Mark Spreitzer (born December 16, 1986) is an American Democratic politician from Beloit, Wisconsin. He is a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing Wisconsin's 15th Senate district since 2023. He previously served four terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, from 2015 to 2023, and before that was a member of the Beloit City Council.
Early life and education Mark Spreitzer was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1986. He was raised and educated in Chicago, graduating from Northside College Preparatory High School in 2005. He attended Beloit College, in Beloit, Wisconsin, and decided to remain there after earning his bachelor's degree in 2009.
After graduating from college, Spreitzer worked as the assistant director of alumni and parent relations and annual support at Beloit College.
Political career During and after college, Spreitzer became active in politics with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. He volunteered for the U.S. House campaigns of Tammy Baldwin, the 2008 presidential campaign of Barack Obama, and the 2010 U.S. Senate campaign of Russ Feingold.
In 2011, Spreitzer ran for a seat on the Beloit city council. Beloit's city council elected its members in at-large multi-winner elections. In 2011, seven candidates were seeking three seats on the city council, with two incumbents running for re-election. Spreitzer was ultimately one of two new candidates to win a seat on the council, and served until 2015, serving as council president for the 2014–2015 term.
In the fall of 2013, state senator Timothy Cullen announced his retirement from politics; his resignation prompted state representative Janis Ringhand to announce her candidacy to succeed him, creating an open seat in the 45th Assembly district. In early December 2013, Spreitzer announced that he would run to succeed her in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Shortly after announcing his candidacy, he was elected city council president. In the Assembly race, he faced one opponent for the Democratic Party nomination, fellow Beloit city councilmember Sheila De Forest. After a close contest, Spreitzer prevailed with 54% of the vote. He faced no opponent in the general election, and went on to represent the 45th Assembly district in the 102nd Wisconsin Legislature. He was re-elected without opposition in 2016, and defeated a Libertarian Party opponent in 2018. He faced his first Republican opponent in 2020, and prevailed with 55% of the vote.
In coordinated announcements in March 2022, Janis Ringhand announced she would not run for a third term in the Wisconsin Senate, and Spreitzer announced that he would run to succeed her in the 15th Senate district. He faced no opposition in the Democratic primary and won the general election with 60% of the vote. Since joining the state Senate, Spreitzer has served on the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, and in the 2025 term, he was also assigned to the Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development, and the Committee on Transportation and Local Government.
Personal life Spreitzer is openly gay. He is one of several openly LGBTQ members of the Wisconsin State Legislature.
Electoral history Wisconsin Assembly (2014–2020) Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 2014 Primary Democratic 1,993 54.07% Dem. 1,691 45.88% 3,686 302 General Democratic 12,856 99.02% --unopposed-- 12,983 2016 General Democratic 17,867 98.00% 18,231 2018 General Democratic 14,198 79.10% Lib. 3,496 19.48% 17,950 10,702 2020 General Democratic 14,451 54.80% Rep. 11,895 45.11% 26,370 2,556
Wisconsin Senate (2022–present) Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 2022 General Democratic 46,192 61.38% Rep. 29,006 38.54% 75,260 17,186
References
External links Official website Senator Mark Spreitzer (2025) at Wisconsin Legislature
Map of Wisconsin's 15th Senate district