Mark William Neumann (born February 27, 1954) is an American businessman and former politician who represented Wisconsin's 1st congressional district as a Republican in the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999.[1] Born in East Troy, Wisconsin, Neumann earned a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1975 and an M.S. from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 1977, initially working as a teacher and coach before founding the Neumann Companies, a successful homebuilding and real estate development firm.[1] Elected in the 1994 Republican wave as part of the "Republican Revolution," he served two terms, focusing on fiscal conservatism and balanced budget initiatives during the 104th and 105th Congresses.[1] After declining renomination in 1998, Neumann returned to business and later mounted unsuccessful campaigns for Wisconsin governor in the 2010 Republican primary, where he was defeated by Scott Walker, and for U.S. Senate in 2012.[2]
Early life and education
Family background and upbringing
Mark Neumann was born on February 27, 1954, in East Troy, Walworth County, Wisconsin, to Kurt Neumann and Stella Neumann.[1][2] He was one of five children, including siblings David, Connie, and two others.[3] The family established the Neumann Family Foundation to honor Kurt and Stella, along with the parents of Neumann's wife, reflecting a legacy of familial values centered on community and personal responsibility.[4]Neumann grew up in the rural, small-town environment of East Troy, a community in southeastern Wisconsin characterized by agricultural roots and modest working-class households typical of the region during the mid-20th century.[1] He attended and graduated from East Troy High School, where his early experiences in a tight-knit, Midwestern setting instilled a strong work ethic and local orientation that influenced his later career in education and business.[1][5] Limited public details exist on his parents' specific occupations, but the family's emphasis on self-reliance is evident in Neumann's subsequent path from teaching to entrepreneurship.[4]
Mark Neumann established Neumann Companies in 1979 as a real estate development venture in Wisconsin, laying the groundwork for what would evolve into a major player in home building and land development. Operating initially with his wife, Sue, Neumann focused on creating communities integrated with natural environments, prioritizing conservation and green spaces from the outset.[8][9]The company's entry into home construction occurred in 1986, when Neumann began building homes in Janesville, starting operations from his basement in a modest setup that reflected bootstrapped entrepreneurship. This phase marked rapid expansion, positioning Neumann Companies among the fastest-growing home builders in the United States by incorporating at least 50% parkland or green space in developments to promote environmental harmony. Early efforts encountered financial challenges, including initial losses, but persisted through Neumann's risk-tolerant approach.[8][10][11]By the late 1980s, the firm had scaled to multiple projects, with Neumann Homes— a key subsidiary—formalized around this period as the core of its residential operations, eventually extending beyond Wisconsin. The foundational emphasis on family involvement and practical innovation drove its pre-political growth, before Neumann sold interests in 1990 to pursue a congressional bid.[12][13]
Growth in construction and real estate development
Neumann founded Neumann Companies in 1979, initially concentrating on real estate ventures in southeastern Wisconsin.[14] The enterprise began modestly but laid the groundwork for subsequent expansions into construction. By 1980, Neumann, a former math teacher, was actively managing real estate operations alongside his wife, Sue, emphasizing practical development in areas such as Janesville.[9]In 1986, the company pivoted into home building, launching operations from the family basement and targeting markets in Janesville and Milton, Wisconsin.[10] This shift fueled rapid expansion, establishing Neumann Companies as one of America's fastest-growing home construction firms by integrating real estate acquisition with on-site building.[14] The model prioritized community-oriented developments, allocating substantial land—up to 50%—for parkland and green spaces to enhance livability.[8]By the early 1990s, the business had matured sufficiently for Neumann to diversify further; in 1992, he launched a separate venture producing computer-generated models for custom homes, which supported sales and design efficiency in the competitive Wisconsin market.[15] This innovation complemented core construction activities, contributing to overall revenue growth prior to Neumann's entry into politics in 1994, when he sold the modeling firm to focus on his congressional campaign.[15] The pre-political phase thus transformed a nascent real estate operation into a multifaceted developer, leveraging family involvement and local demand for residential projects.[9]
U.S. House of Representatives
1994 election
Neumann, a first-time congressional candidate and owner of a Racine-based construction firm, challenged three-term incumbent Democrat Jim Moody in Wisconsin's 1st congressional district, which encompassed parts of Racine, Kenosha, and Walworth counties along with portions of Milwaukee County. Moody had reclaimed the seat in 1990 after losing it in 1980 and won re-election in 1992 with 52% of the vote. Neumann positioned himself as an outsider focused on fiscal restraint, criticizing Moody's support for President Clinton's 1993 budget deficit expansion and advocating for spending cuts, tax reductions, and term limits as part of the RepublicanContract with America platform introduced that year.[16]The general election occurred on November 8, 1994, during a national Republican surge driven by voter dissatisfaction with Democratic control of Congress and the White House. Neumann's campaign raised over $1.4 million, including self-loans from his business earnings, enabling a competitive effort against Moody's established fundraising.[17] Despite the district's history of Democratic leanings, Neumann secured victory by a slim margin of 1,120 votes, receiving 82,460 votes (50.3%) to Moody's 81,340 (49.7%) out of 163,800 total votes cast.[18] This upset contributed to the GOP's net gain of 54 House seats, flipping control of the chamber to Republicans for the first time in 40 years.
1996 re-election
Neumann sought re-election to Wisconsin's 1st congressional district on November 5, 1996, facing Democratic challenger Lydia Spottswood, then-president of the Kenosha City Council.[19][20] The district, encompassing southeastern Wisconsin including Janesville, Kenosha, and Racine, had been narrowly carried by Neumann in 1994 by just 1,120 votes amid the Republican wave.[21]The race centered on Neumann's fiscal conservatism and refusal to support bipartisan budget deals during the 104th Congress, which contributed to federal government shutdowns in late 1995 and early 1996.[16] Spottswood's campaign, backed by Democratic ads, criticized Neumann for prioritizing spending cuts over district needs, such as Medicare protections and local aid, portraying his votes as ideologically rigid and harmful to constituents.[19] Neumann countered by defending his adherence to the Contract with America principles, emphasizing debt reduction and limited government, while airing ads questioning Spottswood's experience and alignment with national Democrats.[16] An October poll showed Neumann leading Spottswood by a significant margin despite the attacks, reflecting voter approval of his independent streak among Republicans.[19]Neumann secured re-election with 50.86% of the vote, defeating Spottswood by 1,988 votes in a contest marked by high turnout and national Republican vulnerabilities under PresidentClinton.[22][23] This victory preserved the GOP's House majority hold on the seat, though the slim margin underscored the district's competitiveness in a year when Democrats gained seats nationwide.[23]
Tenure and committee assignments
Neumann served as a Republican representative for Wisconsin's 1st congressional district in the U.S. House from January 3, 1995, to January 3, 1999, encompassing the 104th and 105th Congresses.[1]In the 104th Congress (1995–1997), he was appointed to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on the Budget, marking him as the first freshman representative in congressional history to serve on both panels simultaneously.[5]During the 105th Congress (1997–1999), Neumann retained his seats on the Appropriations and Budget Committees. On Appropriations, he served on four subcommittees: Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies, and the District of Columbia. He also joined the steering committee of the Congressional Family Caucus.[5]
Key legislative positions and votes
Neumann, a Republican freshman elected amid the 1994 "Republican Revolution," consistently advocated for fiscal conservatism and limited government during his tenure in the 104th (1995–1997) and 105th (1997–1999) Congresses. He cosponsored H.R. 2, the Line Item Veto Act, passed by the House on March 15, 1996, which empowered the president to cancel specific spending and tax benefit items in appropriations bills to enforce budgetary discipline.[24] As a member of the House Budget Committee, he supported the welfare reform provisions in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (H.R. 3734), which replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, imposing work requirements and time limits on benefits to promote self-sufficiency.[25]On immigration, Neumann voted aye on March 21, 1996, for H.R. 2202, the Immigration Control and Financial Responsibility Act, which sought to reduce illegal immigration by mandating employer verification of work eligibility and denying federal benefits to undocumented immigrants.[26] His amendment (H.AMDT.396 to H.R. 1158) on May 18, 1995, proposing restrictions related to emergency spending, failed by a 89–342 recorded vote, reflecting his push for spending restraint amid broader appropriations debates.[27]In criminal justice, Neumann sponsored H.R. 4258, the No Second Chances for Murderers, Rapists, or Child Molesters Act of 1998, introduced July 16, 1998, to bar federal postsecondary education grants, loans, and work-study assistance to individuals convicted of such offenses, emphasizing accountability for violent crimes.[28] He also introduced H.R. 2907 on November 10, 1997, the Nonself-Destructive Landmine Stockpile Elimination Act, directing the secretary of defense to destroy certain non-self-destructing antipersonnel landmines in U.S. stockpiles.[29] Neumann's record, characterized by reluctance to compromise on debt limit increases without corresponding cuts, aligned with hardline conservative principles, as evidenced by his resistance to bipartisan budget deals during the 104th Congress government shutdowns.[16]
1998 U.S. Senate election
Campaign and primary
Neumann, serving his second term in the U.S. House, chose not to seek re-election to Wisconsin's 1st congressional district in 1998 and instead pursued the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate against incumbent DemocratRuss Feingold.[30] The Republican primary took place on September 8, 1998, with Neumann facing no opposition and thus securing the party's nomination automatically.[31]Prior to the primary, Neumann's campaign efforts focused on leveraging his congressional record of supporting spending cuts and tax reductions, appealing to conservative voters in a state with a mix of rural and urban Republican bases. He positioned himself as an outsider to Washington establishment spending habits, drawing on his business experience in construction to argue for practical fiscal discipline. Fundraising began early, with Neumann raising millions to build infrastructure for the general election contest, though primary-specific expenditures were minimal given the lack of competition.[32]
General election and results
Neumann, the Republican nominee, challenged incumbent Democratic Senator Russ Feingold in the general election, emphasizing fiscal conservatism, limited government, and criticisms of Feingold's support for certain spending measures. The campaign spotlighted campaign finance reform as a central issue, with both candidates voluntarily capping expenditures at roughly $4 million—equivalent to $1 per registered voter in Wisconsin—to underscore their commitments to reducing money's influence in politics; however, Neumann opposed Feingold's additional push for banning soft money from party committees, arguing it unnecessarily restricted legitimate fundraising.[33] Partial-birth abortion also divided the candidates, with Neumann advocating restrictions and Feingold defending broader access.[34] The contest grew contentious in its final weeks, featuring debates that highlighted these contrasts.[35]Polls indicated a tight race entering the fall, with Feingold holding a slim lead amid national Republican momentum but facing scrutiny over his reform advocacy and Clinton-era associations.[36] Neumann sought to portray himself as a principled outsider against entrenched Washington interests, leveraging his House record on budget restraint.[37]On November 3, 1998, Feingold secured re-election by a narrow margin of 37,787 votes. The results were as follows:
Total votes cast: 1,760,800.[38] Despite the defeat, Neumann's performance demonstrated Republican strength in the state, narrowing Feingold's 1992 margin from over 10 points.[39]
Post-congressional business activities
Expansion of family enterprises
Following his unsuccessful 1998 Senate campaign and departure from Congress in January 1999, Mark Neumann returned to the private sector to lead the expansion of his family-owned real estate and construction enterprises, which he had established in 1979 with a focus on residential development.[10] He prioritized building affordable homes in safe, family-oriented neighborhoods within his former congressional district, leveraging his prior experience in home construction that dated back to 1986.[8] Neumann Developments, a core entity in the portfolio, grew into the Milwaukee area's largest residential land development firm, emphasizing environmentally responsible subdivisions and mixed-use sites integrated with commercial and retail elements.[40]In 2004, Neumann's son Matt joined the business, becoming a partner in 2006 and driving further diversification amid economic challenges.[8] The family enterprises co-founded Tim O’Brien Homes in 2007, specializing in energy-efficient custom residences, and SunVest Solar in 2009, which emerged as Wisconsin's leading solar energy developer.[8] To weather the 2008 financial crisis, Neumann Developments collaborated with builder partners to construct over 100 speculative homes annually, sustaining operations through adaptive production rather than relying on external financing.[8]Subsequent growth included the 2017 launch of Red Fox Crossing, Wisconsin's inaugural net-zero energy community featuring photovoltaic solar arrays, and the 2018 establishment of Harbor Homes to address affordable housing needs, later incorporating Halen Homes and Renova for remodeling services.[8] By February 2024, Neumann Companies consolidated legal ownership of these affiliated home-building operations, solidifying a vertically integrated model spanning land acquisition, development, construction, and sustainable innovations.[41] This expansion created approximately 50 jobs through combined effects of tax policies and federal grants received by Neumann's firms during the late 2000s.[42]
School construction projects and associated criticisms
Following his congressional tenure, Mark Neumann founded HOPE Christian Schools in Milwaukee in 2002, initially enrolling 49 students in a single location.[43] By 2010, the network had expanded to four schools serving nearly 1,000 students, with 685 in Milwaukee and 275 in Phoenix under the affiliated Eagle College Prep.[43] Neumann's involvement included direct construction of facilities; in one project, he oversaw the building of a $3.27 million middle school (grades 5-8) at 3601 N. Port Washington Road in Mequon, Wisconsin, to accommodate growing enrollment.[43]These schools operated as private religious institutions funded primarily through Wisconsin's Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, which provided approximately $22 million in taxpayer vouchers since inception, at rates around $6,442 per pupil in 2010.[43] Additional public funding included $174,007 in federal stimulus dollars for Eagle College Prep in 2009, $907,757 from Arizona state sources that year, and a $324,783 U.S. Department of Education startup grant.[43] Neumann's son Andrew later managed operations for multiple voucher schools in the network.[44]Critics, including Democratic opponents and education policy advocates, argued that Neumann's projects exemplified fiscal inconsistency, as he publicly opposed government stimulus spending and advocated smaller government yet accepted federal and state funds for his schools.[43] Neumann defended the funding as appropriately targeted for education rather than general budget plugging, stating Arizona had misused stimulus by not replacing it with cuts elsewhere, but he had no intention of returning the money absent such reforms.[43] One parent, Shanyce Matthews, alleged the curriculum promoted bias against women and non-Lutherans, claiming she was fired after voicing concerns, though Neumann's representatives disputed the account as unsubstantiated.[43] Broader objections centered on using public dollars for religious education, with voucher caps seen by some as necessary checks against unchecked expansion, despite Neumann's advocacy for lifting them to promote choice.[45][44]
Later political campaigns
2010 gubernatorial election
Former U.S. Representative Mark Neumann announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Governor of Wisconsin on June 30, 2009, entering the race against frontrunner Scott Walker, the Milwaukee County Executive.[46] Neumann campaigned as an outsider businessman with private-sector experience in construction and real estate, contrasting his record of fiscal conservatism during his congressional tenure with Walker's perceived ties to state political networks.[47] He framed the primary as a choice between establishment politics and principled limited-government advocacy, drawing on his history of opposing tax increases and federal spending expansions.[48]Neumann's platform emphasized deep cuts to state spending to address projected deficits exceeding $2.9 billion, elimination of income tax indexing for inflation, and regulatory reforms to attract businesses and create jobs.[48][49] He proposed redirecting any federal stimulus funds toward debt reduction rather than new programs and supported adding initiative and referendum mechanisms to the state constitution, allowing citizens to petitionballot measures directly.[50] To compete, Neumann self-funded his campaign aggressively, loaning it $1 million in January 2010 and an additional $1.5 million by mid-year, which supported a heavy TV ad presence despite polling far behind Walker among likely primary voters.[51][52][53]The Republican primary occurred on September 14, 2010, amid high turnout driven by national anti-incumbent sentiment following Democratic GovernorJim Doyle's decision not to seek re-election. Walker won decisively, securing a large majority of votes primarily through strong performance in the Milwaukee metro area, while Neumann garnered broader but insufficient support in rural and outstate regions.[54][55]Neumann conceded the nomination that evening, praising Walker's victory but reiterating his critiques of government overreach; Walker proceeded to the general election, defeating Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.[56]
2012 U.S. Senate election
Mark Neumann announced his candidacy for the United States Senate from Wisconsin on August 29, 2011, seeking the Republican nomination for the open seat vacated by retiring Democratic incumbent Herb Kohl.[57] As a former U.S. Representative who had left Congress in 1999 to focus on business, Neumann emphasized his record of fiscal conservatism and outsider status relative to career politicians.[7]Neumann faced a crowded Republican primary field including former Governor Tommy Thompson, businessman Eric Hovde, and former State Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald.[58] He positioned himself to the right of Thompson, whom he criticized for supporting ethanol subsidies, expanding government programs during his gubernatorial tenure, and maintaining ties to Washington insiders.[59] Neumann self-funded portions of his campaign through personal loans, though Thompson significantly outraised him in contributions from donors.[60] The candidates participated in multiple debates, including a August 9, 2012, forum hosted by PBS Wisconsin where Neumann highlighted his opposition to Obamacare and advocacy for limited government.[61]In the August 14, 2012, Republican primary, Neumann placed third, as the conservative vote splintered among him, Hovde, and Fitzgerald, allowing Thompson to secure the nomination.[58][62]
[63]Neumann conceded the race following the results, praising the primary process but expressing disappointment in the outcome.[62]Thompson advanced to the general election but lost to Democratic nominee Tammy Baldwin.[58]
Political positions and ideology
Fiscal conservatism and limited government
Neumann entered Congress in 1995 as part of the "Republican Revolution" freshman class, advocating aggressively for federal spending reductions and a balanced budget amendment as core tenets of limited government. He co-sponsored the Contract with America, which included provisions for fiscal restraint, and consistently opposed appropriations bills exceeding proposed spending caps, positioning himself against what he viewed as excessive bureaucracy and entitlements growth. In October 1997, Neumann joined Representatives David McIntosh and Sam Johnson to propose the CATs budget plan for fiscal year 1999, targeting spending below the prior year's levels to enforce year-over-year cuts and curb the national debt trajectory.[64] His approach emphasized leveraging debt ceiling votes—four such increases in 1995–1997—to extract concessions for restraint, contributing to eventual budget surpluses in 1998–2001, though critics noted these votes enabled short-term borrowing amid ongoing deficits.[65]On taxation, Neumann supported the 1997 Balanced Budget Act and Taxpayer Relief Act, which delivered a net $240 billion tax reduction through capital gains cuts and child credits, but incorporated $130 billion in targeted increases on items like cigarettes and air travel to fund offsets—a nuance he downplayed in later claims of never voting for any tax hikes, rated false by fact-checkers reviewing his full record.[66] This reflected his broader philosophy of using revenue-neutral reforms to shrink government reliance while prioritizing economic growth over revenue maximization. The Club for Growth endorsed him in the 2012 Senate primary, citing his leadership in fiscal conservatism and the "fight for limited government," underscoring his resistance to compromise on core principles like devolving power from Washington.[67]In his 2010 gubernatorial bid, Neumann pledged to slash state spending, eliminate redundancies in agencies, and cut taxes to foster business competitiveness, criticizing rival Scott Walker's budgets as insufficiently austere. He framed limited government as essential for Wisconsin's prosperity, proposing deregulation and property tax caps to reduce local burdens, consistent with his congressional emphasis on empowering individuals over centralized authority.[68][69] Neumann's post-Congress advocacy, including warnings on unsustainable debt, reinforced his commitment to first-principles fiscal discipline amid rising entitlements, though his revolutionary zeal sometimes strained bipartisan deals.[70]
Education policy and school choice
Mark Neumann has consistently supported school choice initiatives, emphasizing parental empowerment and market competition in education as alternatives to traditional public schooling. During his 2010 campaign for Wisconsingovernor, Neumann proposed eliminating both income eligibility caps and enrollment limits on the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, arguing that broader access would enable more families to escape underperforming public schools.[45] He advocated distributing vouchers specifically to students attending schools rated "unacceptable" by state accountability measures, positioning the policy as a tool to foster innovation and accountability through choice-driven pressure on public institutions.[45]Neumann's advocacy aligns with his entrepreneurial involvement in voucher-funded private education. In 2002, he founded the HOPE Christian Schools through his nonprofit Educational Enterprises, starting with one school serving 49 students via the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, which allows public tax dollars to fund tuition at participating nonpublic schools.[43] By 2010, the network had expanded to three locations with nearly 1,000 students, receiving approximately $22 million in voucher funds from the state Department of Public Instruction between 2002 and 2010.[43] These schools, focused on Christian education, exemplify Neumann's belief in private-sector delivery of K-12 instruction, though critics have highlighted the use of taxpayer money for entities he owns or controls, contrasting with his fiscal conservative rhetoric on limiting government spending.[43]In his congressional tenure from 1995 to 1999, Neumann's record on education legislation emphasized reducing federal involvement, consistent with the Republican-led push for block grants and devolution to states under the Contract with America. While he did not sponsor major standalone education bills, he backed efforts to curb Department of Education bureaucracy and promote local control, viewing expansive federal programs as inefficient and counterproductive to student outcomes.[71] Neumann has framed school choice as a causal driver of improved academic performance, citing empirical examples from voucher programs where parental options correlated with higher graduation rates and test scores in urban districts, though broader studies on Wisconsin's program show mixed results on overall segregation and equity impacts.[72]
Social and other policy views
Neumann maintains a staunch opposition to abortion, describing himself as 100% pro-life and rejecting it in all cases, including instances of rape or incest.[73][74] He earned endorsements from anti-abortion organizations, including Pro-Life Wisconsin during his 2010 gubernatorial bid and Wisconsin Right to Life PAC in his 2012 Senate campaign, reflecting alignment with groups advocating for the protection of unborn life without exceptions.[75][76]Regarding homosexuality and same-sex marriage, Neumann has voiced traditional views rooted in his evangelical Lutheran faith. In a 1996 interview, he stated that if elected God for a day, "homosexuality wouldn't be permitted," while adding that "nobody's electing me God."[77] These remarks resurfaced in 2011, alongside earlier comments deeming the "gay lifestyle unacceptable," prompting clarification that he opposed discrimination but upheld marriage as between a man and a woman.[78][79] He supported Wisconsin's 2006 constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage and similar domestic partnerships.[80]On gun rights, Neumann endorses positions consistent with the National Rifle Association, favoring minimal restrictions on firearm ownership and concealed carry.[73] During the 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary, he accused rival Scott Walker of insufficient support for pro-gun measures, such as legislation allowing concealed carry without permits in certain contexts, positioning himself as a defender of Second Amendment protections amid intra-party debates.[81]In immigration policy, Neumann prioritizes border security as the foundational step toward reform, arguing that effective control of entry points is essential to managing overall flows.[7] His congressional service included involvement in foreign affairs committees, though specific stances on broader international issues remain less documented in public records compared to domestic priorities.[71]
Personal life
Family and residences
Neumann married Sue Link, his high school sweetheart whom he met in Sunday school during fourth grade, on an unspecified date in 1973.[82] The couple has three children: Tricia, Andrew, and Matthew.[83][2]Neumann was born on February 27, 1954, in East Troy, Walworth County, Wisconsin, where he grew up and graduated from East Troy High School.[84] During his tenure as U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 1st congressional district, Neumann listed his residence at 4328 Fox Hills Drive in Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin, which served as his district's largest city.[5] Post-congressional career, Neumann established his real estate development business, Neumann Companies, in Pewaukee, Waukesha County, in 1979, and family connections indicate subsequent residences in the surrounding Waukesha County area, including Hartland and Nashotah.[14][85][86]