Kristina Sandherr
Kristina Marie Sandherr is an American educator and Democratic politician from Green Bay, Wisconsin. She served two terms as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Wisconsin's 90th Assembly district from 2021 to 2025. She also previously served on the Green Bay Area School Board.
During most of her political career, she was known by her married name, Kristina Shelton.
Early life and career
Sandherr was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 2, 1980. 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. Sandherr worked for Action for Healthy Kids from 2012 until 2019, when she became a program director at a Green Bay area YWCA.Political career
Sandherr'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. She then won a three-year term in the 2019 spring election, and was serving as the board's vice president when she was elected to the state Assembly.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. Two months later, in February 2020, Sandherr announced she would launch a challenge against Gruszynski in the Democratic primary, with the hope of replacing him in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Sandherr defeated Gruszynski in the primary with nearly 80% of the vote, and went on to face Republican Drew Kirsteatter, a 21-year-old airline employee and college student, whom she defeated in the general election.
In February 2024, Sandherr announced she would not run for re-election that year and would retire from the Assembly to focus on her family and career.
Following her career in the Assembly, Sandherr became Executive Director of Wisconsin Progress, an organization focused on recruiting progressive candidates for public office.