Kristina Shelton

Kristina Shelton
Kristina Shelton
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly; from the 90th district
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; January 4, 2021
Preceded by	Staush Gruszynski
Member of the Green Bay Area School Board
	In office; August 14, 2018 – January 4, 2021
Preceded by	Christopher Wagner
Succeeded by	Laura Laitinen-Warren
Personal details
Born	Kristina Marie Sandherr; June 2, 1980 (age 44); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Jon Shelton (m. 2006; div. 2023)
Children	2
Residence(s)	Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
Alma mater	Pennsylvania State University (BS); Marymount University (MS)
Profession	educator, politician
Website	Campaign website

Kristina Marie Shelton (née Sandherr; born June 2, 1980) is an American educator and Democratic politician from Green Bay, Wisconsin. She is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Wisconsin's 90th Assembly district since 2021. She previously served on the Green Bay Area School Board.

Early life and career

Shelton was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 2, 1980.^[1] She attended Pennsylvania State University from 1998 until 2002, graduating with a B.S. in kinesiology, physical and health education. She later attended Marymount University from 2008 until 2010, earning a master's degree in science and health promotion management. She then taught in the Health and Physical Education department at Northern Virginia Community College from 2010 until 2013. Shelton worked for Action for Healthy Kids from 2012 until 2019, when she became a program director at a Green Bay area YWCA.^[1]^[2]

Political career

Shelton's political career began as an appointee to the Green Bay Area Public School Board in 2018, chosen by the other members of the board from a list of applicants.^[3] She then won a three-year term in the 2019 spring election,^[4] and was serving as the board's vice president when she was elected to the state Assembly.^[5]

In December 2019, Green Bay's state representative, Staush Gruszynski, was the subject of sexual harassment accusations from an Assembly staffer. As a result, Gordon Hintz, Democratic leader in the Assembly, stripped Gruszynski of all committee assignments.^[6] Two months later, in February 2020, Shelton announced she would launch a challenge against Gruszynski in the Democratic primary, with the hope of replacing him in the Wisconsin State Assembly.^[7]^[8] Shelton defeated Gruszynski in the primary with nearly 80% of the vote,^[9] and went on to face Republican Drew Kirsteatter, a 21-year-old airline employee and college student, whom she defeated in the general election.^[10]

In February 2024, Shelton announced she would not run for re-election that year and would retire from the Assembly to focus on her family and career.^[11]

Personal life

Shelton is married to Jon Shelton, a professor of history and Democracy & Justice Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. They have two children, Sara and Keith. Shelton is a certified yoga instructor.^[12]^[5]

Electoral history

Green Bay School Board (2019)

Green Bay Area School Board Election, 2019^[13]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
General Election, April 2, 2019 (choose three)
	Nonpartisan	Eric Vanden Heuvel	13,756	25.16%
	Nonpartisan	Kristina Shelton (incumbent)	12,675	23.18%
	Nonpartisan	Brenda Warren (incumbent)	12,415	22.71%
	Nonpartisan	John Jahnke	9,950	18.20%
	Nonpartisan	Paul Boucher	5,877	10.75%
Plurality			1,084	1.98%
Total votes			54,676	100.0%

Wisconsin Assembly (2020, 2022)

Wisconsin Assembly, 90th District Election, 2020^[9]^[10]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Democratic Primary, August 11, 2020
	Democratic	Kristina Shelton	3,620	78.83%
	Democratic	Staush Gruszynski (incumbent)	971	21.15%
		Scattering	1	0.02%
Plurality			2,649	57.69%
Total votes			4,592	100.0%
General Election, November 3, 2020
	Democratic	Kristina Shelton	12,756	60.14%	−36.20%
	Republican	Drew Kirsteatter	8,429	39.74%
		Scattering	25	0.12%
Plurality			4,327	20.40%	-72.29%
Total votes			21,210	100.0%	+57.26%
	Democratic hold

Wisconsin Assembly, 90th District Election, 2022^[14]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
General Election, November 8, 2022
	Democratic	Kristina Shelton (incumbent)	9,885	59.10%	−1.04%
	Republican	Micah J. Behnke	6,818	40.77%	+1.02%
		Scattering	22	0.13%
Plurality			3,067	18.34%	-2.06%
Total votes			16,725	100.0%	-21.15%
	Democratic hold