Jenna Jacobson

Jennifer Shannon "Jenna" Jacobson (' Imsdahl; born February 4, 1982) is an American financial advisor and Democratic politician from Dane County, Wisconsin. She is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Wisconsin's 50th Assembly district since 2025; she previously represented the 43rd Assembly district during the 2023–2024 term.

Biography

Jenna Jacobson was born Jennifer Shannon Imsdahl in Brenham, Texas, on February 4, 1982. She was raised in Polk County, Wisconsin, and graduated in 2000 from Frederic High School, in Frederic, Wisconsin. She attended University of Wisconsin–River Falls, but transferred to Purdue University, where she completed her bachelor's degree in consumer financial planning. While attending school in River Falls, she worked as a teller at the WESTconsin Credit Union. After transferring to Purdue, she worked for the Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union as a financial advisor.

In 2013, she moved back to Wisconsin with her family and settled in the village of Oregon, Wisconsin, in southern Dane County. She worked for several years as an analyst at the CUNA Mutual Group corporate headquarters and she is a long-time volunteer financial literacy coach. But she currently identifies as a stay-at-home mom.

Political career

In 2017, she ran for and was elected to the Oregon village board, and was re-elected in 2019. Her term ended when she ran unsuccessfully for village president in 2021, but she was returned to the village board in the 2022 Spring election.

She has been active with the Oregon Housing Coalition, which seeks to bring affordable housing to Oregon, and, in early 2022, worked briefly for the Dane County government as a housing specialist. She was also appointed to the Governor's Council on Financial Literacy and Capability.

The 2022 redistricting, carried out by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, moved incumbent representative Don Vruwink into the 33rd Assembly district, creating a vacancy in the 43rd district which he had represented since 2017. Jacobson decided to enter the race for the Democratic nomination in the new 43rd district. At the time, the 43rd district comprised areas of southeast Dane County and north and central Rock County, stretching from the suburbs of Janesville to the suburbs of Madison. In the Democratic primary, Jacobson soundly defeated former Edgerton, Wisconsin, mayor Matt McIntyre. She went on to win the general election with 62% of the vote. She took office on January 3, 2023

Following the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, the Wisconsin Supreme Court took up redistricting again and struck down the 2022 map, compelling the Legislature to adopt a new map in early 2024. Jacobson was significantly affected by the change, with her home, Oregon, moving from the 43rd Assembly district to the 50th Assembly district—almost none of the territory she had previously represented moved with her into her new district. Her new district comprises areas of southwest Dane County and all of neighboring Green County. In the 2024 election, Jaobson defeated Republican Richard Johnson of Green County to win her second term.

In July 2025, Jacobson announced that she would run for Wisconsin Senate in 2026. She is seeking the 17th Senate district seat, currently held by Republican Howard Marklein. The 17th Senate district comprises the southwest corner of the state, from Crawford County to Green County, and is projected to be one of the most competitive legislative races in 2026.

Personal life and family

Jenna Imsdahl took the name Jacobson when she married her husband, Kyle Jacobson. The Jacobsons met when they were students at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. They live in Oregon, Wisconsin, with their three children.

Electoral history

Oregon Village President (2021)

, colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;", Nonpartisan Primary, February 16, 2021 (top two)

, colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;", General Election, April 6, 2021

Wisconsin Assembly, 43rd district (2022)

Wisconsin Assembly, 50th district (2024)

References

External links

Campaign website
*

Official website

Jenna Jacobson
at Wisconsin Vote

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jacobson, Jenna S.
1982 births
Living people
People from Polk County, Wisconsin
People from Oregon, Wisconsin
Politicians from Dane County, Wisconsin
Purdue University alumni
Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Women state legislators in Wisconsin
21st-century American women politicians
21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature