Luther Olsen
Luther Olsen (Republican Party) was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing District 14. He assumed office in 2005. He left office on January 4, 2021.
Olsen (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate to represent District 14. He did not appear on the ballot for the Republican primary on August 11, 2020.
Olsen anounced that he would not seek re-election on February 24, 2020.[1]
Olsen served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1995 to 2005.
Biography
Olsen earned his B.S. from University of Wisconsin, Madison. Olsen's professional experience includes Olsen's Mill, Incorporated. Olsen was also a member of the Berlin Area School Board from 1976 to 1997 and its President from 1986 to 1995.[2]
Olsen survived a recall attempt in 2011.
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Olsen was assigned to the following committees:
- Joint Legislative Council Committee
- Senate Education Committee, Chair
- Senate Finance Committee, Vice-Chair
- Natural Resources and Energy Committee, Vice-Chair
- Universities, Technical Colleges, Children and Families Committee
- Joint Finance 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 |
|---|
| • Education, Chair |
| • Finance, Vice chair |
| • Insurance, Housing, and Trade, Vice chair |
| • Natural Resources and Energy |
| • Joint Finance, Vice chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Olsen served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Education, Chair |
| • Finance, Vice-Chair |
| • Natural Resources and Energy |
| • Insurance, Housing, and Trade, Vice-Chair |
| • Joint Finance, Vice-Chair |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Olsen served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Education, Chair |
| • Finance |
| • Insurance and Housing, Vice Chair |
| • Joint Finance |
| • Joint Legislative Council, Co-chair |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Olsen served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Education, Chair |
| • Finance, Vice Chair |
| • Joint Finance, Vice Chair |
| • Insurance and Housing |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Olsen served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Environment |
| • Finance |
| • Joint Finance |
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
2020
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2020
Luther Olson did not file to run for re-election.
2016
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Wisconsin State Senate 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 Luther Olsen defeated Brian Smith in the Wisconsin State Senate District 14 general election.[3][4]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 14 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Luther Olsen Incumbent |
57.08% | 47,294 | |
| Democratic | Brian Smith | 42.92% | 35,555 | |
| Total Votes | 82,849 | |||
| Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission | ||||
Brian Smith ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Senate District 14 Democratic primary.[5][6]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 14 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Brian Smith (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Luther Olsen ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Senate District 14 Republican primary.[5][6]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 14 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Luther Olsen Incumbent (unopposed) | |
This candidate ran in one of Ballotpedia's races to watch in 2016. Read more »
2012
Olsen won re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate, District 14. He defeated David Wayne Eiler in the August 14th primary and Margarete Worthington (D) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[7][8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Margarete Worthington | 42.4% | 34,742 | |
| Republican | Luther Olsen Incumbent |
57.5% | 47,137 | |
| - | Scattering | 0.1% | 62 | |
| Total Votes | 81,941 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Luther Olsen Incumbent |
77.3% | 14,782 |
| David Wayne Eiler | 22.7% | 4,341 |
| Total Votes | 19,123 | |
2011 recall
Olsen successfully survived a recall attempt in 2011.
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin began a recall campaign targeting Olsen and 7 of his Republican colleagues in the Wisconsin State Senate in March 2011.[9] The campaign filed approximately 24,000 signatures with election officials on April 18.[10]
On May 9, the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board verified 22,381 signatures, 14,733 were necessary to force a recall. Olsen challenged the petitions, citing missing paperwork as well as the possibility of hundreds of invalid signatures. The Board heard arguments on May 23,[11] rejecting most of the challenges. This cleared the way for a recall election to be held July 12,[12] but since multiple candidates filed a primary was held July 12 with the recall on August 9.
Opponents
Democratic state Rep. Fred Clark announced on April 21[13] he would run against Olsen in a recall.[14]
Rol Church, a Republican supporter, ran as a protest candidate in order to necessitate a Democratic primary between himself and Clark.[15] Robert Forseth was running as a "placeholder" Democrat but did not file final paperwork.
| July 12 Democratic primary[16] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
Fred Clark 
|
15,052 | 66.7% | ||
| Rol Church | 7,346 | 32.55% | ||
| Scattering | 169 | 0.75% | ||
- Robert Forseth Note: Forseth filed nomination papers with sufficient signatures but did not file final papers to be on the ballot.
The recall election took place on August 9 with Olsen defeating Clark.
| August 9 Recall - District 14[17] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Luther Olsen (R)
|
26,553 | 52.1% | ||
| Fred Clark (D) | 24,355 | 47.79% | ||
| Scattering | 56 | .11% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Luther Olsen won re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate, District 14. He ran unopposed.[18]
Luther Olsen raised $22,430 for his campaign.[19]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 14 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Luther Olsen (R)
|
54,138 | |||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Luther Olsen did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2012
Olsen's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[20]
- Lowering taxes
- Balancing the budget
- Creating family supporting jobs
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.
He and his wife have six 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.
2020
In 2020, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 14 to May 13.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
- Legislators are scored on their stances on conservation issues.
- Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against MMAC's position.
- Legislators are scored on their votes by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association on legislation related to Wisconsin's law enforcement community.
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
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Star Tribune,"Longtime Wisconsin lawmaker Olsen announces retirement," February 24, 2020
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidate Tracking by Office," accessed June 20, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Wisconsin Elections and Ethics Commissions, "2016 Partisan Primary," accessed September 16, 2016
- ↑ Government Accountability Board, "2012 Fall Partisan Primary," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ Government Accountability Board, "2012 Fall General Election," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ AOL News, "Wisconsin Election Recall Reality Check," February 23, 2011
- ↑ Associated Press, "Petition filed to recall 4th GOP Wisconsin senator," April 19, 2011
- ↑ The Northwestern, "Independent state reviews of petitions to recall Republican State Senators Randy Hopper, Luther Olsen are valid," May 9, 2011
- ↑ FOX 11, "GAB clears way for 3 GOP recall elections," May 23, 2011
- ↑ FOX 11, "Clark to challenge Olsen in recall," April 22, 2011
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin Senate recall races tempt Assembly members," April 30, 2011
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin GOP leaders encouraging colleagues to place fake Democrats on recall ballots," June 5, 2011
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "July 12 Primary Election Results District 14," accessed July 11, 2011
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "District 14 Recall Election Results," August 19, 2011
- ↑ Government Accountability Board, "Wisconsin State Election Results," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 contributions," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ Official Campaign Website, "Home," accessed August 12, 2012
- ↑ 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 14 2004–2021 |
Succeeded by Joan Ballweg (R) |
