Martha Laning
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Martha Laning
|office = Chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party
|term_start = June 6, 2015
|term_end = July 1, 2019
|predecessor = Mike Tate
|successor = Ben Wikler
|birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|52|2015|6|8}}[http://www.gazettextra.com/20150608/new_chair_promises_to_unite_wisconsin_democratic_party New chair promises to unite Wisconsin Democratic Party]
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|education = University of Wisconsin, Madison (BA, MBA)
}}
Martha Kniess Laning (born 1962/1963) was the chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. A businesswoman, activist, and politician from Port Edwards, Wisconsin, she was elected Democratic chairwoman on June 5, 2015 and was succeeded by Ben Wikler on July 1, 2019.
Life and political career
Laning received her undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of Wisconsin.{{cite web|title=Martha Laning's Biography|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/149548/martha-laning#.Vb5YevlVikp|website=Project Vote Smart|publisher=One Common Ground|access-date=2 August 2015}} She was employed by Target Stores and Kraft Foods before moving to Plymouth, Wisconsin, where she worked as executive director of the Plymouth Intergenerational Center.{{cite news|last1=Smathers|first1=Jason|title=Laning: Less Walker, more issues for state Dem Party|url=http://www.sheboyganpress.com/story/news/politics/2015/06/17/martha-laning/28893739/|access-date=2 August 2015|work=Sheboygan Press|date=18 June 2015}} She was also one of the founders of the organization, which was started in 2009.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14778230/the_sheboygan_press/|title=Laning Resigns from Plymouth Intergenerational Center Post|date=2013-04-05|work=The Sheboygan Press|access-date=2017-10-30|pages=A8|via=Newspapers.com}} While she was at the organization, she helped raise around $4.7 million to build the center.{{Cite news|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-35288546.html|title=Political Newcomer to Challenge Wisconsin State Senator|date=23 October 2013|work=The Examiner|access-date=30 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119225801/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-35288546.html|archive-date=2018-11-19|url-status=dead}} She resigned as director "for personal reasons" in 2013.
In 2013, Laning announced that she would challenge state Senator Joe Leibham, a Republican, for reelection to his 9th District.{{cite news|last1=Rochester|first1=Chris|title=Senator Joe Leibham to face Martha Laning: 9th Senate District|url=http://morningmartini.com/2013/11/14/senator-joe-leibham-face-martha-laning-9th-senate-district/|access-date=2 August 2015|work=Morning Martini|date=14 November 2013}} This would be her first time running for office as she had no prior political experience.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14778394/the_sheboygan_press/|title=Laning Predicts Tight 9th District Contest|last=Kabbes|first=Justin|date=2013-10-24|work=The Sheboygan Press|access-date=2017-10-30|pages=A1|via=Newspapers.com}} However, Laning felt that her fundraising skills would give her an advantage in the race. Leibham did not seek reelection, instead pursuing the Republican congressional nomination for Wisconsin's 6th congressional district, so Laning faced Sheboygan County Board Chairman Devin LeMahieu in the 2014 general election.{{cite news|last1=Mathews|first1=Charlie|title=GOP's LeMahieu captures 9th Senate seat|url=http://www.htrnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/11/04/republican-lemahieu-commanding-lead/18509361/|access-date=2 August 2015|work=HTR News}} Laning was defeated in the election, losing by about 20 percentage points.
In 2015, Laning announced her candidacy to succeed outgoing Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairman Mike Tate. The campaign for the chairmanship was crowded and contentious; Laning faced former party chair Joe Wineke, Milwaukee consultant Jason Rae, and former state representatives Jeff Smith and Stephen Smith.{{cite news|last1=Kissinger|first1=Meg|title=Martha Laning elected state Democratic Party chairwoman|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/martha-laning-elected-state-democratic-party-chairwoman-b99514663z1-306383611.html|access-date=2 August 2015|work=The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=6 June 2015}} Prior to the party convention in Milwaukee, Jeff Smith controversially offered Laning the party's executive directorship if she exited the race; she declined the offer, while Smith ultimately dropped out of the race and endorsed Laning. On June 5, 2015, she was elected chairwoman at the party's annual convention in Milwaukee receiving 721 votes to Rae's 428 and Wineke's 191.
Laning was a super-delegate, and pledged support to whoever won the presidential primary in Wisconsin.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14779927/the_daily_tribune/|title=Clinton Racking Up Powerful Supporters in Wisconsin|last=Bauer|first=Scott|date=2016-02-16|work=The Daily Tribune|access-date=2017-10-30|agency=Associated Press|pages=A2|via=Newspapers.com}} Despite this statement, the primary was won by Bernie Sanders and Laning cast her vote for Hillary Clinton.{{Cite web|url=http://bloggingblue.com/2016/11/why-martha-laning-should-resign-as-dpw-chair/|title=Why Martha Laning should resign as DPW Chair|last=Carlson|first=Steve|date=2016-11-15|website=Blogging Blue|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-06}}
In July 2017, Laning was re-elected to the head of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14778068/the_des_moines_register/|title=Laning Re-Elected Head as of Wisconsin Democratic Party|date=2017-06-04|work=The Des Moines Register|access-date=2017-10-30|agency=Associated Press|pages=A14|via=Newspapers.com}} She had three challengers for the seat of head of party.{{Cite news|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P4-1905874705.html|title=Wisconsin Democrats Regroup after 'Gut Check' Election|last=Bauer|first=Scott|date=4 June 2017|work=Telegraph-Herald|access-date=30 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107010514/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P4-1905874705.html|archive-date=2017-11-07|url-status=dead}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{C-SPAN|102529}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Mike Tate}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party|years=2015–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=Ben Wikler}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laning, Martha}}
Category:Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairs
Category:Women in Wisconsin politics
Category:People from Plymouth, Wisconsin