Romaine Quinn | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 25th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Janet Bewley |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 75th district | |
| In office January 3,2015 –January 4,2021 | |
| Preceded by | Stephen Smith |
| Succeeded by | David Armstrong |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Romaine Robert Quinn July 30,1990 Rice Lake,Wisconsin,U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Rachel |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Wisconsin,Barron County University of Wisconsin,Green Bay (BA) |
| Website | State Senate website Campaign website |
Romaine Robert Quinn (born July 30,1990) is an American Republican politician from Rice Lake,Wisconsin. He is member of the Wisconsin State Senate,representing the 25th Senate district since January 2023. He was previously mayor of Rice Lake and served three terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly (2015–2021) representing the 75th Assembly district.
Quinn was born in Rice Lake,Wisconsin on July 30,1990. During his childhood,he attended St. Joseph Catholic School and later graduated from Rice Lake High School in 2009. [1] [2] Following his graduation he began attending University of Wisconsin–Barron County. [3] In 2012,Quinn began attending the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay,where he received his bachelor's degree in political science and public leadership in May 2014. During his time in college Quinn was a coca-cola salesman. [1]
During Quinn's senior year of high school he was elected to the Rice Lake City Council for a single term,serving from 2009–2010. [1] In 2010,Quinn became the youngest mayor for the city when he was elected at 19 years old,defeating incumbent mayor Daniel Fitzgerald. [3] In 2012 Quinn declined to seek re-election as mayor as he would be attending the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay to pursue a bachelor's degree. Shortly after graduating in 2014,Quinn launched a campaign for state assembly,challenging incumbent Democrat Stephen J. Smith. [4] Quinn defeated Smith by a 9 point margin. [5]
In 2015,Quinn,alongside representative Bob Gannon,co-sponsored an amendment to the state constitution to institute term-limits. [6] From 2017–2019,Quinn was the Assembly majority caucus vice chair for the Republican Party. [1] Quinn was re-elected in 2016 and 2018 with 62% of the vote each time. In March 2020,Quinn announced he would not run for re-election to the Wisconsin State Assembly. [7]
In 2019,following the resignation of U.S. Representative Sean Duffy,Quinn expressed interest in running in the special election for this seat,but later declined to run,endorsing state senator Tom Tiffany in the primary election. [8] [9]
After his service in the state assembly Quinn became a licensed realtor. [10]
In October 2021 Quinn announced a campaign for Wisconsin's 25th senate district,then held by Democrat Janet Bewley. [11] During the campaign,Quinn expressed support for using the budget surplus to cut taxes in the state. [12] The race also came into focus as it would determine whether Republicans would enter the 106th Wisconsin Legislature with a supermajority in the state senate. [12] Additionally,Quinn outraised his opponent,Kelly Westlund,by around $140,000. [13] On election day,Quinn defeated Westlund by a 14 point margin,securing Republicans a veto-proof majority in the state senate going into the 106th legislature. [14]
Quinn took office on January 3,2023.
In 2024,Quinn and fellow Republican Treig Pronschinske authored legislation that would have removed the ability of local governments to enact certain regulations for animal welfare on farms. [15]
In 2025,Quinn and fellow Republican Chanz Green authored legislation which would remove restrictions on Superior Water &Light Company from utilizing funds for replacing lead service lines used in the city of Superior,Wisconsin. [16] The bill was signed into law by governor Tony Evers. [17]
Quinn resides in Birchwood,Wisconsin with his wife Rachel and their two kids. [2]
| Year | Election | Date | Elected | Defeated | Total | Plurality | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Primary [18] | Aug. 12 | Romaine Robert Quinn | Republican | 2,231 | 64.84% | Ken Mandley | Rep. | 1,208 | 35.11% | 3,441 | 1,023 |
| General [19] | Nov. 4 | Romaine Robert Quinn | Republican | 11,730 | 54.86% | Stephen Smith (inc) | Dem. | 9,643 | 45.10% | 21,382 | 2,087 | |
| 2016 | General [20] | Nov. 8 | Romaine Robert Quinn (inc) | Republican | 17,786 | 62.00% | Joe Huftel | Dem. | 10,894 | 37.97% | 28,689 | 6,892 |
| 2018 | General [21] | Nov. 6 | Romaine Robert Quinn (inc) | Republican | 14,925 | 62.18% | Ali Holzman | Dem. | 9,078 | 37.82% | 24,004 | 5,847 |
| Year | Election | Date | Elected | Defeated | Total | Plurality | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | General [22] | Nov. 8 | Romaine Robert Quinn | Republican | 47,293 | 56.99% | Kelly Westlund | Dem. | 35,652 | 42.96% | 82,984 | 11,641 |