Mary Felzkowski

21st century American politician
Mary Felzkowski
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 12th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 4, 2021
Preceded byTom Tiffany
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 35th district
In office
January 7, 2013 – January 4, 2021
Preceded byTom Tiffany
Succeeded byCalvin Callahan
Personal details
Born
Mary Jean Behling

(1963-09-25) September 25, 1963 (age 60)
Tomahawk, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
Bruce E. Czaja
​
(div. 2011)​
  • Jeffery James Felzkowski
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2016)​
    • Children5
    ResidenceIrma, Wisconsin
    Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–River Falls (BS)
    WebsiteOfficial website

    Mary Jean Felzkowski (née Behling; born September 25, 1963) is an American businesswoman and Republican politician from northern Wisconsin. She is a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing Wisconsin's 12th Senate district since 2021. She previously served eight years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, and was assistant minority leader in the 2019–2020 session.

    She was known as Mary Czaja until her second marriage in 2016. On many official documents after 2017, including the 2018 and 2020 election ballots, her name appeared as Mary Czaja-Felzkowski.[1][2]

    Early life and education

    Mary Felzkowski was born Mary Jean Behling on September 25, 1963. She graduated from Tomahawk High School before earning a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls.[3]

    Career

    Felzkowski is the owner of CIS Insurance Group in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. In November 2012, she was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly as a Republican, succeeding Tom Tiffany, who was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate.[4]

    Felzkowski is a supporter of medical cannabis, and submitted a measure to legalize it in Wisconsin.[5] Felzkowski has also advocated against the expansion of Medicaid.[6] She was chosen by the Republican caucus as the assistant majority leader in the 2019–2020 session.[citation needed]

    After incumbent state senator Tom Tiffany was elected to Congress in a 2020 special election, Felzkowski announced that she would run for the seat he was vacating in the Wisconsin Senate.[7] She was unopposed in the Republican primary, and went on to defeat Democrat Ed Vocke in the 2020 general election.[8]

    Personal life

    Felzkowski has been married twice and has five children. She took the name Mary Czaja after marrying her first husband Bruce Czaja; they divorced in 2011.[9] She subsequently married Jeffery James Felzkowski on December 31, 2016, and took the name Mary Felzkowski.[2][3]

    She is a former president of Tomahawk Main Street, Inc., a community organization of Tomahawk businesses, and a former board member and national director of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents. She is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association of America.[3]

    Electoral history

    Wisconsin Assembly (2012–2018)

    Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
    2012 General[10] Nov. 6 Mary Czaja Republican 15,481 53.30% Kevin Koth Dem. 12,149 41.83% 29,045 3,332
    Patrick K. Tjugum Ind. 1,397 4.81%
    2014 General[11] Nov. 4 Mary Czaja (inc) Republican 18,713 98.58% 18,982 18,444
    2016 General[12] Nov. 8 Mary Czaja (inc) Republican 18,622 66.02% Renea Frederick Dem. 9,564 33.91% 28,208 9,058
    2018 General[13] Nov. 6 Mary Czaja-Felzkowski (inc) Republican 16,380 62.74% Mark A. Martello Dem. 9,714 37.21% 26,107 6,666

    Wisconsin Senate (2020)

    Wisconsin Senate, 12th District Election, 2020
    Party Candidate Votes % ±%
    General Election, November 3, 2020[8]
    Republican Mary Czaja-Felzkowski 67,800 65.66% +2.74%
    Democratic Ed Vocke 35,386 34.27%
    Scattering 70 0.07%
    Plurality 32,414 31.39% +5.51%
    Total votes 103,256 100.0% +13.43%
    Republican hold

    References

    1. ^ Incumbents Who Have Filed a Notifications of Noncandidacy (EL-163) for the November 3, 2020 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. May 6, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
    2. ^ a b Hertel, Nora G. (January 4, 2017). "Northwoods Rep has changed name from Czaja". Wausau Daily Herald. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
    3. ^ a b c "Representative Mary Felzkowski". Wisconsin Legislature. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
    4. ^ "Mary Czaja winner in state Assembly race". Antigo Daily Journal. November 7, 2012. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
    5. ^ Wahlberg, David (September 11, 2019). "Medical marijuana, dental therapists key state legislative health issues this fall". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
    6. ^ "GOP Radio Address - Rep. Felzkowski on Medicaid". YouTube. June 6, 2019. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
    7. ^ Poltrock, Heather. "Representative Mary Felzkowski announces bid for State Senate". WSAW. Retrieved 2020-04-17.[permanent dead link]
    8. ^ a b Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 18, 2020. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 15, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
    9. ^ Lincoln County Case Number 2011FA000011 In RE the marriage of Bruce E Czaja and Mary J Czaja (Report). Wisconsin Circuit Court Access. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
    10. ^ Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election - 11/6/2012 (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 26, 2012. p. 16. Retrieved May 16, 2023 – via Wisconsin Elections Commission.
    11. ^ Canvass Results for 2014 General Election - 11/4/2014 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. November 26, 2014. p. 17. Retrieved May 16, 2023 – via Wisconsin Elections Commission.
    12. ^ Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 22, 2016. pp. 16–17. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
    13. ^ Canvass Results for 2018 General Election - 11/6/2018 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. February 22, 2019. p. 18. Retrieved May 16, 2023.

    External links

    Wisconsin State Assembly
    Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 35th district
    January 7, 2013 – January 4, 2021     		Succeeded by
    Wisconsin Senate
    Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 12th district
    January 4, 2021 – present     		Incumbent
    • v
    • t
    • e
    Members of the Wisconsin Senate
    106th Wisconsin Legislature (2023–2024)
    1. ▌André Jacque (R)
    2. ▌Robert Cowles (R)
    3. ▌Tim Carpenter (D)
    4. --Vacant--
    5. ▌Rob Hutton (R)
    6. ▌La Tonya Johnson (D)
    7. ▌Chris Larson (D)
    8. ▌Dan Knodl (R)
    9. ▌Devin LeMahieu (R)
    10. ▌Rob Stafsholt (R)
    11. ▌Stephen Nass (R)
    12. ▌Mary Felzkowski (R)
    13. ▌John Jagler (R)
    14. ▌Joan Ballweg (R)
    15. ▌Mark Spreitzer (D)
    16. ▌Melissa Agard (D)
    17. ▌Howard Marklein (R)
    18. ▌Dan Feyen (R)
    19. ▌Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R)
    20. ▌Duey Stroebel (R)
    21. ▌Van Wanggaard (R)
    22. ▌Robert Wirch (D)
    23. ▌Jesse James (R)
    24. ▌Patrick Testin (R)
    25. ▌Romaine Quinn (R)
    26. ▌Kelda Roys (D)
    27. ▌Dianne Hesselbein (D)
    28. ▌Julian Bradley (R)
    29. ▌Cory Tomczyk (R)
    30. ▌Eric Wimberger (R)
    31. ▌Jeff Smith (D)
    32. ▌Brad Pfaff (D)
    33. ▌Chris Kapenga (R)