Russell Goodwin

Russell Goodwin was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, graduating from Shorewood High School.{{cite web|url= https://www.goodwinforassembly.com/meet_russell |title= Meet Russell |website= Goodwin For Assembly |accessdate= December 16, 2024 }} Goodwin has authored several religious-themed books, and worked as a music producer. He was a founder of Christians United on the Move Church in Milwaukee, now the Movement Center Church, where he still serves as senior pastor. He received an honorary doctorate in divinity in 2015.{{cite web|url= https://milwaukeemovement.org/leadership/ |title= Leadership |website= The Movement Center Church |accessdate= December 16, 2024 }}

Goodwin made his first bid for public office in 2014, running for Wisconsin State Assembly in a challenge against incumbent Democrat Fred Kessler, but failed to make the ballot. He then ran a write-in campaign for the Republican primary, but fell short of the 1,000 write-in votes needed to make the general election ballot.{{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 |publisher= Wisconsin Government Accountability Board |date= August 29, 2014 |pages= 19-20 |accessdate= December 16, 2024 |via= Wisconsin Elections Commission }} He received three write-in votes in the general election.{{cite web|url= http://www.votegoodwin.com/ |title= Write-in Russell Goodwin in the Republican Primary |website= Goodwin for State Rep |archive-date= November 5, 2014 |accessdate= December 16, 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141105200949/http://www.votegoodwin.com/ |via= Wayback Machine }}{{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= 12 |accessdate= December 16, 2024 |via= Wisconsin Elections Commission }}

In 2019, Goodwin announced that he would run for the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, to succeed supervisor Deanna Alexander, who was not running for re-election. In announcing his campaign, Goodwin said he would dedicate his campaign to the memory of Pastor Silvia Hughes-Twari, who had been killed by a vehicle that was fleeing from Milwaukee police.{{cite press release|url= https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/rev-dr-russell-antonio-goodwin-sr-joins-the-race-to-replace-milwaukee-county-supervisor-deanna-alexander/ |title= Rev. Dr. Russell Antonio Goodwin, Sr. Joins the Race to Replace Milwaukee County Supervisor Deanna Alexander |date= December 9, 2013 |work= Vote Goodwin for Milwaukee |accessdate= December 16, 2024 |via= Urban Milwaukee }} He was elected without opposition.{{cite report|url= https://county.milwaukee.gov/files/county/county-clerk/Election-Commission/ElectionResultsCopy-1/2020/4-7-2020SpringElectionandPresidentialPrimary-Summary-UnofficialResults.txt |title= Milwaukee County - Spring Election - April 7, 2020 |publisher= Milwaukee Election Commission |accessdate= December 16, 2024 }}

In seeking re-election in 2022, Goodwin failed to collect enough valid signatures to appear on the ballot for county board. A number of signatures were disqualified because the signers did not reside in his county board district; Goodwin also suggested that door-to-door signature collection was hampered by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately for Goodwin, however, no other candidate had planned to run against him, leaving the seat open to a write-in contest.{{cite press release|url= https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/russell-antonio-goodwin-sr-announces-his-write-in-candidacy-for-2022-district-18-milwaukee-county-supervisor/ |title= Russell Antonio Goodwin, Sr. Announces His Write-In Candidacy for 2022 District 18 Milwaukee County Supervisor |date= January 7, 2022 |work= Goodwin 4 Milwaukee |first= Russell A. |last= Goodwin |via= Urban Milwaukee |accessdate= December 16, 2024 }} Goodwin sought re-election via write-in, but was defeated by the write-in campaign of his predecessor, Deanna Alexander.{{Cite news|url= https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2022/04/12/mke-county-county-board-races-finally-settled/ |title= County Board Races Finally Settled |date= April 12, 2022 |first= Graham |last= Kilmer |accessdate= December 16, 2024 |work= Urban Milwaukee }} In the days after the election, Goodwin initially called for protests at Alexander's home over previous statements that he characterized as racist and anti-LGBT,{{cite news|url= https://www.fox6now.com/news/milwaukee-county-election-loser-urges-protest-at-winners-home |title= Milwaukee County election loser urges protest at winner's home |first= Jason |last= Calvi |date= April 12, 2022 |work= WITI (TV) |accessdate= December 16, 2024 }} but later canceled the planned protest.{{cite press release|url= https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/the-peaceful-protest-canceled-against-district-18-county-supervisor-elect-republican-deanna-alexander/ |title= The Peaceful Protest Canceled against District 18 County Supervisor Elect-Republican Deanna Alexander |date= April 13, 2022 |work= Goodwin 4 Milwaukee |first= Russell A. |last= Goodwin |via= Urban Milwaukee |accessdate= December 16, 2024 }}

In December 2022, Goodwin announced a run for Milwaukee Common Council, to succeed Chantia Lewis who had been removed from office as part of a plea agreement.{{cite news|url= https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2022/07/18/city-hall-chantia-lewis-pleads-guilty-removed-from-office/ |title= Ald. Chantia Lewis Pleads Guilty, Removed From Office |date= July 18, 2022 |work= Urban Milwaukee |first= Jeramey |last= Jannene |accessdate= December 16, 2024 }}{{cite press release|url= https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/former-milwaukee-county-supervisor-rev-dr-russell-antonio-goodwin-sr-announces-candidacy-for-district-9-alderman/ |title= Former Milwaukee County Supervisor Rev. Dr. Russell Antonio Goodwin, Sr. Announces Candidacy for District 9 Alderman |first= Russell A. |last= Goodman |work= Goodwin For Milwaukee |date= December 2, 2022 |via= Urban Milwaukee |accessdate= December 16, 2024 }} Ultimately seven other candidates also entered the race.{{cite news|url= https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2023/01/05/city-hall-more-than-a-dozen-candidates-running-for-three-council-seats/ |title= More Than 15 Candidates Running For Three Council Seats |first= Jeramey |last= Jannene |date= January 5, 2023 |work= Urban Milwaukee |accessdate= December 16, 2024 }} Goodwin finished fourth in the nonpartisan primary, behind Odell Ball, the husband of Milwaukee County sheriff Denita Ball, and Milwaukee Public Schools teachers Larresa Taylor and Amber Danyus.{{cite report|url= https://county.milwaukee.gov/files/county/county-clerk/Election-Commission/ElectionResultsCopy-1/2023/2023SpringPrimary-Summary.txt |title= Milwaukee County - 2023 Spring Primary - February 21, 2023 |date= February 21, 2023 |work= Milwaukee Election Commission |accessdate= December 16, 2024 }}

In early 2024, state representative LaKeshia Myers, who had succeeded Fred Kessler in the 12th Assembly district, announced she would forgo re-election in order to run for Wisconsin Senate. Goodwin announced he would seek the Democratic Party's nomination to succeed Myers in the State Assembly.{{cite news|url= https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2024/05/10/alexander-goodwin-running-for-same-assembly-seat/ |title= Alexander, Goodwin Running For Same Assembly Seat |work= Urban Milwaukee |first= Graham |last= Kilmer |date= May 10, 2024 |accessdate= December 16, 2024 }} In the overwhelmingly Democratic district, Goodwin won the primary with just 32.6% of the vote.{{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 |page= 12 |publisher= Wisconsin Elections Commission |accessdate= December 16, 2024 }} In the general election, Goodwin faced a rematch with his 2022 county board opponent, Deanna Alexander, who was running as an independent. Goodwin easily prevailed in this election, however, receiving over 80% of the vote.{{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= 12 |accessdate= December 16, 2024 }}

Russell Goodwin has been married three times. His first wife was Niquelle Brimmer; they had five children together, (they lost a set twins due to a miscarriage) before divorcing in 2009.{{cite web|url= https://wcca.wicourts.gov/caseDetail.html?caseNo=2009FA004311&countyNo=40&index=0 |title= Milwaukee County Case Number 2009FA004311 In RE the marriage of Russell A Goodwin Sr and Niquelle A Goodwin |year= 2009 |website= Wisconsin Circuit Court Access |accessdate= December 16, 2024 }} He subsequently married Decorah M. Gordon; they divorced in 2013.{{cite web|url= https://wcca.wicourts.gov/caseDetail.html?caseNo=2013FA003823&countyNo=40&index=0 |title= Milwaukee County Case Number 2013FA003823 In RE the marriage of Decorah M Gordon and Russell A Goodwin |year= 2013 |website= Wisconsin Circuit Court Access |accessdate= December 16, 2024 }} Goodwin then married Misty Dawn Parker and is stepfather to her three children.

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.goodwinforassembly.com/ Campaign website]
• [https://milwaukeemovement.org/ The Movement Center Church]
• {{Conglinks|votesmart= 196607}}
• {{Ballotpedia|Russell_Goodwin_(Wisconsin)}}

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{{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly}} {{nowrap|from the 12th district}} |years= January 6, 2025{{spnd}}present}}

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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Milwaukee

Category:Religious leaders from Milwaukee

Category:Shorewood High School (Wisconsin) alumni

Category:County supervisors in Wisconsin

Category:Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly

Category:African-American state legislators in Wisconsin

Category:21st-century African-American politicians

Category:21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature