Jay Calhoun
Jay Calhoun (Republican Party) ran for election to the Wisconsin State Assembly to represent District 75. He lost in the Republican primary on August 13, 2024.
Calhoun completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Jay Calhoun was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He earned a high school diploma from Taylors Falls High School. His career experience includes working as a machinist. Calhoun has been affiliated with the Polk County Republican Party and the Northwestern Wisconsin Patriots.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2024
General election
General election for Wisconsin State Assembly District 75
Duke Tucker defeated Jane Kleiss in the general election for Wisconsin State Assembly District 75 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Duke Tucker (R) | 66.7 | 24,636 | |
| Jane Kleiss (D) | 33.3 | 12,299 | ||
| Total votes: 36,935 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 75
Jane Kleiss advanced from the Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 75 on August 13, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jane Kleiss | 100.0 | 4,229 | |
| Total votes: 4,229 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 75
Duke Tucker defeated Jay Calhoun and Neil Kline in the Republican primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 75 on August 13, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Duke Tucker | 49.9 | 4,161 | |
| Jay Calhoun | 30.5 | 2,543 | ||
| Neil Kline | 19.6 | 1,633 | ||
| Total votes: 8,337 | ||||
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Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Calhoun in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jay Calhoun completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Calhoun's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I grew up just across the border in Taylors Falls Minnesota but have been a long-time resident of Luck. My wife of 27 years and I raised our three now grown children here, and I run a small business – a machine shop right in my backyard. I am a creative thinker and problem solver. My specialty is efficient engineering. Doing and making things as simple as possible, while, at the same time, getting the most benefit. I love reading, learning, and listening. I have been involved in politics on and off for decades, but it wasn’t until the last 10 or 12 years that I really started paying attention. My biggest issue by far is the unbelievable corruption in government, mostly amongst the leadership. Our government is much more concerned about gaining and holding onto power than actually representing us.
Why am I running? 1. I’ve been complaining for a long time, so I figure it’s time to try something different. 2. It’s pretty clear that at a state and federal level, our government doesn't have our best interests at heart. 3. As a whole, our lives get harder and harder every year with higher taxes, lower standards for education, massive inflation, and more government control and oversight.
People are tired of ineffective government, and they don’t want to participate in it anymore. It’s a catch 22 because participating is what will end ineffective government. It’s just that what we need is a legislator who encourages participation and organizes it!
- The Jay for Wisconsin campaign is based on getting people re-engaged in government. The current method of only paying attention during election cycles isn’t cutting it anymore. To be effective, I need the people to stay engaged to hold me up and hold me accountable year-round. Today’s political class is ineffective by design. We cannot keep trying the same methods and the same type of person over and over again and expect a different result. We need a new solution to government, which is really the original way that our Constitutional Republic was intended to run. We the People need to be calling the shots! Government will never change to serve the people’s needs until the people get involved!
- We need a new type of politician. One who is completely dedicated to representing the people, and has involved the people. Theres three beautiful things about this new type of politician: 1. Their constituents are the ones making decisions (like our government was designed to work). 2. Their constituents hold them accountable. Since they are already directly involved in making decisions, and since they are well informed, their representative must do their will. 3. All of the other issues go away over time. Since the people are making the decisions about what government is focused on, all the problems with crime, drugs, immigration, education, health and wellness, election integrity, the economy and taxes, etc. are gradually solved.
- JFK said, “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” I never really put much thought into that statement before, but it is perhaps more applicable today than it was when it was first said in 1961. It is the perfect statement for right now, where our non-participation has resulted in the loss of our state to a corrupt government.
Government corruption and non-representation, election integrity, 1A, 2A, Government spending.
I look up to my parents because they raised 8 successful children and have been happily married for 71 years. I especially look up to my father because he taught me so much about machining and engineering. I look up to my wife because she loves everyone unconditionally. I also have many friends who offer help and guidance wherever necessary without any thought of reward. I look up to them as well.
My political philosophy comes from the US Constitution and the Bible. We need to return to the basics that our founders established for us. The Gettysburg Address is another great example, where President Lincoln gave his vision of a government truly of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Leadership requires a God-centered mindset. An elected official must be selfless and have a servant's heart. Honesty, integrity, and a willingness to be held accountable are crucial in order to properly represent.
I am never satisfied with the status quo. I always try to improve. I am a relentless problem solver. I have strong faith in God. I have strength, integrity, and love for my fellow man.
Informing constituents of government issues and happenings. Listening to the people, involving them in decisions, and being the voice of the people in Madison.
I don't necessarily want to leave a legacy, but I would like to bring about the circumstances that allow our government to be returned to the people. I would like my grandchildren and great grandchildren to look at a picture of me some day and know that my efforts made a positive difference in their lives.
I remember being in school when the space shuttle Challenger exploded on take off. That was a sobering moment in history for me. I was 16 at the time.
Before I even had my driver's license, I had a job assembling disposable microscope slides. I did that for a couple years.
I'm a sucker for science fiction and thrillers because the outcome is so unpredictable, especially with science fiction, so anything from L.T. Ryan, Hugh Howey, or Dean Koontz has my attention. My favorite book might be The Princess Bride though, for its humor and adventure. Favorite self-help book is Simon Sinek's "Start with Why".
I am very introverted. I am happiest curled up with a great book, so campaigning for office is not natural for me! It has been a struggle, but has definitely been worth it!
Ideally the state legislature and Governor have the people's best interests at heart and work together to protect and improve the lives of all Wisconsinites. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The Governor and leadership in the state legislature are both busy building up their own power structures and working against each other.
First and foremost, returning the government to the people of Wisconsin. After that, it would be rebuilding our main streets, bringing education back to the basics, reducing crime and drug use, and making sure our working class has what it needs to live the American Dream.
No. I do believe that experience working in a "teamwork" setting would be helpful. I think it's good to have fresh ideas and real-world experience coming from the private sector.
Absolutely. The state legislature is a team setting and an Assembly Representative is just one of 99, so it's very important to build trusting working relationships.
There are legislators that I admire for their hard work for "We the People" but I wouldn't say I'd model myself after them. I would like to forge my own path!
If I am successful in bringing the government back to the people, I would like to stick around and do my part to be sure Wisconsin remains successful in the hands of the people. If I feel my work is done to the best of my ability, I'll move on.
Not one particular story, but the resounding story I hear from so many is how small-town Wisconsinites are struggling to make ends meet. If they had a government that truly worked for them and supported them, many of their burdens could be lifted.
Wisconsin Conservative Digest, Timothy Ramthun, Marvin Munyon, Pastor Ken Mettler, Matthew Bocklund.
Finance, Campaigns and Elections, Jobs, Economy and Small Business Development.
I believe that financial transparency and government accountability are paramount to the success of a people. Transparency and accountability are in very short supply right now.
It would be good because it allows the voice of the people to be heard. However, if the government was of, by , and for the people, we wouldn't need ballot initiatives. The people would already be making the decisions about what happens in the legislature, including what's on the ballot!
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Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 4, 2024
