Howard Marklein
Wisconsin State Senator, District 17 since 2014. Lost re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.
Wisconsin State Senator, District 17Born 1954
- In office
- 12 yrs
- Since 2014
- Bills became law
- 39
- 139 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 0.0%
- With party
- 99%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- −7.6
- Lost 2026
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Finance · co-chair
- Finance · chair
- Agriculture and Revenue
- Employment Relations
- Legislative Audit
- Legislative Council
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Crime and criminals — Felony · Became law Apr 2026
Administration, Department of — Agency and general functions · Became law Apr 2026
Funeral and funeral director · Became law Apr 2026
Housing · Became law Apr 2026
County — Taxation · Became law Apr 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Marklein sits in the Wisconsin State Senate
Marklein is closer to the center than 83% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Eric Wimberger, Mary Felzkowski, Rob Stafsholt
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:09 PM ET
With Marklein’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans99%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills61%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Wisconsin State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Marklein’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Marklein | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 17, 2026 | AB 248: Relating to: vacancies in appointive state offices. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 17–16 |
| Mar 17, 2026 | AB 595: Relating to: compliance with the federal Help America Vote Act, voter registration data… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 18–15 |
| Mar 17, 2026 | AB 461: Relating to: an income tax subtraction for certain overtime compensation. (FE) | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 21–12 |
| Mar 17, 2026 | AB 1034: Relating to: name, image, and likeness rights for University of Wisconsin System student… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 17–16 |
| Mar 17, 2026 | AB 601: Relating to: excluding certain event or sports wagers from the definition of “bet”. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 21–12 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Marklein 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 Senate District 17 | Lost | D+7.6 | D+1.0 | −6.6 |
| 2022 | Wisconsin State Senate, District 17 | Won | R+20.3 | — | — |
| 2018 | Wisconsin State Senate, District 17 | Won | R+8.2 | — | — |
| 2014 | Wisconsin State Senate, District 17 | Won | R+10.2 | — | — |
| 2014 | Wisconsin State Senate, District 17 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Wisconsin State Assembly, District 51 | Won | R+3.8 | — | — |
| 2010 | Wisconsin State Assembly, District 51 | Won | R+4.3 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $2.9M
- Spent
- $2.3M
- Cash
- $55.2K
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.
| Taxpayers for Marklein State | Active |
Source: Wisconsin Ethics Commission filings through Oct 28, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 1:46 AM ET
Seats Marklein has held
- Wisconsin State Senate, District 17 · since 2014
- Wisconsin State Assembly, District 51 · 2010–2014
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Marklein has run against
- Jenna Jacobson (D) · 2026 general, lost
- Pat Skogen (D) · 2022 election, won
- Kriss Marion (D) · 2018 election, won
- Pat Bomhack (D) · 2014 election, won
- Maureen Maygrimm (D) · 2012 election, won
- John Simonson (D) · 2010 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Marklein
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/c405ad68-fdbd-43fe-abc2-f449f33c89b0
- Wikidata Q5920317
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET