Mark Spreitzer was born in [[Chicago, Illinois]], in 1986. He was raised and educated in Chicago, graduating from [[Northside College Preparatory High School]] in 2005. He attended [[Beloit College]], in [[Beloit, Wisconsin]], and decided to remain there after earning his bachelor's degree in 2009.<ref name="wileg">{{cite web|url= https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/legislators/senate/2827 |title= Senator Mark Spreitzer |website= [[Wisconsin Legislature]] |year= 2025 |accessdate= July 11, 2025 }}</ref>

After graduating from college, Spreitzer worked as the assistant director of alumni and parent relations and annual support at Beloit College.

== Political career == During and after college, Spreitzer became active in politics with the [[Democratic Party of Wisconsin]]. He volunteered for the U.S. House campaigns of [[Tammy Baldwin]], the 2008 presidential campaign of [[Barack Obama]], and the 2010 U.S. Senate campaign of [[Russ Feingold]].<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.beloitdailynews.com/uncategorized/145-mark-spreitzer-for-city-council-146/article_3a05cef7-e6e0-544f-9681-1e0a90ae8b4f.html |title= Mark Spreitzer for city council |date= March 29, 2011 |newspaper=[[Beloit Daily News]] |accessdate= July 11, 2025 }}</ref>

In 2011, Spreitzer ran for a seat on the Beloit city council. Beloit's city council elected its members in at-large [[Multiwinner voting|multi-winner]] elections. In 2011, seven candidates were seeking three seats on the city council, with two incumbents running for re-election.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-jan-06-2011-5182829/ |title= Candidates file papers to run for spring election |date= January 6, 2011 |page= 4A |newspaper= [[The Gazette (Janesville, Wisconsin)|The Janesville Gazette]] |accessdate= July 11, 2025 |via= [[NewspaperArchive.com]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.beloitdailynews.com/uncategorized/candidates-line-up-for-beloit-city-council/article_ff73a781-e6fd-5350-b85a-4418f93a2a56.html |title= Candidates line up for Beloit City Council |first= Hilary |last= Dickinson |date= December 22, 2010 |newspaper= [[Beloit Daily News]] |accessdate= July 11, 2025 }}</ref> Spreitzer was ultimately one of two new candidates to win a seat on the council, and served until 2015, serving as council president for the 2014&ndash;2015 term.<ref name="wileg"/>

In the fall of 2013, state senator [[Timothy Cullen]] announced his retirement from politics; his resignation prompted state representative [[Janis Ringhand]] to announce her candidacy to succeed him, creating an open seat in the [[Wisconsin's 45th Assembly district|45th Assembly district]]. In early December 2013, Spreitzer announced that he would run to succeed her in the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]].<ref>{{cite news|url= https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-dec-06-2013-5182932/ |title= Speitzer announces 45th Assembly bid |newspaper= [[The Gazette (Janesville, Wisconsin)|The Janesville Gazette]] |date= December 6, 2013 |accessdate= July 11, 2025 |via= [[NewspaperArchive.com]] }}</ref> Shortly after announcing his candidacy, he was elected city council president. In the Assembly race, he faced one opponent for the Democratic Party nomination, fellow Beloit city councilmember Sheila De&nbsp;Forest.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-aug-04-2014-5184258/ |title= Spreitzer, De Forest compete in 45th |newspaper= [[The Gazette (Janesville, Wisconsin)|The Janesville Gazette]] |date= August 4, 2014 |page= 3A |accessdate= July 12, 2025 |via= [[NewspaperArchive.com]] }}</ref> After a close contest, Spreitzer prevailed with 54% of the vote.<ref name="2014pri"/> He faced no opponent in the general election, and went on to represent the 45th Assembly district in the [[102nd Wisconsin Legislature]].<ref name="2014gen"/> He was re-elected without opposition in 2016, and defeated a Libertarian Party opponent in 2018. He faced his first Republican opponent in 2020, and prevailed with 55% of the vote.

In coordinated announcements in March 2022, Janis Ringhand announced she would not run for a third term in the [[Wisconsin Senate]], and Spreitzer announced that he would run to succeed her in the [[Wisconsin's 15th Senate district|15th Senate district]].<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-ringhand/176546497/ |title= Ringhand won't seek new term |newspaper= [[Wisconsin State Journal]] |first= Mitchell |last= Schmidt |date= March 10, 2022 |page= A3 |accessdate= July 12, 2025 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref> He faced no opposition in the Democratic primary and won the general election with 60% of the vote.<ref name="2022gen"/> Since joining the state Senate, Spreitzer has served on the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, and in the [[107th Wisconsin Legislature|2025 term]], he was also assigned to the Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development, and the Committee on Transportation and Local Government.<ref name="wileg"/>

== Personal life == Spreitzer is openly gay.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 13, 2014 |title=Pride at the polls: LGBT candidates win |url=http://www.wisconsingazette.com/lgbt-pride/pride-at-the-polls-lgbt-candidates-win.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20141116150016/http://www.wisconsingazette.com/lgbt-pride/pride-at-the-polls-lgbt-candidates-win.html |archivedate=November 16, 2014 |work=Wisconsin Gazette}}</ref> He is one of several openly [[LGBTQ]] members of the Wisconsin State Legislature.

==Electoral history== ===Wisconsin Assembly (2014&ndash;2020)=== {| class=wikitable |- ! Year ! Election ! Date !! colspan="4"| Elected !! colspan="4"| Defeated ! Total ! Plurality |- ! rowspan="2" valign="top" | [[2014 Wisconsin State Assembly election|2014]] | valign="top" | Primary<ref name="2014pri">{{cite report|url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Canvass_Results.pdf |title= Canvass Results for 2014 Fall Partisan Primary - 8/12/2014 |date= August 29, 2014 |page= 33 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Government Accountability Board]] |accessdate= July 12, 2025 |via= [[Wisconsin Elections Commission]] }}</ref> | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Aug. 12}} | valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Mark Spreitzer'''}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | valign="top" align="right" | 1,993 | valign="top" align="right" | 54.07% | valign="top" | {{nowrap|Sheila De Forest}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]] | valign="top" align="right" | 1,691 | valign="top" align="right" | 45.88% | valign="top" align="right" | 3,686 | valign="top" align="right" | 302 |- | valign="top" | General<ref name="2014gen">{{Cite report|url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/11.4.14%2520Summary%2520Results-all%2520offices.pdf |title= Canvass Results for 2014 General Election - 11/4/2014 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Government Accountability Board]] |date= November 26, 2014 |page=19 |accessdate= July 12, 2025 |via= [[Wisconsin Elections Commission]] }}</ref> | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 4}} | valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Mark Spreitzer'''}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | valign="top" align="right" | 12,856 | valign="top" align="right" | 99.02% | rowspan="2" align="center" colspan="4" | ''--unopposed--'' | valign="top" align="right" | 12,983 | valign="top" align="right" | |- ! valign="top" | [[2016 Wisconsin State Assembly election|2016]] | valign="top" | General<ref name="2016gen">{{Cite report|url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Statewide%2520Results%2520All%2520Offices%2520%2528post-Presidential%2520recount%2529.pdf |title= Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Elections Commission]] |date= December 22, 2016 |page=19 |accessdate= July 12, 2025 }}</ref> | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 8}} | valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Mark Spreitzer''' (inc)}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | valign="top" align="right" | 17,867 | valign="top" align="right" | 98.00% | valign="top" align="right" | 18,231 | valign="top" align="right" | |- ! valign="top" | [[2018 Wisconsin State Assembly election|2018]] | valign="top" | General<ref name="2018gen">{{Cite report|url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Summary%2520Results-2018%2520Gen%2520Election_0.pdf |title= Canvass Results for 2018 General Election - 11/6/2018 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Elections Commission]] |date= February 22, 2019 |page=20 |accessdate= July 12, 2025 }}</ref> | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 7}} | valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Mark Spreitzer''' (inc)}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | valign="top" align="right" | 14,198 | valign="top" align="right" | 79.10% | valign="top" | {{nowrap|Reese Wood}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Lib.]] | valign="top" align="right" | 3,496 | valign="top" align="right" | 19.48% | valign="top" align="right" | 17,950 | valign="top" align="right" | 10,702 |- ! valign="top" | [[2020 Wisconsin State Assembly election|2020]] | valign="top" | General<ref name="2020gen">{{Cite report|url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Statewide%2520Results%2520All%2520Offices%2520%2528pre-Presidential%2520recount%2529.pdf|title=Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Elections Commission]] |date= November 18, 2020 |page=18 |accessdate= July 12, 2025 }}</ref> | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 3}} | valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Mark Spreitzer''' (inc)}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | valign="top" align="right" | 14,451 | valign="top" align="right" | 54.80% | valign="top" | {{nowrap|Tawny Gustina}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]] | valign="top" align="right" | 11,895 | valign="top" align="right" | 45.11% | valign="top" align="right" | 26,370 | valign="top" align="right" | 2,556 |}

===Wisconsin Senate (2022&ndash;present)=== {| class=wikitable |- ! Year ! Election ! Date !! colspan="4"| Elected !! colspan="4"| Defeated ! Total ! Plurality |- ! valign="top" | [[2022 Wisconsin Senate election|2022]] | valign="top" | General<ref name="2022gen">{{Cite report|url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Statewide%20Summary%20Results_1.pdf |title= Canvass Results for 2022 General Election - 11/8/2022 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Elections Commission]] |date= November 30, 2022 |page=6 |accessdate= July 12, 2025 }}</ref> | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 8}} | valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Mark Spreitzer'''}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | valign="top" align="right" | 46,192 | valign="top" align="right" | 61.38% | valign="top" | {{nowrap|Mark Trofimchuck}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]] | valign="top" align="right" | 29,006 | valign="top" align="right" | 38.54% | valign="top" align="right" | 75,260 | valign="top" align="right" | 17,186 |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/15/spreitzer Official website] * [https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/legislators/senate/2827 Senator Mark Spreitzer (2025)] at [[Wisconsin Legislature]] * {{CongLinks|votesmart= 130725 }} * {{Ballotpedia|Mark_Spreitzer}} * [https://maps.legis.wisconsin.gov/Home/SingleEmbed/?house=s&district=15 Map of Wisconsin's 15th Senate district]

{{S-start}} {{S-par|us-wi-hs}} {{s-bef|before = [[Janis Ringhand]] }} {{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]]}} {{nowrap|from the [[Wisconsin's 45th Assembly district|45th]] district}} |years= January 3, 2015{{spaced ndash}}January 2, 2023 }} {{s-aft|after = [[Clinton Anderson (Wisconsin politician)|Clinton Anderson]] }} {{s-par|us-wi-sen}} {{s-bef|before = [[Janis Ringhand]] }} {{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the [[Wisconsin Senate]]}} {{nowrap|from the [[Wisconsin's 15th State Senate district|15th]] district}} |years= January 3, 2023{{spaced ndash}}present }} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}} {{Wisconsin State Senators}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spreitzer, Mark}} [[Category:1986 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Politicians from Beloit, Wisconsin]] [[Category:Beloit College alumni]] [[Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Wisconsin]] [[Category:LGBTQ people from Wisconsin]] [[Category:American gay politicians]] [[Category:Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly]] [[Category:Democratic Party Wisconsin state senators]] [[Category:21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature]]