Meet the Wisconsin Democratic Party's new chairman, Mike Tate

Mike Tate’s career in Democratic organizing began at a very early age. When in 4th grade, he helped Michael Dukakis score an upset victory in his school’s mock election. Two years later, Tate was begging his mother to drive him down to Tom Loftus’ gubernatorial campaign office, where he would help stuff envelopes after school.

In 1998, Mike worked as a volunteer for Senator Russ Feingold’s reelection campaign, and then became very active with the College Democrats, serving as Chair of the College Democrats of Wisconsin and Vice President of the College Democrats of America. Mike has worked for Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Governor Jim Doyle, and AFSCME Council 40. In 2003, Mike served as the Wisconsin State Director for Dean for America . He also served as the Deputy State Director for America Coming Together, overseeing one of the largest grassroots voter mobilization efforts in Wisconsin political history.

In the 2006 election cycle, Mike managed the Fair Wisconsin campaign, overseeing the effort to defeat the constitutional amendment banning civil unions and marriage. Fair Wisconsin was one of the largest anti-amendment campaigns ever mounted, raising a historic $5.3 million from over 11,000 individual donors and mobilizing significant progressive turnout in opposition to the constitutional amendment.

Most recently, Mike directed Advancing Wisconsin, a vast voter mobilization effort in 2008, helping boost turnout in key legislative districts and for Barack Obama. Mike received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and currently lives in Milwaukee County with his wife, Amy, a member of the academic staff at the UW-Milwaukee Alumni Association.

Congratulations Mike, the youngest state party chairman of either party. Check out the Wisconsin Democratic Party's website for more information.