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Ann Roe

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Ann Roe
Member-elect of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 44th district
Assuming office
January 6, 2025
SucceedingSue Conley
Personal details
Born
Ann C. Spellman

1965 or 1966 (age 58–59)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJonathan D. Roe
Children2
ResidenceJanesville, Wisconsin
Education
OccupationSmall business owner
WebsiteCampaign website

Ann Spellman Roe (née Spellman; born c.1966) is an American educator, small business owner, and Democratic politician from Janesville, Wisconsin. She is a member-elect of the Wisconsin State Assembly and will represent Wisconsin's 44th Assembly district in the 2025–2026 term.

Biography

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Ann Roe was born Ann Spellman in Chicago, Illinois. She was raised and educated in the Chicago area, graduating from Evanston Township High School in 1984. She went on to attend Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, earning her bachelor's degree in English and classical languages in 1988. She worked for some time in Minnesota, before continuing her education at Northeastern University, where she obtained her M.B.A. in 1994.[1]

After earning her M.B.A., she moved to Janesville, Wisconsin.[1] Since moving to Janesville, Roe has worked at various times as a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater's College of Business and Economics,[1] and worked as a planning consultant for the School District of Janesville.[1]

Since 2009, Roe has been a small business owner, running Custom College Solutions LLC, which helps students from grades 8 and up navigate high school, college, apprenticeships, jobs, and graduate school.[1] She also served on several area nonprofit boards, including the Janesville Woman's Club and Downtown Janesville Inc., and was president of the Beloit Janesville Symphony Orchestra[1][2]

Political career

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Roe made her first bid for elected office in 2022, when she ran for U.S. House of Representatives. Roe challenged Republican incumbent Bryan Steil in Wisconsin's 1st congressional district.[3] Wisconsin had just undergone redistricting following the 2020 United States census and the 1st congressional district shifted to a slightly more favorable configuration for Democrats. The district stretched from Roe's home in Janesville, in central Rock County, east to Walworth, Racine, and Kenosha Counties, then north into southern Milwaukee County; the 2022 redistricting added the Democratic-friendly cities of Beloit and Whitewater, and the battleground southern Milwaukee suburbs of South Milwaukee, Greenfield, and Cudahy, while removing areas of Waukesha County. With the new district configuration, Roe came closer than any Democrat since 1996, but still fell 26,785 votes short of Steil.[4]

In early 2024, incumbent state representative Sue Conley announced that she would not run for re-election to the Wisconsin State Assembly.[5] Within days, Roe announced her candidacy to succeed Conley in the 44th Assembly district, and in the same press release announced that she had secured Conley's endorsement for her campaign. Roe also rolled out endorsements from Conley's predecessor Debra Kolste and the area's former state senator Timothy Cullen.[2] Despite the strong endorsements, Roe faced a Democratic primary contest against Cathy Myers, a member of the Janesville School Board and former candidate for Congress.[6] Roe narrowly prevailed in the primary, receiving 54% of the vote,[7] then defeated police officer Bruce Danielson in the general election.[8] Roe is set to take office January 2025.

Personal life and family

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Ann Spellman was one of four children born to Harry Thomas and Nancy Eddy Spellman of Evanston, Illinois.[9][10]

Ann Spellman took the last name Roe when she married pediatrician Jonathan D. Roe, who she met in college. They reside in Janesville and have two adult children.[1]

Electoral history

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U.S. House (2022)

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Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2022 General[4] Nov. 8 Bryan Steil (inc) Republican 162,610 54.05% Ann Roe Dem. 135,825 45.14% 300,867 26,785
Charles E. Barman Ind. 2,247 0.75%

Wisconsin Assembly (2024)

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Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2024 Primary[7] Aug. 13 Ann Roe Democratic 3,771 54.30% Cathy Myers Dem. 3,170 45.64% 6,945 601
General[11] Nov. 5 Ann Roe Democratic 17,335 56.39% Bruce Danielson Rep. 13,371 43.49% 30,743 3,964

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Meet Ann". Roe for Wisconsin State Assembly. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Statement from Ann Roe, Candidate for 44th WI State Assembly" (PDF). Roe for Wisconsin State Assembly (Press release). February 23, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024 – via Wispolitics.com.
  3. ^ Gunn, Erik (July 14, 2021). "Janesville business owner announces bid for Congress in First District". Wisconsin Examiner. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Canvass Results for 2022 General Election - 11/8/2022 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 30, 2022. p. 2. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  5. ^ "Janesville Democrat Sue Conley to retire from Wisconsin Assembly". Baraboo News Republic. February 27, 2024. p. A3. Retrieved November 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Republican Bruce Danielson joins 44th state Assembly race. Democrats Cathy Myers and Ann Roe also running". Janesville Gazette. July 13, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  7. ^ a b County by County Report - 2024 Partisan Primary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. August 26, 2024. p. 44. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  8. ^ "2024 Wisconsin General Elections Results - State Assembly District 44". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  9. ^ "Spellman". Chicago Tribune. March 8, 1990. p. 31. Retrieved November 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Spellman, Nancy Eddy". Chicago Tribune. May 27, 2013. pp. 2–5. Retrieved November 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ County by County Report - 2024 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 27, 2024. p. 44. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
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