Martha Laning

Martha Kniess Laning (born 1962/1963) is an American businesswoman, activist, and Democratic politician from Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. She was the chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin from 2015 through 2019.

Early life and career Laning received her undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of Wisconsin. 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. She was also one of the founders of the organization, which was started in 2009. While she was at the organization, she helped raise around $4.7 million to build the center. She resigned as director "for personal reasons" in 2013. Although she had no prior political experience, and the district was considered safely Republican, Laning felt that her fundraising skills could give her an advantage. Laning was defeated in the election, losing by about 20 percentage points. 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, Despite this statement, the primary was won by Bernie Sanders and Laning cast her vote for Hillary Clinton.

In July 2017, Laning was re-elected to the head of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. She had three challengers for the seat of head of party.