Joan Ballweg

Joan A. Ballweg (née Gottinger; born March 16, 1952) is an American business owner and Republican politician from Green Lake County, Wisconsin. She served four years as a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 14th Senate district from 2021 to 2025. She previously served eight terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, from 2005 to 2021, and was mayor of Markesan, Wisconsin, from 1991 to 1997.

Early life and education Joan Ballweg was born Joan Gottinger in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and raised in the Milwaukee suburb West Allis. She graduated from Nathan Hale High School in West Allis in 1970 and went on to attend the University of Wisconsin–Waukesha before earning her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point in 1974. She is married to Tom Ballweg, with whom she has four children.

Early career Ballweg worked as a first grade teacher from 1974 to 1976 in Memphis, Tennessee, before returning to Wisconsin with her family. They settled in Waunakee, Wisconsin, before later relocating to Markesan, Wisconsin. They started the Ballweg Implement Company in December 1976. In 1986, she was elected to the Markesan city council, and served in that role until she was elected mayor of Markesan in 1991. Her most noteworthy achievement as mayor was a merger of the city fire department with that of neighboring township.

In 1998, the Ballweg company bought out another farm implement store in Waupun, Wisconsin, and made that their primary business, closing their store in Markesan. After leaving office, she also served on the board of directors of Waupun Memorial Hospital, and became chairman of the board in 2001.

State legislature In 2004, the incumbent state representative in her district, Luther Olsen, chose to run for state senate, creating an open seat in the 41st Assembly district. Ballweg entered the Republican primary in March 2004, citing her experience in education, local government, small business, and the health care industry. Ballweg faced only a Constitution Party opponent in the general election, and prevailed with 84% of the vote. She would win re-election seven times in the 41st Assembly district. In the Assembly, she was elected to caucus leadership in the 2011 and 2013 terms, serving as majority caucus chair. Her only opponent in the 2020 primary was newcomer Ken Van Dyke, who she defeated with 69% of the vote. She faced retired union machinist Joni Anderson in the general election, and prevailed with 65% of the vote. In the state Senate, Ballweg was again elected to leadership, serving as caucus vice chair in the 2023 term. The new 14th Senate district was significantly reorganized, the only areas of the previous district which remained were the areas of the district in Columbia and Sauk counties, and part of the area in southern Adams County; the new district added more areas of Columbia County, all of Sauk and Richland counties, and parts of southern Juneau County and north-central Dane County. In its new configuration, the 14th Senate district was projected to be one of the most competitive in the state and lived up to that expectation. Ballweg narrowly lost the election to mental health counselor Sarah Keyeski of Lodi, Wisconsin, falling about 2.2% short of Keyeski.

Personal life Joan Gottinger took the last name Ballweg when she married Tom Ballweg in 1974. They now have three adult children.

Wisconsin Senate (2020, 2024)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 2020 Primary Republican 11,096 68.97% Rep. 4,982 30.97% 16,088 6,114 General Republican 61,883 64.87% Dem. 33,459 35.08% 95,389 28,424 2024 General Democratic 52,483 51.09% Rep. 50,149 48.81% 102,733 2,334