Mark Neumann

Mark William Neumann (born February 27, 1954) is an American businessman and politician. He represented Wisconsin's 1st congressional district for two terms, from 1995 to 1999. In 2010, Neumann unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor. In 2012, Neumann ran for the U.S. senate seat held by retiring Democratic senator Herb Kohl, placing third in the Republican primary.

Early life, education, and early career

Neumann was born in

Neumann decided to run for the House of Representatives as a Republican in 1992. He faced Congressman Les Aspin and lost 58% to 41%, while spending $700,000.

1993 special election

Shortly after defeating Neumann, Aspin was appointed

After losing in both 1992 and 1993, Neumann once again entered the race for Wisconsin’s First Congressional District. After losing to Peter Barca by 675 votes in the previous year, Neumann defeated Barca by 1,120 votes, becoming the first Republican to hold that seat since 1971. Neumann's victory was one of 52 Republican pick-up seats during the Republican Revolution.

1996

Neumann won re-election by 4,260 votes in a close 1996 race against

Tenure

Neumann was sworn into the 104th United States Congress on January 3, 1995, when the Republican Party gained control of both houses for the first time since the 1950s. Neumann was assigned to the Appropriations committee, being the only freshman appointed to the committee that year. While on the committee, Neumann wrote his own version of the budget, which would produce a balanced budget by 1999. Neumann voted present in the election for Speaker of the House in 1997, instead of voting for Newt Gingrich.^[11]

In September 1995, Neumann introduced an amendment requiring congressional approval of troop deployment to Bosnia which failed to pass. Then, on September 29, he voted to defeat the $243 billion military appropriation, along with other freshman Members, because it did not contain his amendment.^[12] As punishment for his vote, Bob Livingston removed him from the committee.^[12] This was brief, and Neumann was eventually reassigned to the committee.^[13]

Neumann has been critical of LGBT rights in the past. In 1996, he commented to the New York Times that "if I was elected God for a day, homosexuality wouldn't be permitted, but nobody's electing me God".^[14][15]

Committee assignments

Congressman Neumann served on the following committees and subcommittees:^[16]

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Veterans Administration
  • Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
• Committee on the Budget

1998 U.S. Senate election

In September 1997, Neumann announced his candidacy for the

Neumann told the Wisconsin State Journal on April 23, 2009 that he intended to run for governor in 2010,^[21] and on July 1, 2009, Neumann officially declared his candidacy.^[22]

In 2010 Neumann stated his opposition to same-sex marriage, and claimed that he wanted to focus on jobs and economic development.^[23]

Neumann was defeated 59% to 39% in the September 14, 2010, primary by opponent Scott Walker. Walker was ultimately elected governor in the general election.^{[citation needed]}

2012 U.S. Senate election

In August 2011, Neumann announced his candidacy for the Senate seat of retiring senator Herb Kohl.^[25] On October 6, 2011, it was announced that he had raised $300,000 during the first month of the campaign.^[26] After receiving endorsements from conservative groups such as the