# Katrina Shankland

Katrina Shankland (born August 4, 1987) is an American community organizer and Democratic politician from Stevens Point, Wisconsin. She served six terms as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 71st Assembly district from 2013 to 2025.
She was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. House of Representatives in Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district in 2024.

## Biography

Shankland was born in Wausau, Wisconsin, in 1987, and raised in rural Wittenberg, Wisconsin. As a child, she participated in the Scripps National Spelling Bee after winning Wisconsin's Badger State Spelling Bee in 2000. She graduated from Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School in 2005 as valedictorian of her class. She went on to attend University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point at Wausau and Marquette University before earning her bachelor's degree in political science and Latin American studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2009. She continued her education after joining the Assembly, earning her master's degree in 2019 from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point.
After graduating from college, she was employed for several years as a coordinator for the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. She also became involved as a community organizer for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and was active for the campaign of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in the 2012 Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election.

## Political career

Shankland entered the Democratic primary race for Wisconsin State Assembly in the 71st Assembly district, which ultimately attracted nine candidates. Shankland narrowly won with 27% of the vote in the August primary, with a winning margin of 44 votes. In the general election, she faced fellow first-time candidate Patrick Testin, carrying 60% of the vote and winning the seat for the 2013–2014 term. She was reelected without opposition in 2014, 2016, and 2018, and defeated challengers in 2020 and 2022 to win a fifth and sixth term.
On October 2, 2023, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Shankland planned to launch a campaign for United States House of Representatives in 2024, challenging first-term Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district. Shankland confirmed the news and officially announced her campaign for Congress the next day. She was defeated in the Democratic primary by Rebecca Cooke.

## Electoral history
### Wisconsin Assembly (2012–2022)

| Year | Election | Date | Elected | Elected | Elected | Elected | Defeated | Defeated | Defeated | Defeated | Total | Plurality |
| 2012 | Primary | Aug. 14 | Katrina Shankland | Democratic | 1,383 | 26.96% | Corey D. Ladick | Dem. | 1,339 | 26.10% | 5,130 | 44 |
| 2012 | Primary | Aug. 14 | Katrina Shankland | Democratic | 1,383 | 26.96% | Jeri McGinkey | Dem. | 836 | 16.30% | 5,130 | 44 |
| 2012 | Primary | Aug. 14 | Katrina Shankland | Democratic | 1,383 | 26.96% | Andrew Logan Beveridge | Dem. | 771 | 15.03% | 5,130 | 44 |
| 2012 | Primary | Aug. 14 | Katrina Shankland | Democratic | 1,383 | 26.96% | David J. Verhage | Dem. | 319 | 6.22% | 5,130 | 44 |
| 2012 | Primary | Aug. 14 | Katrina Shankland | Democratic | 1,383 | 26.96% | Tom Mallison | Dem. | 142 | 2.77% | 5,130 | 44 |
| 2012 | Primary | Aug. 14 | Katrina Shankland | Democratic | 1,383 | 26.96% | Robert L. Steinke | Dem. | 118 | 2.30% | 5,130 | 44 |
| 2012 | Primary | Aug. 14 | Katrina Shankland | Democratic | 1,383 | 26.96% | Laura Hauser-Menting | Dem. | 117 | 2.28% | 5,130 | 44 |
| 2012 | Primary | Aug. 14 | Katrina Shankland | Democratic | 1,383 | 26.96% | Hans Schmid | Dem. | 101 | 1.97% | 5,130 | 44 |
| 2012 | General | Nov. 6 | Katrina Shankland | Democratic | 17,619 | 60.82% | Patrick Testin | Rep. | 11,279 | 38.94% | 28,968 | 6,340 |
| 2014 | General | Nov. 4 | Katrina Shankland (inc.) | Democratic | 17,134 | 97.79% | --unopposed-- | --unopposed-- | --unopposed-- | --unopposed-- | 17,521 | 16,747 |
| 2016 | General | Nov. 8 | Katrina Shankland (inc.) | Democratic | 21,834 | 98.90% | --unopposed-- | --unopposed-- | --unopposed-- | --unopposed-- | 22,076 | 21,592 |
| 2018 | General | Nov. 6 | Katrina Shankland (inc.) | Democratic | 20,548 | 97.75% | --unopposed-- | --unopposed-- | --unopposed-- | --unopposed-- | 21,022 | 20,074 |
| 2020 | General | Nov. 3 | Katrina Shankland (inc.) | Democratic | 17,753 | 55.51% | Scott C. Soik | Rep. | 14,206 | 44.42% | 31,979 | 3,547 |
| 2022 | General | Nov. 8 | Katrina Shankland (inc.) | Democratic | 15,930 | 57.05% | Scott C. Soik | Rep. | 11,976 | 42.89% | 27,923 | 3,954 |

### U.S. House of Representatives (2024)

| Year | Election | Date | Elected | Elected | Elected | Elected | Defeated | Defeated | Defeated | Defeated | Total | Plurality |
| 2024 | Primary | Aug. 13 | Rebecca Cooke | Democratic | 42,316 | 50.51% | Katrina Shankland | Dem. | 34,812 | 41.55% | 83,776 | 7,504 |
| 2024 | Primary | Aug. 13 | Rebecca Cooke | Democratic | 42,316 | 50.51% | Eric Wilson | Dem. | 6,624 | 7.91% | 83,776 | 7,504 |