Dan Knodl
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 8th district
Assumed office
May 3, 2023
Preceded byAlberta Darling
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 24th district
In office
January 5, 2009 – May 3, 2023
Preceded bySuzanne Jeskewitz
Succeeded byPaul Melotik
Personal details
Born (1958-12-14) December 14, 1958 (age 65)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Diana Maria Bertieri
​
​
(div. 2003)​
Residence(s)Germantown, Wisconsin, U.S.

Daniel Raymond Knodl (born December 14, 1958) is an American Republican politician from Washington County, Wisconsin. He is a member of the Wisconsin Senate, having won a 2023 special election to represent the 8th State Senate district. He previously served 14 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 24th Assembly 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.[1] 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."[2]

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.[3] 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.[4] Knodl was sworn in as a state senator on May 3, 2023.[5]

A year after his election, however, the 2024 redistricting act re-drew the 8th Senate district so that Knodl no longer resided within its boundaries. 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.[6]

References

  1. ^ Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn (eds.). "Biographies" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 2009–2010 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 35. ISBN 978-0-9752820-3-8. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ Beck, Molly (February 7, 2023). "Anti-Trump Republican group launches ad campaign targeting election denier Janel Brandtjen in state Senate race". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  3. ^ Spears, Baylor (2 December 2022). "Republican Rep. Knodl Announces Run To Replace Retiring Sen. Darling". wisconsinexaminer.com. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Trump-backed state lawmaker loses Wisconsin primary". AP NEWS. 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  5. ^ McKillen, Thomas J. (May 4, 2023). "Knodl sworn in to 8th District Senate seat". DiscoverHometown.com. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  6. ^ "Knodl campaign: Announces run for 24th Assembly District". WisPolitics.com. February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
Wisconsin State Assembly Preceded bySuzanne Jeskewitz Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 24th district January 5, 2009 – May 3, 2023 Succeeded byPaul Melotik Wisconsin Senate Preceded byAlberta Darling Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 8th district May 3, 2023 – present Incumbent


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