Wisconsin's 65th Assembly district

Wisconsin's 65th State Assembly district
From 2024 to 2031 From 2022 to 2023 From 2012 to 2021 2024 map defined in 2023 Wisc. Act 94 2022 map defined in Johnson v. Wisconsin Elections Commission 2011 map was defined in 2011 Wisc. Act 43
Assemblymember	Ben DeSmidt D – Kenosha since January 6, 2025 (0 years)
Demographics	71.87%  White 9.68%  Black 14.59%  Hispanic 1.92%  Asian 2.38%  Native American 0.13%  Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Population (2020)  • Voting age	60,095 46,462
Website	Official website
Notes	Kenosha, Wisconsin

The 65th Assembly district of Wisconsin is one of 99 districts in the Wisconsin State Assembly. ^[1] Located in southeast Wisconsin, the district comprises part of southeast Kenosha County, including the southern half of the city of Kenosha and the northern half of the village of Pleasant Prairie. The district also contains downtown Kenosha, Kenosha Harbor, and landmarks such as Civic Center Historic District and Library Park. ^[2] The district is represented by Democrat Ben DeSmidt, since January 2025. ^[3]

The 65th Assembly district is located within Wisconsin's 22nd Senate district, along with the 64th and 66th Assembly districts. ^[4]

• 
  Soldiers' Monument in Library Park
• 
  Civic Center Historic District
• 
  Harbor Park

List of past representatives

List of representatives to the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 65th district

Member	Party	Residence	Counties represented	Term start	Term end	Ref.
District created
Eugene Dorff	Dem.	Kenosha	Kenosha	January 1, 1973	January 3, 1983
Joanne Huelsman	Rep.	Waukesha	Waukesha	January 3, 1983	January 7, 1985
John Antaramian	Dem.	Kenosha	Kenosha	January 7, 1985	January 4, 1993
Robert Wirch	Dem.			January 4, 1993	January 6, 1997
John Steinbrink	Dem.			January 6, 1997	January 7, 2013
Tod Ohnstad	Dem.			January 7, 2013	January 6, 2025	[5]
Ben DeSmidt	Dem.			January 6, 2025	Current	[3]

Electoral history

Year	Date	Elected				Defeated				Total	Plurality	Other primary candidates
2012 [6]	Nov. 6	Tod Ohnstad	Democratic	18,373	97.99%	--unopposed--				18,750		Dayvin M. A. Hallmon (Dem.) Albert Namath (Dem.)
2014 [7]	Nov. 4	Tod Ohnstad (inc)	Democratic	11,599	96.93%					11,966
2016 [8]	Nov. 8	Tod Ohnstad (inc)	Democratic	16,112	97.84%					16,467
2018 [9]	Nov. 6	Tod Ohnstad (inc)	Democratic	14,456	96.82%					14,931
2020 [10]	Nov. 3	Tod Ohnstad (inc)	Democratic	14,356	60.25%	Crystal J. Miller	Rep.	9,444	39.63%	23,829	4,912
2022 [11]	Nov. 8	Tod Ohnstad (inc)	Democratic	11,035	61.78%	Frank Petrick	Rep.	6,803	38.08%	17,863	4,232
2024 [12]	Nov. 5	Ben DeSmidt	Democratic	15,065	53.27%	Brian Gonzales	Rep.	13,166	46.55%	28,283	1,899	Kyle Flood (Dem.)

References

1. "Assembly District 65". Wisconsin Legislature . Retrieved January 8, 2021.
2. "Wisconsin Legislative Districts - Assembly District 65 Boundaries". Wisconsin Legislature . Retrieved January 8, 2021.
3. "Representative Ben DeSmidt". Wisconsin Legislature . 2025. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
4. An Act ... relating to: legislative redistricting (Act 94). Wisconsin Legislature. 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
5. "Representative Tod Ohnstad". Wisconsin Legislature . Retrieved January 8, 2021.
6. Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 6, 2012. p. 24. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
7. Canvass Results for 2014 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 4, 2014. p. 23. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
8. Canvass Results for 2016 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 8, 2016. p. 23. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
9. Canvass Results for 2018 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 6, 2018. p. 25. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
10. Canvass Results for 2020 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 3, 2020. p. 23. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
11. Canvass Results for 2022 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 8, 2022. p. 32. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
12. County by County Report - 2024 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 27, 2024. p. 65. Retrieved November 30, 2024.