Ben DeSmidt
Wisconsin State Assemblymember, District 65 since 2024. Ran in 1 election in 2024, winning 1. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 1 yr
- Since 2024
- Bills became law
- 13
- 389 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 0.0%
- With party
- 95%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +21.4
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Colleges and Universities
- Consumer Protection
- Science, Technology and AI
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Children · Became law Apr 2026
Housing · Became law Apr 2026
Crime and criminals · Became law Apr 2026
Health Services, Department of — Health · Became law Apr 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where DeSmidt sits in the Wisconsin State Assembly
DeSmidt is closer to the center than 62% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Tara Johnson, Vinnie Miresse, Randy Udell
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:09 PM ET
With DeSmidt’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats95%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills23%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: DeSmidt’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | DeSmidt | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 19, 2026 | SB 176: Relating to: an income and franchise tax exemption for broadband expansion grants and for… | No | No | Yes | Passed 60–34 |
| Feb 19, 2026 | SB 291: Relating to: making certain child care expenditures eligible for the business development… | No | No | Yes | Passed 63–31 |
| Feb 19, 2026 | SB 36: Relating to: an income tax exemption for cash tips paid to an employee. (FE) | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 60–31 |
| Feb 19, 2026 | AB 180: Relating to: requiring the Department of Health Services to seek any necessary waiver to… | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 71–22 |
| Feb 18, 2026 | SB 785: Relating to: including information about investigations of license holders in an online… | No | No | Yes | Passed 66–32 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time DeSmidt was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wisconsin State Assembly, District 65 | Won | D+21.4 | D+7.1 | +14.3 |
| 2024 | Wisconsin State Assembly, District 65 | Won | D+6.7 | D+7.1 | −0.4 |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $59.6K
- Spent
- $46.6K
- Cash
- $17.6K
Source: Wisconsin Ethics Commission filings through Oct 28, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 1:46 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| DeSmidt For Wisconsin State | Active |
Source: Wisconsin Ethics Commission filings through Oct 28, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 1:46 AM ET
Seats DeSmidt has held
- Wisconsin State Assembly, District 65 · since 2024
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who DeSmidt has run against
- Valerie Kretchmer (R) · 2026 election, won
- Brian Gonzales (R) · 2024 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know DeSmidt
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/d4c9b78d-bb0b-40e8-b717-f606299c9737
- Wikidata Q131006150
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET