Dan Knodl
{{short description|21st century American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Dan Knodl
| state_senate = Wisconsin
| image = Dan Knodl by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| district = 8th
| term_start = May 3, 2023
| term_end = January 6, 2025
| predecessor = Alberta Darling
| successor = Jodi Habush Sinykin
| state_assembly1 = Wisconsin
| district1 = 24th
| term_start1 = January 6, 2025
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = Paul Melotik
| successor1 =
| party = Republican
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|12|14}}
| birth_place = Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = {{marriage|Diana Maria Bertieri||2003|end=divorce}}
| children =
| residence = Germantown, Wisconsin, U.S.
| alma_mater =
| occupation =
| website =
| termstart2 = January 5, 2009
| termend2 = May 3, 2023
| successor2 = Paul Melotik
| predecessor2 = Suzanne Jeskewitz
}}
Daniel Raymond Knodl (born December 14, 1958) is an American Republican politician from Washington County, Wisconsin. He is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Wisconsin's 24th Assembly district since January 2025. Knodl previously represented this district from January 2009 until May 2023, when he was elected to the Wisconsin Senate in a 2023 special election to represent the 8th State Senate district.
Early life and education
Born in Milwaukee, Knodl was raised in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, and graduated from Menomonee Falls East High School in 1977. He briefly attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Career
Knodl was first elected to the Washington County board of supervisors in 2006. Two years later, he won his first term in the Wisconsin State Assembly, running in the 24th Assembly district.{{Cite report|url= https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2009_2010 |title= State of Wisconsin 2009–2010 Blue Book |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |isbn= 978-0-9752820-3-8 |editor-last1= Barish |editor-first1= Lawrence S. |editor-last2= Lemanski |editor-first2= Lynn |chapter-url= https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2009_2010/200_biographies.pdf |chapter= Biographies |page= 35 |accessdate= February 29, 2024 }} He went on to win re-election seven times in this district.
On January 5, 2021, Knodl and 14 other Wisconsin lawmakers signed a letter to Vice President Mike Pence asking him to delay certification of the 2020 United States presidential election. In the letter, they claimed that "The 2020 election witnessed an unprecedented and admitted defiance of state law and procedural irregularities raising questions about the validity of hundreds of thousands of ballots."{{cite news |last1=Beck |first1=Molly |title=Anti-Trump Republican group launches ad campaign targeting election denier Janel Brandtjen in state Senate race |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/02/07/anti-trump-republican-group-launches-ads-targeting-janel-brandtjen/69878436007/ |access-date=16 February 2023 |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=February 7, 2023}}
On December 2, 2022, Knodl announced that he was running in the special election for the 8th state senate district after incumbent Alberta Darling resigned.{{cite web |last1=Spears |first1=Baylor |title=Republican Rep. Knodl Announces Run To Replace Retiring Sen. Darling |url=https://wisconsinexaminer.com/brief/republican-representative-announces-candidacy-for-open-senate-seat/ |website=wisconsinexaminer.com |access-date=7 December 2022 |date=2 December 2022}} On February 21, 2023, Knodl beat Janel Brandtjen and Van Mobley in the Republican primary race. He defeated Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin on April 4.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-21 |title=Trump-backed state lawmaker loses Wisconsin primary |url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-wisconsin-state-government-alberta-darling-95f08fb167015e55d4aec6d7b7c3a73e |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}} Knodl was sworn in as a state senator on May 3, 2023.{{Cite news|url= https://discoverhometown.com/knodl-sworn-in-to-8th-district-senate-seat/ |title= Knodl sworn in to 8th District Senate seat |first= Thomas J. |last= McKillen |date= May 4, 2023 |work= DiscoverHometown.com |accessdate= May 4, 2023 }}
A year after his election, however, the 2024 redistricting act re-drew the 8th Senate district so that Knodl and fellow senator Duey Stroebel were contained in one district. He announced he would not seek re-election to the Senate, and instead opted to run for his old seat in the 24th Assembly district.{{cite news|url=https://www.wispolitics.com/2024/knodl-campaign-dan-knodl-announces-run-for-24th-assembly-district/ |title=Knodl campaign: Announces run for 24th Assembly District |date=February 29, 2024 |website=WisPolitics.com |access-date=February 29, 2024 }}
Electoral history
= Wisconsin Assembly (2008–2022) =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Election !Date ! colspan="4" |Elected ! colspan="4" |Defeated !Total !Plurality |
| valign="top" rowspan="4" |2008
| valign="top" rowspan="3" |Primary{{cite report |url=https://whs.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_2f634ffc-968c-450f-ab4e-58861dc3c70a/ |title=Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/09/2008 |date=September 29, 2008 |publisher=Wisconsin State Elections Board |page=36 |access-date=November 16, 2024 |via=Wisconsin Historical Society}} | valign="top" rowspan="3" |{{nowrap|Sep. 9}} | valign="top" rowspan="3" |{{nowrap|Dan Knodl}} | valign="top" rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican | align="right" valign="top" rowspan="3" |2,706 | align="right" valign="top" rowspan="3" |37.41% |{{nowrap|Jason LaSage}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Rep. | align="right" valign="top" |2,312 | align="right" valign="top" |31.96% | align="right" valign="top" rowspan="3" |7,234 | align="right" valign="top" rowspan="3" |394 |
|---|
| {{nowrap|Randall Ryan Melchert}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Rep. | align="right" valign="top" |1,995 | align="right" valign="top" |27.58% |
| {{nowrap|Michael Moscicke}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Rep. | align="right" valign="top" |215 | align="right" valign="top" |2.97% |
| valign="top" |General{{cite report |url=https://whs.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_900da12b-ee42-4eec-82a0-7978ab858db3/ |title=Results of Fall General Election - 11/04/2008 |date=December 1, 2008 |publisher=Wisconsin State Elections Board |page=17 |access-date=November 16, 2024 |via=Wisconsin Historical Society}}
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 4}} | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Dan Knodl}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican | align="right" valign="top" |20,510 | align="right" valign="top" |61.88% | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Charlene S. Brady}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | align="right" valign="top" |12,561 | align="right" valign="top" |37.90% | align="right" valign="top" |33,145 | align="right" valign="top" |7,949 |
| valign="top" |2010
| valign="top" |General{{cite report |url=https://whs.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_5d31e91c-3ee0-4485-8410-c2ddb246be62/ |title=Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2010 |date=December 1, 2010 |publisher=Wisconsin Government Accountability Board |pages=14-15 |access-date=November 16, 2024 |via=Wisconsin Historical Society}} | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 2}} | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Dan Knodl (inc)}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican | align="right" valign="top" |20,488 | align="right" valign="top" |74.74% |{{nowrap|Dustin James Klein}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | align="right" valign="top" |6,910 | align="right" valign="top" |25.21% | align="right" valign="top" |27,414 | align="right" valign="top" |13,578 |
| valign="top" |2012
| valign="top" |General{{cite report |url=https://whs.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_a0b2e4eb-44f6-46bf-ae3e-4234013a588a/ |title=Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election - 11/6/2012 |date=December 26, 2012 |publisher=Wisconsin Government Accountability Board |page=15 |access-date=November 16, 2024 |via=Wisconsin Historical Society}} | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 6}} | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Dan Knodl (inc)}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican | align="right" valign="top" |20,932 | align="right" valign="top" |62.37% | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Shan Haqqi}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | align="right" valign="top" |12,594 | align="right" valign="top" |37.53% | align="right" valign="top" |33,559 | align="right" valign="top" |8,338 |
| 2014
| valign="top" |General{{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 |date=November 26, 2014 |publisher=Wisconsin Government Accountability Board |page=14 |access-date=November 16, 2024 |via=Wisconsin Elections Commission}} | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 4}} | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Dan Knodl (inc)}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican | align="right" valign="top" |21,818 | align="right" valign="top" |97.06% | colspan="4" rowspan="2" |--Unopposed-- | align="right" valign="top" |22,479 | align="right" valign="top" |21,157 |
| valign="top" |2016
| valign="top" |General{{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 |date=December 22, 2016 |publisher=Wisconsin Elections Commission |page=14 |accessdate=November 16, 2024}} | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 8}} | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Dan Knodl (inc)}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican | align="right" valign="top" |24,047 | align="right" valign="top" |96.48% | align="right" valign="top" |24,925 | align="right" valign="top" |23,169 |
| valign="top" |2018
| valign="top" |General{{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 |date=February 22, 2019 |publisher=Wisconsin Elections Commission |page=15 |accessdate=November 16, 2024}} | valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 6}} | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Dan Knodl (inc)}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican | align="right" valign="top" |17,650 | align="right" valign="top" |53.64% | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Emily Siegrist}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | align="right" valign="top" |15,244 | align="right" valign="top" |46.33% | align="right" valign="top" |32,906 | align="right" valign="top" |2,406 |
| valign="top" |2020
| valign="top" |General{{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=13 |accessdate=November 16, 2024}} | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 3}} | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Dan Knodl (inc)}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican | align="right" valign="top" |20,075 | align="right" valign="top" |51.45% | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Emily Siegrist}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | align="right" valign="top" |18,924 | align="right" valign="top" |48.50% | align="right" valign="top" |39,019 | align="right" valign="top" |1,151 |
| valign="top" |2022
| valign="top" |General{{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 |page=14 |accessdate=November 16, 2024}} | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 8}} | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Dan Knodl (inc)}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican | align="right" valign="top" |19,397 | align="right" valign="top" |61.14% | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Bob Tatterson}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | align="right" valign="top" |12,311 | align="right" valign="top" |38.81% | align="right" valign="top" |31,725 | align="right" valign="top" |7,086 |
= Wisconsin Senate (2023) =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Election !Date ! colspan="4" |Elected ! colspan="4" |Defeated !Total !Plurality |
| rowspan="3" valign="top" |2023 {{small|(special)}} | rowspan="2" valign="top" |Primary{{cite report |url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Canvass%20Results_Spring%20Primary_2_21_23.pdf |title=Canvass Results for 2023 Spring Primary - 2/21/2023 |date=March 6, 2023 |publisher=Wisconsin Elections Commission |accessdate=November 16, 2024}} | rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Feb. 21}} | rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nowrap|Dan Knodl}} | rowspan="2" valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican | rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" |13,996 | rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" |56.82% | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Janel Brandtjen}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Rep. | valign="top" align="right" |6,870 | valign="top" align="right" |27.89% | rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" |24,634 | rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" |7,126 |
|---|
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Van Mobley}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Rep. | valign="top" align="right" |3,743 | valign="top" align="right" |15.19% |
| valign="top" |Special{{cite report |url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/County%20by%20County%20Report_SD%208%20special%20election.pdf |title=County by County Report - 2023 Spring Election - State Senator District 8 |date=April 18, 2023 |publisher=Wisconsin Elections Commission |page=1 |accessdate=November 16, 2024}}
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Apr. 4}} | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Dan Knodl}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican | valign="top" align="right" |38,492 | valign="top" align="right" |50.81% | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Jodi Habush Sinykin}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | valign="top" align="right" |37,200 | valign="top" align="right" |49.11% | valign="top" align="right" |75,751 | valign="top" align="right" |1,292 |
= Wisconsin Assembly (2024) =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Election !Date ! colspan="4" |Elected ! colspan="4" |Defeated !Total !Plurality |
| rowspan="2" valign="top"|2024
|Primary{{cite report |url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/County%20by%20County%20Report_Assembly%20Contests.pdf |title=County by County Report - 2024 Partisan Primary |date=August 26, 2024 |publisher=Wisconsin Elections Commission |page=123 |accessdate=November 16, 2024}} |{{nowrap|Aug. 13}} |{{nowrap|Dan Knodl}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican | align="right" valign="top" |6,870 | align="right" valign="top" |64.90% |{{nowrap|Janel Brandtjen}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Rep. | align="right" valign="top" |3,692 | align="right" valign="top" |34.88% | align="right" valign="top" |10,585 | align="right" valign="top" |3,178 |
|---|
| valign="top" |General{{cite report |url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/County%20by%20County%20Report_Assembly.pdf |title=County by County Report - 2024 General Election |date=November 27, 2024 |publisher=Wisconsin Elections Commission |page=24 |accessdate=December 1, 2024}}
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 5}} | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Dan Knodl}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican | valign="top" align="right" |23,858 | valign="top" align="right" |59.94% | valign="top" |{{nowrap|William Walter}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | valign="top" align="right" |15,887 | valign="top" align="right" |39.91% | valign="top" align="right" |39,806 | valign="top" align="right" |7,971 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-wi-hs}}
{{s-bef|before = Suzanne Jeskewitz }}
{{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly}} {{nowrap|from the 24th district}} |years= January 5, 2009{{spnd}}May 3, 2023 }}
{{s-aft|after = Paul Melotik }}
{{s-bef|before = Paul Melotik }}
{{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly}} {{nowrap|from the 24th district}} |years= January 6, 2025{{spnd}}present }}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-par|us-wi-sen}}
{{s-bef|before = Alberta Darling }}
{{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin Senate}} {{nowrap|from the 8th district}} |years= May 3, 2023{{spnd}}January 6, 2025 }}
{{s-aft|after = Jodi Habush Sinykin }}
{{s-end}}
{{Wisconsin State Assembly}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knodl, Dan}}
Category:People from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Category:Politicians from Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Category:People from Germantown, Wisconsin
Category:Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Category:21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature
{{Authority control}}