Steve Doyle (politician)
American politician (born 1958)
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Steven Patrick Doyle (born May 21, 1958) is an American lawyer and Democratic politician from La Crosse County, Wisconsin. He is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 94th Assembly district since May 2011. He is also a member of the La Crosse County Board of Supervisors—since 1986—and was chairman of the board from 2002 through 2011.
Steve Doyle | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 94th district | |
| Assumed office May 17, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Huebsch |
| Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of La Crosse County, Wisconsin | |
| In office April 2002 – July 21, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | James A. Ehrsam |
| Succeeded by | Tara Johnson |
| Member of the Board of Supervisors of La Crosse County, Wisconsin | |
| Assumed office April 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Donald Bina |
| Constituency | 20th district |
| In office April 1986 – April 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Charles H. Pierce |
| Succeeded by | Robert Keil |
| Constituency | 28th district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 21, 1958 La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Gloria L. Wicker (m. 1987) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Wisconsin–La Crosse (BS) University of Wisconsin Law School (JD) |
| Profession | lawyer, legislator |
| Website | Official website |
Early life and career
Steve Doyle was born and raised in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He graduated from La Crosse's Aquinas High School in 1976 and went on to the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1980, majoring in public administration and political science. After graduating, Doyle served an internship in the Washington, D.C., office of U.S. representative Alvin Baldus, then remained as a staffer for Baldus until he left office in January 1981.[1]
Returning to Wisconsin, Doyle entered the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison, Wisconsin, and began working as a full time legislative aide in the Wisconsin Legislature for state representative Joseph Andrea (D–Kenosha).[2] He completed his J.D. in 1986.[3] Doyle practices law in La Crosse, specializing in family law and mediation.[4] He also taught local and state government and the American legal system at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.[5]
Political career
While still attending law school, Doyle made his first run for Wisconsin State Assembly in 1984. Doyle sought to succeed state representative Virgil Roberts, who was vacating his seat to run for state Senate.[2][a] In 1984, Wisconsin's 94th Assembly district comprised most of La Crosse County—excluding the city of La Crosse—and also included the southwest quarter of neighboring Monroe County. Doyle faced two opponents in the Democratic Party primary—truck driver Karl Krueger and former school board member Donald Bina. Doyle prevailed in the primary, taking 46% of the vote,[6] and went on to a general election against La Crosse County supervisor Sylvester G. Clements.[7] Doyle lost the general election by 769 votes, taking 48% of the vote.[6]
A year later, Doyle entered the race for a seat on the La Crosse County Board of Supervisors, and won the seat at the 1986 Spring election. That summer, he declared another run for Wisconsin State Assembly, seeking a rematch with Clements. At the primary, however, former state representative Virgil Roberts—who had lost his election for state Senate in 1984—returned to run again for his former Assembly seat. Doyle lost the primary to Roberts, but received a respectable 45% of the vote.[8]
Doyle has continued as a member of the county board of supervisors up to the present. He was elected chairman of the board of supervisors in 2002 and continued until resigning his chairmanship after his election to the Assembly in 2011.[3]
On May 3, 2011, Doyle was elected to the Assembly in a special election to replace Republican Michael Huebsch.[9] Doyle defeated John Lautz 54% to 46%.[9] He has been re-elected seven times and, most recently, defeated Michael Huebsch's son, Ryan, in the 2024 general election.[10]
Personal life and family
Steven Doyle is one of six children born to Patrick and Elaine (née Herman) Doyle. Steve's parents were small business owners, running the electronics store Doyle T.V. for more than 40 years.[1][11]
Steve Doyle married Gloria Lynne Wicker on August 8, 1987. They have two adult daughters and reside in Onalaska, Wisconsin.[4] In their private time, the Doyles raise alpacas.[1]
Electoral history
Wisconsin Assembly (1984, 1986)
| Year | Election | Date | Elected | Defeated | Total | Plurality | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Primary[6] | Sep. 11 | Steven P. Doyle | Democratic | 1,150 | 45.89% | Donald Bina | Dem. | 879 | 35.08% | 2,506 | 271 |
| Karl E. Krueger | Dem. | 477 | 19.03% | |||||||||
| General[6] | Nov. 6 | Sylvester G. Clements | Republican | 10,959 | 51.82% | Steven P. Doyle | Dem. | 10,190 | 48.18% | 21,149 | 769 | |
| 1986 | Primary[8] | Sep. 9 | Virgil Roberts | Democratic | 1,280 | 55.12% | Steven P. Doyle | Dem. | 1,042 | 44.88% | 2,322 | 238 |
Wisconsin Assembly (2011–present)
| Year | Election | Date | Elected | Defeated | Total | Plurality | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Primary[12] | Apr. 7 | Steve Doyle | Democratic | 4,699 | 53.64% | Cheryl A. Hancock | Dem. | 4,059 | 46.33% | 8,761 | 640 |
| Special[13] | May 3 | Steve Doyle | Democratic | 8,369 | 53.66% | John Lautz | Rep. | 7,219 | 46.29% | 15,596 | 1,150 | |
| 2012 | General[14] | Nov. 6 | Steve Doyle (inc) | Democratic | 18,566 | 60.59% | Bruce Evers | Rep. | 12,068 | 39.38% | 30,644 | 6,498 |
| 2014 | General[15] | Nov. 4 | Steve Doyle (inc) | Democratic | 13,670 | 54.06% | Tracie Happel | Rep. | 11,617 | 45.94% | 25,287 | 2,053 |
| 2016 | General[16] | Nov. 8 | Steve Doyle (inc) | Democratic | 16,721 | 52.63% | Julian Bradley | Rep. | 15,049 | 47.37% | 31,770 | 1,672 |
| 2018 | General[17] | Nov. 6 | Steve Doyle (inc) | Democratic | 17,498 | 60.20% | Albert Rohland | Rep. | 11,567 | 39.80% | 29,065 | 5,931 |
| 2020 | General[18] | Nov. 3 | Steve Doyle (inc) | Democratic | 19,186 | 52.44% | Kevin Hoyer | Rep. | 16,526 | 45.17% | 36,590 | 2,660 |
| Leroy Brown II | Ind. | 868 | 2.37% | |||||||||
| 2022 | General[19] | Nov. 8 | Steve Doyle (inc) | Democratic | 14,826 | 51.29% | Ryan Huebsch | Rep. | 14,070 | 48.67% | 28,907 | 756 |
| 2024 | General[20] | Nov. 5 | Steve Doyle (inc) | Democratic | 18,436 | 50.29% | Ryan Huebsch | Rep. | 18,219 | 49.70% | 36,657 | 217 |
Notes
- In the 1983–1984 term Virgil Roberts represented the 35th district, but a redistricting act in 1983 replaced that district with the 94th with slightly different borders.