Daniel Joseph Feyen (born July 12, 1968)[1] is an American Republican politician and retired printer from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He is a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing Wisconsin's 18th Senate district since 2017, and assistant majority leader since 2019. He is a former chairman of the Fond du Lac County Republican Party.

Dan Feyen
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 18th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded byRick Gudex
Personal details
Born
Daniel Joseph Feyen

(1968-07-12) July 12, 1968 (age 56)
New Holstein, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLori Barker
Children2
ResidenceFond du Lac, Wisconsin
Alma materFox Valley Technical College (Dip.)
OccupationPrint and bindery coordinator
Website

Early life and career

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Dan Feyen was born in New Holstein, Wisconsin, in Calumet County. He graduated from New Holstein High School in 1986 and went on to receive a diploma in printing from Fox Valley Technical College, in Grand Chute, Wisconsin. He then went to work in the printing and bindery business in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, for much of the next 30 years.[2]

In Fond du Lac, he became involved with the United States Junior Chamber, and was president of the Fond du Lac chapter in the 1990s.[3] He also became active in the Republican Party of Wisconsin and was elected chairman of the Fond du Lac County Republican Party.[4] He served nearly a decade as chairman of the county party.

Political career

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On November 30, 2015, state senator Rick Gudex announced he would not run for re-election in 2016. Within 15 minutes, Feyen declared his candidacy to succeed Gudex in the Wisconsin Senate.[5] Oshkosh businessman and pastor Mark Elliott also sought the Republican nomination.[6] Feyen prevailed in the primary[7] and went on to win the general election, defeating Winnebago County executive Mark Harris.[8]

He won re-election in 2020 with 59% of the vote.[9] In the 2016 and 2020 elections, Feyen was elected to represent the 18th Senate district, which then comprised central Fond du Lac County and the southern half of Winnebago County, including the cities of Oshkosh and Fond du Lac.[10]

Feyen was elected by the Senate Republican caucus as Assistant Majority Leader for the 2019–2020 term, and has continued to hold that office. He was formerly chairman of the Committee on Commerce and Trade and is now chairman of the Committee on Economic Development and Technical Colleges.[11][12]

After the 2024 redistricting, Feyen no longer resided in the 18th Senate district. He announced that he will instead run for election in 20th Senate district, comprising parts of central and southeastern Fond du Lac County, northern Washington County, southern Sheboygan County, northern Ozaukee County, and part of northeast Dodge County.[13]

Personal life and family

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Dan Feyen married Lori Barker, who was also a member of the Fond du Lac Junior Chamber during his presidency of that organization in the 1990s.[3] They have two adult children and reside in Fond du Lac.

Feyen is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Elks Club.[10]

Electoral history

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Wisconsin Senate, 18th district (2016, 2020)

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Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2016 Primary[7] Aug. 9 Dan Feyen Republican 5,225 55.97% Mark Elliott Rep. 4,108 44.00% 9,336 1,117
General[8] Nov. 8 Dan Feyen Republican 46,076 55.83% Mark L. Harris Dem. 36,366 44.06% 82,529 9,710
2020 General[9] Nov. 3 Dan Feyen (inc) Republican 52,490 59.09% Aaron M. Wojciechowski Dem. 36,274 40.84% 88,826 16,216

References

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  1. ^ "Daniel Joseph Feyen". Herald-Times-Reporter. July 23, 1968. p. 6. Retrieved October 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Lemke, Daphne (September 14, 2020). "Dan Feyen, Aaron Wojciechowski vie for 18th Senate District seat; answer questions ahead of election". Fond du Lac Reporter. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "We are a Better Community because of the Fond du Lac Jaycees". Fond du Lac Reporter. January 30, 1994. p. 14. Retrieved March 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Feyen, Dan; Kujawa, Peter (July 2, 2007). "Hold on to your wallet". Fond du Lac Reporter. p. 5. Retrieved March 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Shuda, Nathaniel (December 1, 2015). "Gudex says he won't file for re-election". Fond du Lac Reporter. p. A1. Retrieved March 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Shuda, Nathaniel (February 17, 2016). "Mark Elliott to seek 18th Senate district seat". Fond du Lac Reporter. p. A1. Retrieved March 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b Canvass Results for 2016 Partisan Primary - 8/9/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. September 30, 2016. p. 11. Retrieved March 2, 2024 – via Wisconsin Elections Commission.
  8. ^ a b Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 22, 2016. p. 7. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 18, 2020. pp. 5–6. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "State Legislators" (PDF). Wisconsin Blue Book 2019-2020 (Report). p. 75. ISBN 978-1-7333817-0-3. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  11. ^ "Senator Dan Feyen (2023)". Wisconsin Legislature. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  12. ^ "Senator Dan Feyen (2019)". Wisconsin Legislature. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  13. ^ "Feyen campaign: Announces reelection campaign in new 20th Senate district" (Press release). Feyen for Senate. February 27, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024 – via Wispolitics.com.
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Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 18th district
January 3, 2017 – present
Incumbent