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Mark Pocan

U.S. House · WI-2 · Democrats · since 2025

also

Candidate for U.S. House · WI-2

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Biography

Overview

Mark Pocan is a Democratic U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district (based in Madison), serving since 2013. He is co-chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and chair emeritus of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Before his election to Congress, Pocan served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1999 to 2013, representing the 78th district and succeeding Tammy Baldwin in both positions. He is openly gay and is among the few U.S. representatives who do not identify with any religion.

Career

In the Wisconsin Assembly, Pocan earned a reputation as a progressive voice on corrections reform, budget issues, education funding, and opposing privatization. In Congress, he has championed Medicare protections, defense spending reduction, and LGBTQ+ rights. He co-chaired the Congressional Progressive Caucus and authored legislation to dismantle ICE, ban corporate mergers in agriculture, and impose moratoriums on certain business consolidations. He has opposed U.S. military involvement in Yemen and Syria and has been vocal on Palestinian rights issues.

Prior political experience

Pocan was first elected to Congress in 2012, winning the Democratic primary with 72% of the vote and defeating Republican Chad Lee 68%–32% in the general election. His district is heavily Democratic. Prior to Congress, he served in the Wisconsin State Assembly starting in 1998, winning his initial race with 93% of the vote (facing only an independent opponent). He was reelected in 2000 with 81% against his only Republican challenger, then ran unopposed from 2002 to 2010.

Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Ideology

Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)

Liberal
Conservative
119th Congress-0.523

Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)

−1
+1
-0.555
Source: Voteview DW-NOMINATE · 342 scored votes

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Officeholding history

TermSeatTerm datesTerminationPredecessorSuccessor
7thU.S. House WI-22025–presentIn progressMark Pocan
6thU.S. House WI-22023–2025Term endedMark PocanMark Pocan
5thU.S. House WI-22021–2023Term endedMark PocanMark Pocan
4thU.S. House WI-22019–2021Term endedMark PocanMark Pocan
3rdU.S. House WI-22017–2019Term endedMark PocanMark Pocan
2ndU.S. House WI-22015–2017Term endedMark PocanMark Pocan
1stU.S. House WI-22013–2015Term endedTammy BaldwinMark Pocan

Committee assignments

  • Financial Services and General Government
    House· 2025–present
  • Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
    House· 2025–present
  • House· 2025–present

Current term legislation

Bills sponsored this term10

Elections

YearSeatResultVote shareField
2024U.S. House WI-2Pending70.05%