Jenna Jacobson Explained

Jenna Jacobson
Office:Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Constituency:50th Assembly district
Term Start:January 6, 2025
Succeeding:Tony Kurtz
Predecessor:Tony Kurtz -->
Constituency1:43rd Assembly district
Term Start1:January 3, 2023
Predecessor1:Don Vruwink
Party:Democratic
Birth Name:Jennifer Shannon Imsdahl
Birth Date:4 February 1982
Birth Place:Brenham, Texas, U.S.
Residence:Oregon, Wisconsin
Spouse:Kyle
Children:3
Education:University of Wisconsin–River Falls
Purdue University (BA)
Website:Official website
Campaign website

Jennifer Shannon "Jenna" Jacobson ( Imsdahl; born February 4, 1982) is an American financial advisor and Democratic politician from Dane County, Wisconsin. She is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Wisconsin's 43rd Assembly district since January 2023.

Biography

Jenna Jacobson was born Jennifer Shannon Imsdahl in Brenham, Texas, on February 4, 1982.[1] She was raised in Polk County, Wisconsin, and graduated in 2000 from Frederic High School, in Frederic, Wisconsin. She attended University of Wisconsin–River Falls, but transferred to Purdue University, where she completed her bachelor's degree in consumer financial planning.[2] While attending school in River Falls, she worked as a teller at the WESTconsin Credit Union. After transferring to Purdue, she worked for the Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union as a financial advisor.

In 2013, she moved back to Wisconsin with her family and settled in the village of Oregon, Wisconsin, in southern Dane County. She worked for several years as an analyst at the CUNA Mutual Group corporate headquarters and she is a long-time volunteer financial literacy coach. But she currently identifies as a stay-at-home mom.[3]

Political career

In 2017, she ran for and was elected to the Oregon village board, and was re-elected in 2019. Her term ended when she ran unsuccessfully for village president in 2021,[4] but she was returned to the village board in the 2022 Spring election.[5]

She has been active with the Oregon Housing Coalition, which seeks to bring affordable housing to Oregon, and, in early 2022, worked briefly for the Dane County government as a housing specialist.[5] She was also appointed to the Governor's Council on Financial Literacy and Capability.[3]

The 2022 redistricting, carried out by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, moved incumbent representative Don Vruwink into the 33rd Assembly district, creating a vacancy in the 43rd district which he had represented since 2017. Jacobson decided to enter the race for the Democratic nomination in the new 43rd district.[5] At the time, the 43rd district comprised areas of southeast Dane County and north and central Rock County, stretching from the suburbs of Janesville to the suburbs of Madison. In the Democratic primary, Jacobson soundly defeated former Edgerton, Wisconsin, mayor Matt McIntyre.[6] She went on to win the general election with 62% of the vote.[7] She took office on January 3, 2023[8]

Following the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, the Wisconsin Supreme Court took up redistricting again and struck down the 2022 map, compelling the Legislature to adopt a new map in early 2024. Jacobson was significantly affected by the change, with her home, Oregon, moving from the 43rd Assembly district to the 50th Assembly district - almost none of the territory she had previously represented moved with her into her new district. Her new district comprises areas of southwest Dane County and all of neighboring Green County. In the 2024 election, Jaobson faces Republican Richard Johnson of Green County.[9]

Personal life and family

Jenna Imsdahl took the name Jacobson when she married her husband, Kyle Jacobson. The Jacobsons met when they were students at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. They live in Oregon, Wisconsin, with their three children.[10]

Electoral history

Oregon Village President (2021)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Nonpartisan Primary, February 16, 2021 (top two)[11] | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, April 6, 2021[4]

Wisconsin Assembly, 43rd district (2022)

YearElectionDateElectedDefeatedTotalPlurality
2022Primary[12] Democratic6,01582.73%Dem.1,25117.21%7,2714,764
General[13] Democratic19,68162.26%Rep.11,90337.66%31,6107,778

Wisconsin Assembly, 50th district (2024)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Representative Jenna Jacobson . . October 10, 2024 .
  2. Jacobson campaign: Jenna Jacobson announces run for Wisconsin’s 43 Assembly District . Jenna Jacobson for State Assembly . December 5, 2022 .
  3. News: Candidate Q&A: Assembly District 43 Democratic Primary . July 16, 2022 . . December 5, 2022 .
  4. 2021 Spring Election - Oregon Village President - Official Canvass . Dane County Clerk . December 5, 2022 .
  5. News: Village of Oregon trustee Jenna Jacobson announces candidacy for State Assembly . Tara . Jones . April 22, 2022 . The Oregon Observer . December 5, 2022 .
  6. Canvass Results for 2022 Partisan Primary - 8/9/2022 . . August 26, 2022 . December 4, 2022 . 40 .
  7. Canvass Results for 2022 General Election - 11/8/2022 . . November 21, 2022 . December 4, 2022 . 18 .
  8. News: Jacobson sworn in as 43rd Assembly District representative . March 8, 2023 . Stoughton Courier Hub . November 1, 2024 . en.
  9. News: Who — and what — is on the ballot? . The Platteville Journal . The Monroe Times . October 30, 2024 . Steve . Prestegard . November 1, 2024 .
  10. Web site: Meet Jenna . Jenna Jacobson for State Assembly . December 5, 2022 .
  11. 2021 Spring Primary - Oregon Village President - Official Canvass . Dane County Clerk . December 5, 2022 .
  12. Canvass Results for 2022 Partisan Primary - 8/9/2022 . August 26, 2022 . . 40 . October 17, 2024.
  13. Canvass Results for 2022 General Election - 11/8/2022 . November 21, 2022 . . 18 . October 17, 2024.
  14. County by County Report - 2024 General Election . November 27, 2024 . . 50 . November 30, 2024 .