Kristina Shelton

American politician (born 1980)
Kristina Shelton
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 90th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 4, 2021
Preceded byStaush Gruszynski
Member of the Green Bay Area School Board
In office
August 14, 2018 – January 4, 2021
Preceded byChristopher Wagner
Succeeded byLaura Laitinen-Warren
Personal details
Born
Kristina Marie Sandherr

(1980-06-02) June 2, 1980 (age 43)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Jon Shelton
​
(m. 2006)​
Children2
Residence(s)Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
Alma materPennsylvania State University (BS)
Marymount University (MS)
Professioneducator, politician
WebsiteCampaign website

Kristina Marie Shelton (née Sandherr; born June 2, 1980) is an American educator and Democratic politician from Green Bay, Wisconsin. She is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Wisconsin's 90th Assembly district since 2021. She previously served on the Green Bay Area School Board.

Early life and career

Shelton was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 2, 1980.[1] She attended Pennsylvania State University from 1998 until 2002, graduating with a B.S. in kinesiology, physical and health education. She later attended Marymount University from 2008 until 2010, earning a master's degree in science and health promotion management. She then taught in the Health and Physical Education department at Northern Virginia Community College from 2010 until 2013. Shelton worked for Action for Healthy Kids from 2012 until 2019, when she became a program director at a Green Bay area YWCA.[1][2]

Political career

Shelton's political career began as an appointee to the Green Bay Area Public School Board in 2018, chosen by the other members of the board from a list of applicants.[3] She then won a three-year term in the 2019 spring election,[4] and was serving as the board's vice president when she was elected to the state Assembly.[5]

In December 2019, Green Bay's state representative, Staush Gruszynski, was the subject of sexual harassment accusations from an Assembly staffer. As a result, Gordon Hintz, Democratic leader in the Assembly, stripped Gruszynski of all committee assignments.[6] Two months later, in February 2020, Shelton announced she would launch a challenge against Gruszynski in the Democratic primary, with the hope of replacing him in the Wisconsin State Assembly.[7][8] Shelton defeated Gruszynski in the primary with nearly 80% of the vote,[9] and went on to face Republican Drew Kirsteatter, a 21-year-old airline employee and college student, whom she defeated in the general election.[10]

In February 2024, Shelton announced she would not run for re-election that year and would retire from the Assembly to focus on her family and career.[11]

Personal life

Shelton is married to Jon Shelton, a professor of history and Democracy & Justice Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. They have two children, Sara and Keith. Shelton is a certified yoga instructor.[12][5]

Electoral history

Green Bay School Board (2019)

Green Bay Area School Board Election, 2019[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 2, 2019 (choose three)
Nonpartisan Eric Vanden Heuvel 13,756 25.16%
Nonpartisan Kristina Shelton (incumbent) 12,675 23.18%
Nonpartisan Brenda Warren (incumbent) 12,415 22.71%
Nonpartisan John Jahnke 9,950 18.20%
Nonpartisan Paul Boucher 5,877 10.75%
Plurality 1,084 1.98%
Total votes 54,676 100.0%

Wisconsin Assembly (2020, 2022)

Wisconsin Assembly, 90th District Election, 2020[9][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Primary, August 11, 2020
Democratic Kristina Shelton 3,620 78.83%
Democratic Staush Gruszynski (incumbent) 971 21.15%
Scattering 1 0.02%
Plurality 2,649 57.69%
Total votes 4,592 100.0%
General Election, November 3, 2020
Democratic Kristina Shelton 12,756 60.14% -36.20%
Republican Drew Kirsteatter 8,429 39.74%
Scattering 25 0.12%
Plurality 4,327 20.40% -72.29%
Total votes 21,210 100.0% +57.26%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly, 90th District Election, 2022[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 8, 2022
Democratic Kristina Shelton (incumbent) 9,885 59.10% -1.04%
Republican Micah J. Behnke 6,818 40.77% +1.02%
Scattering 22 0.13%
Plurality 3,067 18.34% -2.06%
Total votes 16,725 100.0% -21.15%
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ a b "Meet Kristina". Kristina for Assembly. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  2. ^ "Kristina Shelton on LinkedIn". Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  3. ^ Hernandez, Samantha (August 15, 2018). "Green Bay School Board chooses Kristina Shelton as new board member". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  4. ^ Hernandez, Samantha (April 2, 2019). "Vanden Heuvel tops Green Bay school board race, incumbents win reelection". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Board of Education - Kristina Shelton". Green Bay Area Public School District. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  6. ^ Beck, Molly (December 19, 2019). "Green Bay lawmaker accused of sexually harassing staff member in Legislature". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  7. ^ BeMiller, Haley (February 20, 2020). "Green Bay School Board member to run for Assembly seat held by Democrat who sexually harassed staffer". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  8. ^ "Gruszynski faces Shelton in 90th Democratic primary". The Press. 2020-07-28. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  9. ^ a b Canvass Results for 2020 Partisan Primary - 8/11/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. August 26, 2020. pp. 51–52. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 18, 2020. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 15, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  11. ^ Voight, Sophia (February 28, 2024). "Green Bay Rep. Kristina Shelton won't seek reelection to the 90th Assembly District". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  12. ^ "Kristina Shelton - Wisconsin State Assembly, District 90". Democracy for America. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  13. ^ Brown County, Wisconsin - Nonpartisan Office (PDF) (Report). Office of the Clerk of Brown County, Wisconsin. April 8, 2019. p. 8. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  14. ^ Canvass Results for 2022 General Election – 11/8/2022 (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 21, 2022. pp. 29–30. Retrieved December 11, 2022.

External links

Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 90th district
January 4, 2021 – present 		Incumbent
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106th Wisconsin Legislature (2023–2025)
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