After graduating from college, Carpenter worked briefly at a number of jobs, at Rustlers Steak House and as a courier for Federal Express.[1] He had become involved with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin at an early age and became a member of the state party's administrative committee.[3] In 1984, at age 24, while still a student at the La Follette School, he entered into the race for Wisconsin State Assembly in the open 20th Assembly district seat. The 20th Assembly district was heavily Democratic, based in southern Milwaukee—Carpenter faced five opponents in the Democraticprimary. He prevailed in the six-way race with just 27% of the vote, and faced no opponent in the 1984 general election.[4]
Carpenter was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1984 and served nine terms representing the 9th Assembly District until 2002, holding the post of Speaker Pro Tempore in 1993. He was first elected to represent Wisconsin's 3rd Senate District in 2002. During the 2007–08 biennium, he served as President Pro Tempore of the Wisconsin State Senate.
During the 2007-08 biennium, he was the chair of the Senate Committee on Public Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care, and Job Creation.
Carpenter is currently a member of the Senate Committee on Health; the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government; the Senate Committee on Labor, Regulatory Reform, Veterans and Military Affairs; the Senate Committee on Licensing, Constitution and Federalism; and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.[5]
He was also previously the Chair of the Legislative Council Study Committee on addressing recidivism in High-Risk Juvenile Offenders.
During the protests in Wisconsin, Carpenter, along with the 13 other Democratic State Senators, left the state to deny the State Senate a quorum on Governor Scott Walker's controversial "Budget Repair" legislation. Based on the revelations from a prank phone call on Gov. Walker, detailing plans to pass his bill, Carpenter called upon Gov. Walker to resign.[6]
2020 protests
On June 23, 2020, Carpenter was recording a protest near the Wisconsin state capitol when he was assaulted by BLM (Black Lives Matter) protesters. A short time later he collapsed and was taken to the hospital for a suspected concussion.[7]
In February 2012, Carpenter was one of two State Senators (the other being fellow Democrat Spencer Coggs) to win a place on the ballot for Milwaukee City Treasurer in the Spring 2012 election, defeating former State Treasurer Dawn Marie Sass and Socialist Rick Kissell in the non-partisan primary.[8] Coggs polled 13,559 votes; Carpenter 12,880; Sass 5,089 and Kissell 2,241.[9] In the general election, Coggs won 35,096 votes to Carpenter's 34,293.[10]
Milwaukee Common Council
In 2015, Carpenter ran in a special election for the Milwaukee Common Council on August 18, 2015. A primary took place on July 21, 2015. Carpenter advanced in the primary along with Mark Borkowski, who ended up winning with 50.7% of the vote.[11]
Personal life
Carpenter is gay, and is one of three openlyLGBTQ members of the Wisconsin Legislature. He is a member of the Sierra Club, Jackson Park Neighborhood Association, Story Hill Neighborhood Association, and the Milwaukee VA Soldiers Home Advisory Council.
^ abWisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1985). "Elections"(PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1985-1986 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 906, 925. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1987). "Elections"(PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Barish, Lawrence S. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1987-1988 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 888, 907. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1989). "Elections"(PDF). In Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert (eds.). State of Wisconsin 1989-1990 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 910, 925. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1991). "Elections"(PDF). In Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert (eds.). State of Wisconsin 1991-1992 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 899, 915. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1993). "Elections"(PDF). In Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert (eds.). State of Wisconsin 1993-1994 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 903, 921. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1995). "Elections"(PDF). In Barish, Lawrence S. (ed.). State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 903, 921. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1997). "Elections"(PDF). In Barish, Lawrence S. (ed.). State of Wisconsin 1997-1998 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 899, 903. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1999). "Elections"(PDF). In Barish, Lawrence S.; Meloy, Patricia E. (eds.). State of Wisconsin 1999-2000 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 879, 882. Retrieved January 20, 2021.