Samba Baldeh
{{short description|21st century American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Samba Baldeh
| image = Samba Baldeh, November 2021 (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| state = Wisconsin
| state_assembly = Wisconsin
| district = 48th
| term_start = January 4, 2021
| term_end = January 6, 2025
| predecessor = Melissa Agard
| successor = Andrew Hysell
| office1 = President of the {{nowrap|Madison Common Council}}
| term_start1 = April 17, 2018
| term_end1 = April 16, 2019
| predecessor1 = Marsha Rummel
| successor1 = Shiva Bidar
| office2 = Member of the {{nowrap|Madison Common Council}} from {{nowrap|the 17th district}}
| term_start2 = April 21, 2015
| term_end2 = April 6, 2021
| predecessor2 = Joe Clausius
| successor2 = Gary Halverson
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|9|10}}
| birth_place = Choya Village, The Gambia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| residence = Madison, Wisconsin
| nationality = {{USA}}
| spouse = Fatou
| party = Democratic
| otherparty = Progressive Dane{{cite web |title=Elected Officials |url=https://prodane.org/elected-officials |website=PROGRESSIVE DANE |access-date=9 January 2021}}
| alma_mater = Madison Area Technical College (AS)
University of the Gambia
University of Wisconsin, Madison
| occupation = Politician, legislator, IT professional
| website = [https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2023/legislators/assembly/2446 Official website]
[https://www.sambaforsenate.com/ Campaign website]
}}
Samba Baldeh (born September 10, 1971) is a Gambian American immigrant, information technology professional, and Democratic politician from Madison, Wisconsin. He served two terms as member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Wisconsin's 48th Assembly district from 2021 to 2025. He is the first Muslim member of the Wisconsin Legislature.{{cite news|url= https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/madison-voters-elect-1st-asian-american-and-1st-muslim-to-state-legislature/article_ac627336-6622-56a0-a97e-393be7d9e2c6.html |title= Madison voters elect 1st Asian-American and 1st Muslim to state Legislature |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= November 5, 2020 |first= Kelly |last= Meyerhofer |accessdate= December 21, 2020 }} Before his election to the Assembly, he served six years on the Madison Common Council, and was president of the Council from 2018 to 2019.
Early life and career
Samba Baldeh was born in The Gambia, in western Africa. He is a member of the Fulani tribe of semi-nomadic livestock herders.{{cite web|url= https://www.samba4stateassembly.com/about-samba |title= About |website= Samba for State Assembly |accessdate= December 21, 2020 }} His father died when he was about four years old.{{cite news |last=Becker |first=Abigail |date=October 10, 2018 |title=Rising to the challenge |url=https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/rising-to-the-challenge/article_dcbb9c5f-6b34-5d3b-a73e-a706a1ae6b9e.html |accessdate=December 21, 2020 |newspaper=The Capital Times}}
There was little formal education in Choya, which had a population of only about fifty people. The children there were taught Arabic, the Quran, and how to pray. Baldeh later described that curiosity led him to walk the six mile route each day to the "western" school, where he learned to read and speak English. His family soon consented to him moving to the capital, Banjul, at age 8 to live with his uncle and continue his education.
He attended college at the University of the Gambia and became involved in protests against the country's dictator, Yahya Jammeh.{{cite news|url= https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/election-2015-madison-city-council-district-17/article_e61e8cc4-8f91-50cf-b652-71a62cc57d7a.html |title= Election 2015: Madison City Council District 17 |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= March 22, 2015 |accessdate= December 21, 2020 }} His activism brought him to Washington, D.C., in 1999 for a Global Meeting of Generations conference. It was there that he met a student coordinator for Madison Area Technical College. After the conference, he became convinced that he should further his education in science and technology. He emigrated to Madison, Wisconsin, in 2000 and earned his U.S. citizenship in 2005.{{cite web|url= http://www.samba4district17.com/about |title= About Me |website= Samba Baldeh – Common Council |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150415054013/http://www.samba4district17.com/about |archive-date= April 15, 2015 |accessdate= December 21, 2020 |via=Wayback Machine }} He studied computer science and earned his associate's degree from Madison Area Technical College in 2007. After receiving his degree, Baldeh started a small IT consulting business and was employed as a software engineer at the Madison-based American Family Insurance.
Political career
In 2015, Baldeh announced he would run for a seat on the Madison Common Council, challenging 8-year incumbent Joe Clausius. Baldeh campaigned on shifting the city's focus from downtown development to increasing services and community space in the city's neighborhoods and strengthening the fabric of the community.{{cite news|url= https://madison.com/ct/samba-baldeh-madison-city-council-district-17/article_3a92b16c-deaf-5957-b454-bdb1c54f03c3.html |title= Samba Baldeh, Madison City Council District 17 |date= March 28, 2015 |newspaper= The Capital Times |accessdate= December 21, 2020 }}{{cite web|url= http://www.samba4district17.com/platform |title= Samba's Platform |website= Samba Baldeh – Common Council |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150410072639/http://www.samba4district17.com/platform |archive-date= April 10, 2015 |accessdate= December 21, 2020 |via= Wayback Machine }} In the April 2015 election, Baldeh won a narrow 32 vote victory over Clausius.{{cite news|url= https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/blacks-gain-historic-presence-on-madison-city-council/article_656f9a89-bd5e-58c0-b572-a3967d4742d6.html |title= Blacks gain historic presence on Madison City Council |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= April 9, 2015 |first= Dean |last= Mosiman |accessdate= December 21, 2020 }}{{cite report|url= https://elections.countyofdane.com/Precincts-Result/74/0312 |title= Madison Alderperson District 17 – Official Canvass |date= April 7, 2015 |publisher= Office of the Dane County Clerk |accessdate= December 21, 2020 }} Baldeh was unopposed seeking reelection in 2017.{{cite report|url= https://elections.countyofdane.com/Precincts-Result/91/0137 |title= Madison Alderperson District 17 – Official Canvass |date= April 4, 2017 |publisher= Office of the Dane County Clerk |accessdate= December 21, 2020 }}
In April 2018, the common council unanimously elected Baldeh to serve as president for the 2018–2019 term.{{cite news|url= https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/madison-city-council-elects-samba-baldeh-sheri-carter-to-leadership-roles/article_35268e11-1b31-5567-a716-099a8ff97dd7.html |title= Madison City Council elects Samba Baldeh, Sheri Carter to leadership roles |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= April 18, 2018 |first= Abigail |last= Becker |accessdate= December 21, 2020 }} Baldeh was outspoken after the wave election of 2019 when nearly half of the common council members and the longtime Mayor of Madison, Paul Soglin, were ousted. He pointed out that such a massive change in personnel might be disruptive until the new members got up to speed, and wanted to refocus attention on one of the major campaign issues, the contentious development of the Judge Doyle Square project.{{cite news|url= https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/excitement-accompanies-historic-turnover-on-madison-city-council/article_87b5af38-eb2e-5605-80f7-1a6d286f3851.html |title= Excitement accompanies historic turnover on Madison City Council |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= April 4, 2019 |first= Steven |last= Elbow |accessdate= December 21, 2020 }}
In January 2020, northern Madison's assembly representative, Melissa Sargent, announced she would forego reelection and would instead run for a newly open seat in the Wisconsin State Senate.{{cite news|url= https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/several-madison-democrats-jockeying-to-succeed-rep-melissa-sargent-in-state-assembly/article_f6d3b302-c98e-537b-ade6-6c6cbcebfab5.html |title= Several Madison Democrats jockeying to succeed Rep. Melissa Sargent in state Assembly |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= March 2, 2020 |first= Briana |last= Reilly |accessdate= December 21, 2020 }} Baldeh was one of four Democrats who entered the primary to replace her in the Wisconsin State Assembly.{{cite news|url= https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/madison-ald-samba-baldeh-announces-run-for-state-assembly/article_1bf68752-e977-5ea7-ab5f-44d8d14d802b.html |title= Madison Ald. Samba Baldeh announces run for state Assembly |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= March 11, 2020 |first= Abigail |last= Becker|accessdate= December 21, 2020 }} Baldeh ultimately prevailed in the primary with nearly 50% of the vote.{{cite news|url= https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/madison-ald-samba-baldeh-wins-four-way-primary-in-assembly-district-48/article_31220cb9-5306-5468-9f19-7deecd2ed91b.html |title= Madison Ald. Samba Baldeh wins four-way primary in Assembly District 48 |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= April 11, 2020 |first= Abigail |last= Becker|accessdate= December 21, 2020 }}{{cite report|url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/2020-08/Statewide%20Percentage%20Results.pdf |title= Canvass Results for 2020 Partisan Primary – 8/11/2020 |publisher= Wisconsin Elections Commission |date= August 26, 2020 |page= 31 |accessdate= December 21, 2020 }} He faced 19-year-old Republican Samuel Anderson in the general election, and won nearly 80% of the vote in the heavily Democratic district.{{cite news|url= https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/48th-assembly-election-baldeh-anderson-differ-on-states-covid-19-response/article_852bd2ef-2760-56e3-b9d6-9313b998b588.html |title= 48th Assembly election: Baldeh, Anderson differ on state's COVID-19 response |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= September 28, 2020 |first= Briana |last= Reilly |accessdate= December 21, 2020 }}{{cite report| url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/Statewide%20Results%20All%20Offices%20%28pre-Presidential%20recount%29.pdf |title= Canvass Results for 2020 General Election – 11/3/2020 |publisher= Wisconsin Elections Commission |date= November 18, 2020 |accessdate= December 21, 2020 |page= 10}}
Personal life and family
Samba Baldeh was born into the Fulani tribe of semi-nomadic livestock herders. His mother still lives in The Gambia. Aside from his work and political career, Baldeh has been active with the Kanifing-Madison sister city project, the AIDS Network, the Senegambia Association, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Madison.{{cite web|url= http://www.samba4district17.com/ |title= Samba Baldeh |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150415054335/http://www.samba4district17.com/ |website= Samba Baldeh – Common Council |accessdate= December 21, 2020 |archive-date= April 15, 2015 |via= Wayback Machine }} He has also been a member of the boards of the Young African Leaders Initiative and the 100 Black Men of Madison.
In 2016, he was a guest of Wisconsin congressman Mark Pocan to President Barack Obama's 2016 State of the Union Address.
He and his wife, Fatou, were married in 2008. They live on Madison's north side.
Electoral history
=Madison City Council (2015, 2019)=
{{Election box begin | title=Madison Common Council, 17th District Election, 2015}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, April 7, 2015
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Samba Baldeh
|votes = 1,004
|percentage = 50.58%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Joe Clausius (incumbent)
|votes = 972
|percentage = 48.97%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party =
|candidate = Scattering
|votes = 9
|percentage = 0.45%
|change =
}}
{{Election box plurality
|votes = 32
|percentage = 1.61%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 1,985
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Madison Common Council, 17th District Election, 2019{{cite report|url= https://elections.countyofdane.com/Precincts-Result/109/0143 |title= Madison Alderperson District 17 – Official Canvass |date= April 2, 2019 |publisher= Office of the Dane County Clerk |accessdate= December 21, 2020 }}}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, April 2, 2019
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Samba Baldeh (incumbent)
|votes = 1,898
|percentage = 75.26%
|change = +24.68%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = James Creighton Mitchell Jr.
|votes = 620
|percentage = 24.58%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party =
|candidate = Scattering
|votes = 4
|percentage = 0.16%
|change =
}}
{{Election box plurality
|votes = 1,278
|percentage = 50.67%
|change = +49.06%
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 2,522
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Wisconsin Assembly (2020, 2022)=
{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Assembly, 48th District Election, 2020}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Democratic Primary, August 11, 2020
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Samba Baldeh
|votes = 7,305
|percentage = 49.42%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Lindsay Lemmer
|votes = 5,215
|percentage = 35.28%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Walter Stewart
|votes = 1,578
|percentage = 10.68%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Jason Vangalis
|votes = 665
|percentage = 4.50%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party =
|candidate = Scattering
|votes = 17
|percentage = 0.12%
|change =
}}
{{Election box plurality
|votes = 2,090
|percentage = 14.14%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 14,780
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =
}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 3, 2020
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Samba Baldeh
|votes = 30,074
|percentage = 79.63%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Samuel Anderson
|votes = 7,650
|percentage = 20.25%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party =
|candidate = Scattering
|votes = 45
|percentage = 0.12%
|change =
}}
{{Election box plurality
|votes = 22,424
|percentage = 59.37%
|change = -37.07%
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 37,769
|percentage = 100.0%
|change = +33.47%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
|winner= Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
= Wisconsin Senate (2024) =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Election !Date ! colspan="4" |Elected ! colspan="4" |Defeated !Total !Plurality |
| rowspan="2" valign="top" |2024
| rowspan="2" valign="top" |Primary{{cite report |url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/County%20by%20County%20Report_State%20Senate.pdf |title=County by County Report - 2024 Partisan Primary |date=August 26, 2024 |publisher=Wisconsin Elections Commission |page=8 |accessdate=November 4, 2024}} | rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nowrap|Aug. 13}} | rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nowrap|Melissa Ratcliff}} | valign="top" rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic | rowspan="2" align="right" valign="top" |17,205 | rowspan="2" align="right" valign="top" |52.04% | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Jimmy Anderson}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | align="right" valign="top" |10,258 | align="right" valign="top" |31.03% | rowspan="2" align="right" valign="top" |33,063 | rowspan="2" align="right" valign="top" |6,947 |
|---|
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Samba Baldeh}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | align="right" valign="top" |5,575 | align="right" valign="top" |16.86% |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{CongLinks |votesmart= 161189 }}
- {{Ballotpedia |Samba_Baldeh}}
- [https://www.samba4stateassembly.com/ 2020 Campaign website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150415054335/http://www.samba4district17.com/ 2015 Campaign website (Archived – April 15, 2015)]
- [https://maps.legis.wisconsin.gov/?asm=48 48th Assembly District map (2011–2021)]
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-wi-hs}}
{{s-bef|before = Melissa Sargent }}
{{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly}} {{nowrap|from the 48th district}}|years= January 4, 2021{{spaced ndash}}January 6, 2025 }}
{{s-aft|after = Andrew Hysell }}
{{s-end}}
{{Wisconsin State Assembly}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baldeh, Samba}}
Category:Wisconsin city council members
Category:Madison Area Technical College alumni
Category:African-American state legislators in Wisconsin
Category:African-American Muslims
Category:Gambian emigrants to the United States
Category:21st-century African-American politicians
Category:20th-century African-American politicians
Category:Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly