Kathy Bernier
Kathy Bernier (Republican Party) was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing District 23. She assumed office in 2019. She left office on January 3, 2023.
Bernier (Republican Party) ran for election to the Wisconsin State Senate to represent District 23. She won in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Bernier is a former Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing District 68 from 2010 to 2018. Bernier did not seek re-election in 2018.
Biography
Bernier graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, and earned a certificate in Public Management Essentials from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. She worked as a Chippewa County Clerk from 1999 to 2011.[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2021-2022
Bernier was assigned to the following committees:
- Joint Finance Committee
- Agriculture and Tourism Committee
- Senate Education Committee, Vice Chair
- Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics Committee, Chair
- Senate Finance Committee
2019-2020
Bernier was assigned to the following committees:
- Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems, Co-Chair
- Senate Education Committee
- Agriculture, Revenue, and Financial Institutions Committee
- Elections, Ethics and Rural Issues Committee, Chair
- Local Government, Small Business, Tourism and Workforce Development Committee, Vice-Chair
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Aging and Long-Term Care |
| • Campaigns and Elections, Chair |
| • Criminal Justice and Public Safety |
| • Health, Vice chair |
| • Tourism |
| • Ways and Means |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Bernier served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Workforce Development |
| • Mining and Rural Development |
| • Family Law, Vice-Chair |
| • Campaigns and Elections, Chair |
| • Agriculture |
| • Aging and Long-Term Care |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Bernier served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Aging and Long-Term Care |
| • Campaigns and Elections, Chair |
| • Public Safety and Homeland Security |
| • Rural Affairs, Vice chair |
| • Workforce Development |
2011-2012
During the 2011-2012 legislative session, Bernier served on these committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Aging and Long-Term Care |
| • Elections and Campaign Reform, Vice Chair |
| • Tourism, Recreation and State Properties |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2022
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2022
Kathy Bernier did not file to run for re-election.
2018
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Wisconsin State Senate District 23
Kathy Bernier defeated Chris Kapsner in the general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 23 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kathy Bernier (R) | 59.2 | 42,958 |
| Chris Kapsner (D) | 40.8 | 29,637 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 11 | ||
| Total votes: 72,606 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 23
Chris Kapsner advanced from the Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 23 on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Chris Kapsner | 100.0 | 10,008 | |
| Total votes: 10,008 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 23
Kathy Bernier advanced from the Republican primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 23 on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kathy Bernier | 100.0 | 10,945 |
| Total votes: 10,945 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2016
- See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2016
Elections for the Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.
Incumbent Kathy Bernier defeated Howard White in the Wisconsin State Assembly District 68 general election.[2][3]
| Wisconsin State Assembly, District 68 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Kathy Bernier Incumbent |
58.12% | 15,628 | |
| Democratic | Howard White | 41.88% | 11,263 | |
| Total Votes | 26,891 | |||
| Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission | ||||
Howard White ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Assembly District 68 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| Wisconsin State Assembly, District 68 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Howard White (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Kathy Bernier ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Assembly District 68 Republican primary.[4][5]
| Wisconsin State Assembly, District 68 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Kathy Bernier Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
- See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2014
Elections for all 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 12, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 2, 2014. Jeff Peck was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Kathy Bernier was unopposed in the Republican primary. Peck and Bernier faced off in the general election.[6][7] Incumbent Bernier defeated Peck in the general election, and was re-elected for another term.[8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kathy Bernier Incumbent |
52.8% | 11,289 | |
| Democratic | Jeff Peck | 47.2% | 10,076 | |
| Total Votes | 21,365 | |||
2012
- See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2012
Bernier won re-election in the 2012 election for Wisconsin State Assembly District 68. Bernier ran unopposed in the Republican primary on August 14 and defeated Judy Smriga (D) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[9][10]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kathy Bernier Incumbent |
52.4% | 13,758 | |
| Democratic | Judy Smriga | 47.5% | 12,482 | |
| - | Scattering | 0.1% | 23 | |
| Total Votes | 26,263 | |||
2010
- See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2010
Bernier defeated Democratic incumbent Kristen Dexter in the November 2 general election. Bernier was unopposed in the primary election.[11][12]
A recount request was filed with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board on November 9, 2010.[13] The recount began on November 11, 2010.[14] Bernier won the recount on November 16, 2010.[15]
| Wisconsin State Assembly, District 68 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Kathy Bernier (R)
|
10,765 | |||
| Kristen Dexter (D) | 10,673 | |||
| Wisconsin State Assembly, District 68 Republican Primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Kathy Bernier (R)
|
3,305 | 99.49% | ||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Bernier has three children.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Wisconsin scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2022
In 2022, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 18 to March 8.
- Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against MMAC's position.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their stances on conservation issues.
- Legislators are scored by the Wisconsin Family Action on their votes on legislation related to "marriage, family, the sanctity of human life, or religious freedom."
- Legislators are scored on their votes on industry-specific legislation.
- Legislators are scored on their votes by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association on legislation related to Wisconsin's law enforcement community.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 4 to December 31.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 14 to May 13.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 7, 2019 through January 13, 2020.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 16 through March 27. Special sessions were held from January 1 through February 27 and from March 15 through March 29.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 3 through December 31. There were also special sessions. The first special session was January 5. The second special session was August 1 through September 15.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 12 through March 15.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 5 through December 31.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 14 through June 4.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 7 to December 31.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 10 through March 16.
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See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Kathy Bernier's Biography," accessed August 29, 2015
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidates on Ballot by Election - 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016," accessed November 4, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "2016 Fall General Election Results," accessed December 2, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidate Tracking by Office," accessed June 20, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Wisconsin Elections and Ethics Commission, "2016 Partisan Primary," accessed September 16, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability, "Candidates Registered by Office," June 11, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "2014 Partisan Primary Candidates," accessed June 19, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Canvass Results for 2014 General Election," December 1, 2014
- ↑ Government Accountability Board, "2012 Fall Partisan Primary," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ Government Accountability Board, "2012 Fall General Election," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ The Chippewa Herald, "Bernier running for Assembly," April 26, 2010
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Official 2010 Primary election results," accessed April 25, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "November 2010 General Election Recounts," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Notice and Petition of Recount for 68th Assembly District," November 9, 2010
- ↑ Chippewa Herald, "Update: Recount has Bernier beating Dexter by 78 votes," November 16, 2010
- ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Wisconsin State Senate District 23 2019-2023 |
Succeeded by Jesse James (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Wisconsin State Assembly District 68 2011-2019 |
Succeeded by - |
