James Harsdorf

Who is James Harsdorf?

James Harsdorf is an American politician and dairy farmer from Wisconsin.

Born in Stillwater, Minnesota, Harsdorf graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in animal science. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in a 1977 special election, defeating future Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture Rod Nilsestuen, and served until 1981. He won election to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1980, defeating first-term incumbent Democrat Michelle Radosevich. He served from 1981 to 1989.

In 1996, he ran for the United States House of Representatives in Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district against Democrat Ron Kind, losing 48% to 52%.

Harsdorf's younger sister, Sheila, was elected to his former assembly seat in 1988, and served in that body until 1999. She subsequently ran for and won his old senate seat, serving since 2001.