Brad Pfaff

Pfaff was born in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, and raised on his family's farm there.{{cite web|url= https://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/32/pfaff/about/biography/ |title= About Me |website= Brad Pfaff - Wisconsin State Senator - District 32 |access-date= May 16, 2023 }} He earned his bachelor's degree in public and environmental administration from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay and a Master of Public Administration from George Mason University.{{cite press release|url= https://www.wispolitics.com/2019/wisconsin-department-of-adminstration-brad-pfaff-joins-doa-as-director-of-business-and-rural-development |title= Dept. of {{sic|nolink=y|Admi|nstration}}: Brad Pfaff joins DOA as Director of Business and Rural Development |date= November 11, 2019 |work= Wisconsin Department of Administration |via=Wispolitics.com |access-date= May 16, 2023 }}

Early in his career, Pfaff became involved in public service and politics, working as an aide to state representative Virgil Roberts. He then worked as a constituent outreach staffer for U.S. senator Herb Kohl. In 1996, he made his first run for political office, running for Wisconsin State Assembly in the 94th Assembly district. With his brother as campaign manager, he challenged incumbent Republican Michael Huebsch, who had defeated his former boss Virgil Roberts in the 1994 election. Pfaff received the Democratic Party nomination without opposition in the primary, but was defeated in the general election by about 2,000 votes.{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/V57G6QVOUSNPG8T |title= State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997–1998 |year= 1997 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |editor-last1= Barish |editor-first1= Lawrence S. |editor-last2= Meloy |editor-first2= Patricia E. |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |page= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AV57G6QVOUSNPG8T/full/AWKKXECTEHYF6S8S 905] |access-date= May 16, 2023 }}

After the 1996 election, Pfaff joined the staff of congressman Ron Kind in 1997, where he worked as a policy advisor on rural and agricultural issues for the next twelve years.{{cite press release |url=http://www.cropinsurance.org/ewashington/070209_4.htm |title=USDA Release: Obama Administration Begins Naming State Executive Directors for the Farm Service Agency |work= United States Department of Agriculture |date= Jun 30, 2009 |via= Crop Insurance Research Bureau |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718174351/http://www.cropinsurance.org/ewashington/070209_4.htm |archive-date=July 18, 2011 }} At the time, he was also a member of the Southwest Badger Resource Conservation and Development Council.{{Cite web|url=https://lacrossetribune.com/newsupdate/pfaff-named-state-executive-director-for-the-farm-service-agency/article_419f89c9-2212-55c5-b7ef-549108f0415e.html|title=Pfaff named state executive director for the Farm Service Agency |newspaper= La Crosse Tribune |date=June 30, 2009 |language=en|access-date=December 21, 2018}}

In 2004, Pfaff made another run for office, running for Wisconsin Senate in the 32nd Senate district seat, which was vacated by Mark Meyer's appointment to the state Public Service Commission. Pfaff prevailed in the Democratic primary over Monte L. Jacobson,{{cite report|url= https://whs.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_de69763f-11cf-439e-a619-8080ffba4003/ |title= Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/14/2004 |publisher= Wisconsin State Elections Board |date= November 10, 2004 |page= 20 |access-date= May 16, 2023 |via= Wisconsin Historical Society }} but was narrowly defeated in the general election by Republican Dan Kapanke.{{cite report|url= https://whs.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_dcaf3106-7971-45d7-9e8b-3b169afa2f9a/ |title= Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 |date= December 1, 2004 |page= 11 |access-date= May 16, 2023 |via= Wisconsin Historical Society }}

He was subsequently elected to the La Crosse County board of supervisors in April 2006,{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-local-elections/124815116/ |title= Unofficial Results |newspaper= La Crosse Tribune |date= April 5, 2006 |page= 10 |access-date= May 16, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com }} and was re-elected in 2008. He resigned from the county board in 2009 after he received his federal appointment.{{Cite news|url= https://lacrossetribune.com/news/pfaff-steps-down-from-county-board/article_3708841e-16f5-52ff-910f-3792639dde0a.html |title= Pfaff steps down from county board |date= August 1, 2009 |first= Richard |last= Mial |access-date= May 16, 2023 }}

In 2009, Pfaff was appointed the Wisconsin executive director for the Farm Service Agency at the USDA.{{Cite news |url=https://lacrossetribune.com/news/brad-pfaff-to-head-state-farm-service-agency/article_28733af1-c0cb-53fb-982f-4aea0a3724b4.html |title=Brad Pfaff to head state Farm Service Agency| last= Mial |first=Richard |newspaper= La Crosse Tribune |language=en |access-date=December 21, 2018 }} In 2015, Pfaff was appointed to serve as the USDA Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs,{{Cite web|url=https://www.twincities.com/2009/06/29/obama-makes-2-wisconsin-ag-appointments/|title=Obama makes 2 Wisconsin ag appointments |date=June 29, 2009 |newspaper= Twin Cities Pioneer Press |language=en-US |access-date=December 21, 2018}} a position responsible for the implementation and delivery of all Title 1 crop commodity programs and the Conservation Reserve Program.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hagstromreport.com/2015news_files/2015_08224_pfaff-farm-programs-fsa-usda-personnel-changes.html |title=Pfaff to run farm programs at FSA in round of USDA personnel changes |website= The Hagstrom Report |date= August 24, 2015 |access-date= December 21, 2018}} After President Obama left office in 2017, Pfaff rejoined congressman Ron Kind's office as deputy chief of staff.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fabulousfarmbabe.net/2017/01/27/pfaff-returns-to-wisconsin-roots/ |title=Pfaff Returns To Wisconsin Roots |website=Farm Report |date=January 27, 2017 |access-date=December 21, 2018 }}

In December 2018, Governor-elect Evers announced his nomination of Pfaff to serve as secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.{{Cite news|url=https://fox6now.com/2018/12/21/governor-elect-tony-evers-names-picks-for-transportation-agriculture-insurance/|title=Governor-elect Tony Evers names picks for Transportation, Agriculture, Insurance |date=December 21, 2018|work= WITI (TV) |language=en |access-date=December 21, 2018 }} Pfaff began work in January 2019, but his appointment remained contingent on confirmation by the Wisconsin Senate.{{Cite web|url= https://wiscnews.com/news/state-and-regional/tony-evers-announces-four-new-cabinet-appointments/article_2a233afb-f00e-5ae8-8209-72a493092f48.html |title= Scott Fitzgerald casts doubt on Tony Evers' transportation secretary pick |work= WiscNews |date= December 22, 2018 |first= Riley |last= Vetterkind |language=en|access-date=December 21, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbs58.com/news/governor-elect-evers-announces-more-cabinet-appointments |title= Governor-elect Evers announces more Cabinet appointments |work=WDJT-TV |date= December 21, 2018 |language=en|access-date=December 21, 2018}} Eleven months later, in November 2019, the State Senate voted along party lines to reject Pfaff's appointment. Evers subsequently hired Pfaff as director of business and rural development in the Wisconsin Department of Administration.{{Cite web|url= https://www.wpr.org/fired-wisconsin-agriculture-secretary-brad-pfaff-gets-new-job-evers-administration |title= Fired Wisconsin Agriculture Secretary Brad Pfaff Gets New Job In Evers Administration |last=Anderson |first=Andrea |date=November 11, 2019 |work=Wisconsin Public Radio |language=en|access-date=January 14, 2020}}

In 2020, Pfaff decided to make another run for Wisconsin Senate in the 32nd Senate district, following the announcement that incumbent Democratic senator Jennifer Shilling would not seek re-election. Shilling endorsed Pfaff in May 2020,{{cite press release|url=https://www.wispolitics.com/2020/sen-shilling-endorses-brad-pfaff-for-state-senate/ |title= Sen. Shilling: Endorses Brad Pfaff for state Senate |location= La Crosse, Wisconsin |date= |work= State Senator Jennifer Shilling |access-date= December 16, 2020 |via= Wispolitics.com }} and Pfaff defeated his opponents in the Democratic primary with 62% of the vote.{{cite report|url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/2020-08/Statewide%2520Percentage%2520Results.pdf |title= Canvass Results for 2020 Partisan Primary - 8/11/2020 |date= August 26, 2020 |pages= 11–12 |access-date= May 16, 2023 }} He went on to win the 2020 general election, narrowly defeating Dan Kapanke in a rematch of their 2004 election.{{cite news|url= https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/gop-supermajority-unlikely-in-wisconsin-legislature-as-precincts-report/article_b7d1bc76-1c7e-5de7-a1db-78de96ad8570.html |title= GOP supermajority unlikely in Wisconsin Legislature as precincts report |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= November 4, 2020 |first1= Mitchell |last1= Schmidt |first2= Kelly |last2= Meyerhofer |access-date= December 16, 2020 }}{{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 |date= November 18, 2020 |publisher= Wisconsin Elections Commission |page= 7 |access-date= May 16, 2020 }} The 32nd Senate district—which comprises most of Pfaff's native La Crosse County, as well as most of Vernon County, part of Monroe County, and all of Crawford County—is one of the few competitive districts in the Wisconsin Senate. With the last two State Senate elections decided by fewer than 600 votes.

{{main|2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 3}}

After the announcement that 13-term incumbent congressman Ron Kind would retire in 2022, Pfaff declared his candidacy for United States House of Representatives to replace his former boss in Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district.{{Cite web|last=Tribune|first=Olivia Herken La Crosse|title=Newly-elected state Sen. Pfaff announces run for Congress|url=https://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/newly-elected-state-sen-pfaff-announces-run-for-congress/article_458fa122-369f-53a7-993d-29935982c7f4.html|access-date=October 4, 2021|website=La Crosse Tribune|date=October 4, 2021 |language=en}} Pfaff was narrowly defeated by Republican Derrick Van Orden in the 2022 general election.{{cite news |last1=Andrea |first1=Lawrence |title=Republican Derrick Van Orden defeats Brad Pfaff in Wisconsin's 3rd District, flipping seat |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/11/09/wisconsin-election-results-derrick-van-orden-brad-pfaff-race-3rd-congressional-district-midterms/69597139007/ |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=November 9, 2022}}

Brad Pfaff is a son of Leon Pfaff, who served 20 years on the La Crosse County board of supervisors. Brad's younger brother, Shawn, served as an external relations manager on the staff of Governor Jim Doyle during his first term, and later served as mayor of Fitchburg, Wisconsin.{{Cite news|url= https://lacrossetribune.com/community/jacksoncochronicle/news/local/stepping-up-with-the-governor-local-man-arranges-doyles-appearances/article_2b30d849-d139-5fcd-9640-c47a1b24dd6f.html |title= Stepping up with the governor: Local man arranges Doyle's appearances |first=Ken |last= Luchterhand |work= Jackson County Chronicle |via= La Crosse Tribune |date= March 3, 2004 |access-date= May 16, 2023 }}{{cite news|url= https://captimes.com/news/local/writers/mike_ivey/fitchburg-mayor-shawn-pfaff-to-seek-another-term/article_c93ed81e-b1d4-50ea-80f0-315aa59e121f.html |title= Fitchburg Mayor Shawn Pfaff to seek another term |first= Mike |last= Ivey |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= December 4, 2014 |access-date= May 16, 2023 }}

Brad met his wife, Betty ({{nee}} Lounsbrough), in high school. They married in 1991, they now reside in Onalaska, Wisconsin, and have two adult children.{{cite news |date=July 7, 1991 |title=Lounsbrough-Pfaff |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-lounsbrough-pfaff/124821741/ |access-date=May 16, 2023 |newspaper=La Crosse Tribune |page=C6 |via=Newspapers.com}}

{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Assembly, 94th District Election, 1996 }}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 5, 1996

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Michael Huebsch (incumbent)

|votes = 12,648

|percentage = 53.15%

|change = +1.45%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Brad Pfaff

|votes = 10,580

|percentage = 44.46%

|change = -3.84%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (United States)

|candidate = Jim Milliren

|votes = 569

|percentage = 2.39%

|change =

}}

{{Election box plurality

|votes = 2,068

|percentage = 8.69%

|change = +5.29%

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 23,797

|percentage = 100.0%

|change = +41.58%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Senate, 32nd District Election, 2004 }}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Democratic Primary, September 14, 2004

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Brad Pfaff

|votes = 8,637

|percentage = 79.13%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Monte L. Jacobson

|votes = 2,258

|percentage = 20.69%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =

|candidate = Scattering

|votes = 20

|percentage = 0.18%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 10,915

|percentage = 100.0%

|change =

}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 3, 2004

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Dan Kapanke

|votes = 46,416

|percentage = 52.46%

|change = -3.58%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Brad Pfaff

|votes = 41,928

|percentage = 47.39%

|change = +3.56%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =

|candidate = Scattering

|votes = 139

|percentage = 0.16%

|change =

}}

{{Election box plurality

|votes = 4,488

|percentage = 5.07%

|change = +3.00%

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 88,483

|percentage = 100.0%

|change =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

|loser = Democratic Party (United States)

|swing = 7.14%

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District Election, 2022 }}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Democratic Primary, August 9, 2022{{cite report|url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Statewide%20Percentage%20Results.pdf |title= Canvass Results for 2022 Partisan Primary - 8/9/2022 |publisher= Wisconsin Elections Commission |date= August 26, 2022 |page= 7 |access-date =May 16, 2023 }}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Brad Pfaff

|votes = 24,041

|percentage = 38.95%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Rebecca Cooke

|votes = 19,221

|percentage = 31.14%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Deb Baldus McGrath

|votes = 11,770

|percentage = 19.07%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Mark Neumann

|votes = 6,672

|percentage = 10.81%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =

|candidate = Scattering

|votes = 25

|percentage = 0.04%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 61,729

|percentage = 100.0%

|change =

}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 8, 2022{{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 |date= November 30, 2022 |publisher= Wisconsin Elections Commission |access-date= May 16, 2023 }}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Derrick Van Orden

|votes = 164,743

|percentage = 51.82%

|change = +3.18%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Brad Pfaff

|votes = 152,977

|percentage = 48.12%

|change = -3.18%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =

|candidate = Scattering

|votes = 202

|percentage = 0.06%

|change =

}}

{{Election box plurality

|votes = 11,766

|percentage = 3.70%

|change = -1.05%

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 317,922

|percentage = 100.0%

|change = -18.40%

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

|loser = Democratic Party (United States)

|swing = 6.36%

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.bradpfaff.com/ Brad Pfaff for Congress] campaign website
• [https://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/32/Pfaff Profile] at the Wisconsin Senate
• {{CongLinks|votesmart= 13941|fec=H2WI03122}}
• {{Ballotpedia|Brad_Pfaff}}
• [https://maps.legis.wisconsin.gov/?sen=32 32nd Senate District map (2022–present)]

{{s-start}}

{{s-gov}}

{{s-bef|before=Sheila Harsdorf}}

{{s-ttl|title=Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
(Acting)|years=2019}}

{{s-aft|after=Randall Romanski }}

|-

{{s-par|us-wi-sen}}

{{s-bef|before=Jennifer Shilling}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 32nd district|years=2021–present}}

{{s-inc}}

{{s-end}}

{{Wisconsin State Senators}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pfaff, Brad}}

Category:1967 births

Category:American environmentalists

Category:Farmers from Wisconsin

Category:George Mason University alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Marymount University faculty

Category:Obama administration personnel

Category:People from La Crosse, Wisconsin

Category:State cabinet secretaries of Wisconsin

Category:United States congressional aides

Category:University of Wisconsin–Green Bay alumni

Category:Democratic Party Wisconsin state senators

Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections

Category:21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature