Loren Oldenburg
Loren Oldenburg (born September 8, 1965) is an American dairy farmer and politician, currently serving in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Vernon County, Crawford County, and the southern half of Monroe County. A Republican, he was first elected in 2018.
Loren Oldenburg | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 96th district | |
| Assumed office January 7, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Lee Nerison |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 8, 1965 Viroqua, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Linda |
| Residence | Viroqua, Wisconsin |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–La Crosse |
| Website | Official website |
Biography
Oldenburg was born in Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin. A fourth generation farmer, he was raised and still resides on a 315-acre farm in Vernon County passed down from his great grandfather.[1] Oldenburg graduated from Viroqua High School in 1984 and the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.[2]
He was active within his community, as a member and president of the Westby Cooperative Creamery, and, for the last 19 years, as a member and president of the Chaseburg Cenex Cooperative. He was elected to the Town Board of Harmony, Vernon County, and served as the Town Board Chairman.[1][2]
He ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2018, announcing his campaign just days after incumbent Lee Nerison announced his retirement.[1] He was unopposed in the Republican primary and won a narrow victory over Democrat Paul Buhr in the November general election, carrying 52% of the vote.[3]
In the Assembly, Oldenburg serves on the Committees on Consumer Protection, Energy and Utilities, Rural Development, and Workforce Development, and is Vice Chairman of the Committee on the Environment. He was also appointed to the Speaker's Task Force on Suicide Prevention, an issue that has become prominent in rural Wisconsin due to the increasing number of farm bankruptcies.[4][5]
Personal life and family
Oldenburg and his wife, Linda, reside and own the Oldenburg Centennial Farms in Vernon County, Wisconsin.[1] They are members of the Viroqua Church of Christ.[2]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Primary Election, August 14, 2018 | |||||
| Republican | Loren Oldenburg | 3,393 | 99.68% | ||
| Scattering | 11 | 0.32% | |||
| Total votes | 3,404 | 100.0% | |||
| General Election, November 6, 2018 | |||||
| Republican | Loren Oldenburg | 12,327 | 51.65% | ||
| Democratic | Paul Buhr | 11,536 | 48.34% | ||
| Scattering | 3 | 0.01% | |||
| Plurality | 791 | 3.31% | |||
| Total votes | 23,866 | 100.0% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
References
- "Loren Oldenburg, owner and operator of Oldenburg Centennial Farms in Viroqua, announced his candidacy for the vacant 96th Assembly District" (PDF). Oldenburg for Assembly (Press release). March 20, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2020 – via The Wheeler Report.
- Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (2019). "Elected officials: Legislature". Wisconsin Blue Book 2019–2020 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 122. ISBN 978-1-7333817-0-3. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
- Canvass Results for 2018 General Election – 11/6/2018 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. February 2, 2019. p. 16. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
- Lehmann, Emerson; Kowles, Naomi (November 7, 2019). "Bill addressing farmer suicides passes the state Assembly unanimously". Madison, Wisconsin: WSAW-TV. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
- Barrett, Rick (December 31, 2019). "Farmer's suicide sheds light on depths of stress during dairy crisis". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
- Canvass Results for 2018 Partisan Primary – 8/14/2018 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. August 31, 2018. p. 108. Retrieved May 9, 2020.