Jason Rae

Rae was born in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, to John and Lori Rae.{{cite web|url=https://www.jasonrae.com/aboutjason/|title=About Jason Rae|website=Jasonrae.com|access-date=February 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227150234/https://www.jasonrae.com/aboutjason/|archive-date=February 27, 2017|url-status=dead}} He was a student at Marquette University, from which he graduated with a BA in history and political science.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} He is a partner at Nation Consulting in Milwaukee.{{cite web|url=http://www.nation-consulting.com/team_rae.html|title=Home|website=Nation Consulting}}

Rae was the chair of the Marquette University chapter of College Democrats and was elected Chair of the College Democrats of Wisconsin in 2008.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} Within Marquette University Student Government (MUSG), he was Legislative Vice President, in which he formed of the Ad Hoc Committee on Funding of Student Activities.{{cite web|url=http://www.marquette.edu/musg/legislative.php|title=Marquette University Student Government - Legislative|publisher=|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-date=October 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007184715/http://marquette.edu/musg/legislative.php|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.marquette.edu/magazine/recent.php?subaction=showfull&id=1208546009&archive=|title=We Are Marquette|website=We Are Marquette|date=April 14, 2022 }} He previously served in the MUSG Senate as Senator, student representative to the Faculty Academic Senate, College of Arts & Sciences Committee chair, and Parliamentarian.{{cite web|url=http://media.www.marquettetribune.org/media/storage/paper1130/news/2007/04/17/News/First.Musg.Meeting.For.New.Leaders-2844265.shtml|title=First MUSG meeting for new leaders - News|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070804011659/http://media.www.marquettetribune.org/media/storage/paper1130/news/2007/04/17/News/First.Musg.Meeting.For.New.Leaders-2844265.shtml|archive-date=August 4, 2007|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://media.www.marquettetribune.org/media/storage/paper1130/news/2006/01/19/News/Learning.The.Ropes-2625568.shtml|title=Learning the ropes - News|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043149/http://media.www.marquettetribune.org/media/storage/paper1130/news/2006/01/19/News/Learning.The.Ropes-2625568.shtml|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=dead}} Rae was the author of a bill passed by the Marquette University Student Government to provide domestic partner benefits to faculty.{{cite news|url=http://media.www.marquettetribune.org/media/storage/paper1130/news/2007/04/03/News/Musg-Recommends.Partner.Benefits-2817904.shtml |title=MUSG recommends partner benefits |author=Eric Lombardi |publisher=Marquette (Wisconsin) Tribune |date=April 2, 2007 |access-date=February 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211151723/http://media.www.marquettetribune.org/media/storage/paper1130/news/2007/04/03/News/Musg-Recommends.Partner.Benefits-2817904.shtml |archive-date=December 11, 2007 |url-status=dead }}

Rae is a member of the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District Board, VISIT Milwaukee, and the United Way Campaign Cabinet.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=BizTimes |date=2020-05-01 |title=Notable LGBTQ Executives: Jason Rae |url=https://biztimes.com/jason-rae-biztimes-medias-notable-lgbtq-executives/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=BizTimes - Milwaukee Business News |language=en-US}} He  has previously served is on the Board of Directors for the Rice Lake Boys and Girls Club.{{cite web|url=http://www.ricelakeonline.com/clients/RLBGC/BoardMembers.htm|title=Rice Lake Chronotype|first=APG of|last=Wisconsin|website=APG of Wisconsin|date=March 22, 2024 }}

In 2004, Rae was vice chair of the Barron County Democratic Party and was appointed to Senator Russ Feingold's re-election steering committee.{{cite web|url=http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2004/07/06/0407060153.php|title=Wisconsin State Journal/The Capital Times - Historical Newspapers|date=August 2, 1953 |publisher=}}

Rae was elected to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in June 2004. At the time of his election to his leadership role within the party, he was 17, making him the youngest person ever elected to the DNC.{{cite news | url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=241657 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20070513171703/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=241657 | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 13, 2007 | title=He's elected but can't yet vote: Rice Lake boy, 17, going to Boston on Democratic National Committee |author=Graeme Zielinski | publisher=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel | date=July 5, 2004 | access-date=February 13, 2008}} Rae defeated a state legislator and the president of the state's firefighters' union were among the losing candidates for the position.{{cite news | url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/speakout/mystory/jason_democrat_delegate.html | title=Young People Who Feel Included Will Vote | publisher=PBS | date=July 26, 2004 | access-date=February 13, 2008 | archive-date=January 6, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106054142/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/speakout/mystory/jason_democrat_delegate.html | url-status=dead }}{{better source needed|Cited to interiew with article subject|date=June 2024}}

During summer 2006, Rae interned at the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.{{cite news |last1=Eleveld |first1=Kerry |title=Gay Superdelegate Breaks the Mold |url=https://www.advocate.com/news/2008/02/15/gay-superdelegate-breaks-mold |work=The Advocate |date=February 15, 2008 |language=en}} He came out as gay to members of the DNC in February 2007. In spring 2007, Governor Jim Doyle (D-WI) appointed Rae as the youth representative to the Governor's Commission on the United Nations.{{cite web | url=http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journal_media_detail.asp?locid=19&prid=2706 | title=Official site of Governor Tony Evers }}

Rae worked on the Allen Thomell campaign for the Georgia State House and the Herb Kohl for United States Senate campaign. He has also interned at People for the American Way.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

Rae served as the board president of Fair Wisconsin, a statewide LGBT advocacy organization.{{cite news | url=http://fairwisconsin.com/about/board | title=Fair Wisconsin Board of Directors | date=July 9, 2012 | access-date=July 9, 2012}}He has also served as the chair of the Milwaukee County Human Rights Commission and vice chair of the Marquette University Gender & Sexuality Resource Center Advisory Board.{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Chris |date=2017-02-26 |title=Gay Wisconsin activist Jason Rae chosen as DNC secretary |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2017/02/26/gay-democrat-jason-rae-elected-dnc-secretary/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=www.washingtonblade.com |language=en-US}}

In 2017, Rae was elected as the DNC Secretary and was renominated for the position in 2021 with the support of US President Joe Biden.{{Cite web |last=Jaeger |first=Zoe |title=What to know about Jason Rae, the Wisconsinite who called the DNC roll of delegates |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/08/20/what-to-know-about-jason-rae-the-wisconsinite-who-called-the-dnc-roll/74881098007/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Journal Sentinel |language=en-US}} He was re-elected again in 2025 and has been serving as the DNC Secretary since. In the 2025 elections, Rae received 338.5 votes against Marilyn Davis's 68.5 votes.{{Cite web |date=2017-02-26 |title=Milwaukee Dem Jason Rae elected as DNC secretary |url=https://www.wispolitics.com/2017/milwaukee-dem-jason-rae-elected-as-dnc-secretary/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=WisPolitics |language=en-US}}

During the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Rae called for the roll of the states in a revised nomination process, which was held virtually amid the pandemic of COVID-19.{{Cite news |last=Yuan |first=Jada |date=2020-08-19 |title=Meet the 33-year-old who called the roll at the Democratic convention |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/08/19/meet-33-year-old-calling-roll-dnc/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} He was selected again to call the roll for the Democratic National Convention in 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-21 |title='Special moment': Inside Milwaukee's Jason Rae's big moment at the DNC |url=https://www.tmj4.com/america-votes/special-moment-inside-milwaukees-jason-raes-big-moment-at-the-dnc |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=TMJ4 News |language=en}}

In 2012, Rae established the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, an organization with over 600 business members. Since then, he has been serving as its CEO and president. Rae is also a partner at Nation Consulting, a public affairs firm based in Milwaukee.{{Cite web |last=Paulus |first=Scott |date=2019-02-26 |title=President & CEO, Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce {{!}} 32 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2019/02/26/jason-rae.html |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Biz Journals}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080217141144/http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/12/introducing_dnc.php Introducing DNC Member Jason Rae]
• [http://www.wisdems.org Democratic Party of Wisconsin]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7359659.stm Jason Rae in interview with Justin Webb of the BBC]
• {{C-SPAN|115502}}

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Category:1986 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people

Category:21st-century American politicians

Category:American gay politicians

Category:LGBTQ people from Wisconsin

Category:Marquette University alumni

Category:People from Rice Lake, Wisconsin

Category:Wisconsin Democrats