Mark Born

Mark Louis Born (born April 14, 1976) is an American Republican politician and former law enforcement officer from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Wisconsin's 37th Assembly district since 2025; he previously represented the 39th Assembly district from 2013 to 2025. He is the Assembly co-chair of the Wisconsin Legislature's powerful budget-writing Joint Finance Committee, since 2021. Earlier in his career, he also served four years on the Beaver Dam city council (2005–2009), and was chairman of the Republican Party of Dodge County, Wisconsin (2002–2008).

Early life and career

Mark Born was born, raised, and has lived most of his life in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. As a child, he became active with the church community and youth ministry. He graduated from Beaver Dam High School in 1994, and went on to attend Gustavus Adolphus College, in St. Peter, Minnesota, where he earned his bachelor's degree in political science and history in 1998.

After college, Born returned to Beaver Dam and was employed with the Dodge County sheriff's department; he also served as a police auxiliary until 2004. He took professional development courses at the Wisconsin State Patrol Academy, and was promoted to serve in corrections division administration in 2000.

Political career

Born became active in politics with the Republican Party of Wisconsin when he was only a teenager, volunteering for the campaign of state representative Robert Goetsch in 1992. By 2002 he was county chairman of the Republican Party of Dodge County, Wisconsin. That year, he also served as a campaign coordinator for the gubernatorial campaign of Scott McCallum.

McCallum lost the election, but the following spring, Born announced he would run for Beaver Dam city council. At the April general election, Born was defeated by just 1 vote, receiving 140 votes to Bonnie Arndt's 141. Shortly after the election, however, he was appointed to the city police and fire commission. Two years later, Arndt announced she would not run for re-election to the council; Born ran again and this time won the election. He was re-elected in 2007. For much of his time on the city council, he was chairman of the city council's finance committee.

In December 2007, Born announced he would run for mayor of Beaver Dam in 2008, after the incumbent mayor, Jack Hanke, declined to run. He was opposed in the election by city engineering coordinator Tom Kennedy. Kennedy prevailed in a close election, receiving 52% of the vote. Later that year, Born announced he would not run for re-election to the city council.

After leaving office, Born was active in the 2010 gubernatorial election supporting Scott Walker. After Walker's victory, Born announced that he would run for Wisconsin State Assembly in 2012, in the 39th Assembly district seat being vacated by Jeff Fitzgerald. Born faced two opponents for the Republican primary in the heavily Republican district, former Mayville mayor Tracy Heron and veteran Don Lechner. The candidates were largely aligned on the issues, advocating for less regulation, less spending, and less taxation, but Born had significant institutional support and rose to the top; he won the primary with 50% of the vote. He went on to win the general election, receiving 60% of the vote over Democrat Jim Grigg. Born was easily re-elected five times in the safe Republican district.

In his early years in the Assembly, Born was chairman of the Assembly Committee on Public Benefit Reform, but in the 2017 term he earned a coveted seat on the Legislature's powerful budget-writing Joint Finance Committee and the influential Rules Committee. After the 2020 election, he was named Assembly co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee.

In 2024, the Legislature adopted a new redistricting act, which significantly affected districts lines in Dodge County. Beaver Dam shifted from the 39th district into the 37th district. Under the new map, Born faced a primary challenge from perennial candidate Steve Rydzewski, but won the primary and went on to win his 7th term in the Assembly.

Personal life and family

Born is a son of Allen and Sheri Born; his family has resided in the Beaver Dam area for four generations.

Mark Born married Liberty Ann Bell. They still reside in Beaver Dam and have one child.

Electoral history

Beaver Dam city council (2003, 2005, 2007)

Beaver Dam mayor (2008)

Wisconsin Assembly, 39th district (2012–2022)

Wisconsin Assembly, 37th district (2024–present)

References

External links

Official website

Campaign website
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Map of Wisconsin's 37th Assembly district

{{DEFAULTSORT:Born, Mark
1976 births
Living people
Politicians from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Gustavus Adolphus College alumni
Wisconsin city council members
Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature