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Ben DeSmidt

Ben DeSmidt
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 65th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 2025
Preceded byTod Ohnstad
Personal details
BornWisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceKenosha, Wisconsin
Education
ProfessionEducator, business owner
WebsiteCampaign website

David Benjamin "Ben" DeSmidt is an American educator, small business owner, and Democratic politician from Kenosha, Wisconsin. He is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Wisconsin's 65th Assembly district since 2025.

Biography

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Born in Wisconsin, DeSmidt earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago, and obtained his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. from Columbia University in New York.[1]

Ben DeSmidt is associate professor emeritus of classics and great ideas at Carthage College, and has been a trustee of Gateway Technical College since 2022.[2] He is also the owner of two bars in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Union Park Tavern and Pavle's Lounge.[3]

After Kenosha's south side state representative Tod Ohnstad announced he would not run for re-election in 2024, DeSmidt entered the race and received Ohnstad's endorsement. He faced a primary against former Kenosha Unified School District board member Kyle Flood,[3] but won the Democratic nomination with nearly 70% of the primary vote.[4] He went on to win the general election, receiving about 53% of the vote against Republican Brian Gonzales, a former Kenosha police officer.[3][5]

Electoral history

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Wisconsin Assembly (2024)

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Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2024 Primary[6] Aug. 13 Ben DeSmidt Democratic 3,738 69.51% Kyle Flood Dem. 1,637 30.44% 5,378 2,101
General[7] Nov. 5 Ben DeSmidt Democratic 15,065 53.27% Brian Gonzales Rep. 13,166 46.55% 28,283 1,899

References

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  1. ^ "Board of Trustees". Gateway Technical College. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  2. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20241114192115/https://theorg.com/org/gateway-technical-college/org-chart/d-benjamin-desmidt
  3. ^ a b c Wattles, Stuart J. (April 23, 2024). "Former School Board Member, Police Officer, and Local Businessman vie for 65th State Assembly District seat". WRJN. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  4. ^ County by County Report - 2024 Partisan Primary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. August 26, 2024. p. 65. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  5. ^ "2024 Wisconsin General Elections Results - State Assembly District 65". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  6. ^ County by County Report - 2024 Partisan Primary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. August 26, 2024. p. 65. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  7. ^ County by County Report - 2024 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 27, 2024. p. 65. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
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Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 65th district
January 6, 2025 – present 		Incumbent