Ballweg worked as a first grade teacher from 1974 to 1976 in Memphis, Tennessee, before returning to Wisconsin with her family. They settled in Waunakee, Wisconsin, before later relocating to Markesan, Wisconsin. They started the Ballweg Implement Company in December 1976.[4] In 1986, she was elected to the Markesan city council, and served in that role until she was elected mayor of Markesan in 1991.[2] She won re-election in 1993 and 1995, and chose not to run for a fourth term in 1997.[5] Her most noteworthy achievement as mayor was a merger of the city fire department with that of neighboring township.
In 1998, the Ballweg company bought out another farm implement store in Waupun, Wisconsin, and made that their primary business, closing their store in Markesan.[6] After leaving office, she also served on the board of directors of Waupun Memorial Hospital, and became chairman of the board in 2001.[7]
State legislature
In 2004, the incumbent state representative in her district, Luther Olsen, chose to run for state senate, creating an open seat in the 41st Assembly district. Ballweg entered the Republican primary in March 2004, citing her experience in education, local government, small business, and the health care industry.[7] The race ultimately attracted a huge number of ambitious area Republicans, including the former Green Lake County sheriff, Lance Buchholtz, and Ballweg's successor as Markesan mayor, Rich Slate. Ballweg ultimately prevailed over eight Republican primary opponents, taking 28% of the primary vote.[8] Ballweg faced only a Constitution Party opponent in the general election, and prevailed with 84% of the vote.[9] She would win re-election seven times in the 41st Assembly district. In the Assembly, she was elected to caucus leadership in the 2011 and 2013 terms, serving as majority caucus chair.[1] During the Trump administration, she also served as a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region V advisory council.[1]
In February 2020, state senator Luther Olsen announced he would not run for re-election later that year, creating an open seat in the 14th Senate district. Later that day, Ballweg announced that she would run to succeed him in the Wisconsin Senate.[10] Her only opponent in the 2020 primary was newcomer Ken Van Dyke, who she defeated with 69% of the vote.[11] She faced retired union machinist Joni Anderson in the general election, and prevailed with 65% of the vote.[12] In the state Senate, Ballweg was again elected to leadership, serving as caucus vice chair in the 2023 term.[1]
In 2023, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the Republican legislative gerrymander and compelled the Legislature to adopt remedial maps for the 2024 elections. Ballweg was significantly affected by the redistricting, and was drawn out of the 14th Senate district. She quickly declared that she would relocate in order to maintain residency.[13] The new 14th Senate district was significantly reorganized, the only areas of the previous district which remained were the areas of the district in Columbia and Sauk counties, and part of the area in southern Adams County; the new district added more areas of Columbia County, all of Sauk and Richland counties, and parts of southern Juneau County and north-central Dane County. In its new configuration, the 14th Senate district was projected to be one of the most competitive in the state and lived up to that expectation. Ballweg narrowly lost the election to mental health counselor Sarah Keyeski of Lodi, Wisconsin, falling about 2.2% short of Keyeski.[14][15]
Personal life
Joan Gottinger took the last name Ballweg when she married Tom Ballweg in 1974. They now have three adult children.[1]
