View source for John Norquist

{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name                = John Norquist
|image               = John Norquist 2008.jpg
|caption             = Norquist in 2008
|order               = 43rd
|office              = Mayor of Milwaukee
| term_start         = April 18, 1988
| term_end           = January 1, 2004
| predecessor        = [[Henry Maier]]
| successor          = [[Marvin Pratt]] (Acting)
|state_senate1       = Wisconsin
|district1           = [[Wisconsin's 3rd Senate district|3rd]]
| term_start1        = January 3, 1983
| term_end1          = April 15, 1988
| predecessor1       = [[Jerry Kleczka]]
| successor1         = [[Brian Burke (American politician)|Brian Burke]]
|state_assembly2     = Wisconsin
|district2           = [[Wisconsin's 8th Assembly district|8th]]
| term_start2        = January 6, 1975
| term_end2          = January 3, 1983
| predecessor2       = [[Earl Keegan Jr.]]
| successor2         = [[Lois Plous]]
|party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|birth_name          = John Olof Norquist
|birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1949|10|22}}
|birth_place         = [[Princeton, New Jersey]], U.S.
|spouse              = Susan Mudd
|children            = 2
|education           = [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]], [[Master of Public Administration|M.P.A.]])}}
|occupation          = 
|allegiance          = [[United States]]
|branch              = [[United States Army Reserve]]
|serviceyears        = 1971&ndash;1977
}}
'''John Olof Norquist''' (born October 22, 1949) is a retired American [[political figure|politician]], urbanist consultant, and author.  He served as the 43rd [[list of mayors of Milwaukee|mayor]] of [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], winning four terms (1988&ndash;2004).  He previously represented Milwaukee's south side in the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]] (1975&ndash;1983) and [[Wisconsin Senate]] (1983&ndash;1988).  After serving as mayor, he worked for ten years as president of the [[Congress for the New Urbanism]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2004/01/03/milwaukee-swears-in-its-first-black-mayor/ |newspaper= [[Chicago Tribune]] |date= January 3, 2004 |access-date= July 22, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073230/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-01-03/news/0401030065_1_first-black-mayor-john-norquist-pratt |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |title=Milwaukee swears in its first black mayor }}</ref>

==Early life and career==
Norquist was born in [[Princeton, New Jersey]], where his father was attending seminary.

He attended [[Augustana College (Illinois)|Augustana College]] in western Illinois for two years, then transferred to the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]], where he graduated with his [[Bachelor of Arts|bachelor's degree]] in political science in 1971.  Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the [[United States Army Reserve]] and was trained as a medic.  Later that year, he went to work at [[Milwaukee Electric Tool]], where he operated machinery on the assembly line and also served as a first aid attendant.<ref name="1985bio">{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/TH64IFYQF6YFR8L |title= The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1985&ndash;1986 |year= 1985 |publisher=  [[Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau]] |editor-last1= Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |editor-last2= Robbins |editor-first2= Patricia V.  |chapter=  Biographies |page= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ATH64IFYQF6YFR8L/full/ACENFT6XTYZYJZ8H 26] |accessdate= July 22, 2023 }}</ref>

==Early political career==

While working at Milwaukee Electric Tool in 1974, Norquist launched a [[primary challenge]] against incumbent state representative [[Earl Keegan Jr.]], in [[Wisconsin's 8th Assembly district]].  He ran against completing the Stadium South Freeway, which was to run from Milwaukee County Stadium south to I-894. In 1974, nearly 50% of the freeway segment was either built or the land was cleared for construction.  Norquist defeated Keegan in the Democratic primary and faced no opposition in the general election.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-assembly-dem-pri/128672870/  |title= Assembly Demos Get Good Start |newspaper= [[Wisconsin State Journal]] |date= September 12, 1974 |last= Keefe |first= John |page= 4 |accessdate= July 22, 2023 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref><ref name="1975elex">{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/K4UW47RO2T4A38E |title= The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1975 |year= 1975 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau]] |editor-last1= Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert|editor-last2= Robbins |editor-first2= Patricia V.  |chapter=  Elections in Wisconsin |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AK4UW47RO2T4A38E/full/AYCMNQDZV65LDC8F 807], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AK4UW47RO2T4A38E/full/ALK7ZRSSLTZ6FC8Z 829] |accessdate= July 22, 2023 }}</ref>  He continued to oppose the new freeway despite his constituents voting for completion in the November 1974 Milwaukee County freeway referendums (complementing the April 1967 city vote in favor of the Park East-Lake Freeway project).

In the Assembly, Norquist joined forces with emerging generation of legislators including [[Jim Moody|James Moody]] (later a US representative) in opposing freeway expansion.  Norquist was re-elected to three more terms in the Assembly before winning a seat in the [[Wisconsin Senate]] in 1982.  While in the Senate, Norquist served on the powerful Joint Finance Committee and was recognized by Milwaukee Magazine as a leading legislator.  He was re-elected to another term in the Senate in 1986<ref name="1987elex"/> and served as Assistant Majority Leader in the 1985&ndash;1986 and 1987&ndash;1988 sessions.<ref name="1985bio"/>

While serving in the Senate, Norquist also attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin and earned his [[Master of Public Administration|Master's in Public Administration]] in 1987.

==Mayor of Milwaukee==
In 1987, Milwaukee mayor [[Henry Maier]] announced he would not run for another term as mayor in 1988, and would leave office after 28 years in the role.  Norquist announced his candidacy for mayor, advanced through the nonpartisan primary, and defeated former governor [[Martin J. Schreiber]] in the April 1988 general election, taking 54% of the vote.<ref name="1988gen">{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/leader-telegram-norquist-milwaukee-mayor/128675707/ |title= John Norquist elected mayor of Milwaukee |newspaper= [[Eau Claire Leader-Telegram]] |date= April 6, 1988 |page= 24 |accessdate= July 22, 2023 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>

Norquist can perhaps best be described as a "fiscally conservative socialist".<ref>{{cite web| url = http://governing.com/poy/1998/ptnorq.htm| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20021228065237/http://governing.com/poy/1998/ptnorq.htm| archive-date = 2002-12-28| title = 1998 Public Officials of the Year/Norquist}}</ref> He was strongly in favor of light rail as a solution for the city's transit problems and was known throughout the country for his anti-freeway stance and for the removal of the [[Park East Freeway]], the largest highway ever purposely destroyed.{{Citation needed|date=October 2013}} He consistently reduced the property tax rate every year since becoming mayor and kept city budgets from growing beyond the rate of inflation.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}

One of the first controversies of Norquist's tenure occurred in 1988, when he took a trip to Israel. The trip was paid for by local Milwaukee Jewish organizations, but as a result of the controversy, Norquist afterward paid much of the cost himself. On his return, the ''Milwaukee Sentinel'' printed a political cartoon showing him getting off a plane dressed as a [[Hasidic Judaism|Hasidic Jewish]] rabbi. The cartoon created an uproar, and the ''Sentinel'' published an apology for it.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}

In January 1992, Norquist [[veto]]ed funding that the [[Milwaukee Common Council]] for cultural festivals due to the inclusion of $5,000 of funding for the Milwaukee Gay/Lesbian Pride Parade (which included [[PrideFest Milwaukee|PrideFest]]). 1992 was the first year in which the Common Council had opted to fund the city's [[pride parade]]. Norquist argued that while he supported [[gay rights]], he objected to the city funding the parade because, "parades and festivals are meant to be non-controversial," characterizing gay pride as politically controversial. Norquist faced criticism from advocates of the event, including some accusations that he had vetoed the funding in a bid for greater support in his mayoral re-election that year. One member of the Milwaukee Lesbian/Gay Pride Committee alleged that years earlier, Norquist had contrarily encouraged the organization to seek city funding for its parade. Members of the Common Council sought to override the veto, but failed to secure enough members' votes to do so.<ref name="Pride">{{cite web |title=The 1992 Pride Parade Conflict · MPL |url=https://mpl.org/blog/now/the-1992-pride-parade-conflict?fontsize=bigfont |website=Milwaukee Public Library |access-date=28 July 2025 |language=en |date=June 17, 2015}}</ref>

In December 2000, Norquist's future as mayor was thrown into doubt after a staff assistant alleged that the mayor had [[sexual harassment|sexually harassed]] her. Norquist admitted to a five-year consensual affair, but whether it was consensual is contested.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Van de Kamp Nohl|first1=Mary|title=Marilyn's Story|url=http://www.milwaukeemag.com/article/242011-MarilynsStory|work=Milwaukee Magazine|accessdate=2014-08-24|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115532/http://www.milwaukeemag.com/article/242011-MarilynsStory|archivedate=August 26, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Eventually, in April 2002, Norquist announced that he would not seek a fifth term as mayor in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020522135929/http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/apr02/37290.asp|archivedate=May 22, 2002|title=Norquist to pay, won't run again|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/apr02/37290.asp|last=Borowski|first=Greg J.|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=April 22, 2002|accessdate=November 22, 2018}}</ref>

In July, 2001, when the [[Communist Party USA|Communist Party]] held its 27th national convention in the [[University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee]] student union, Norquist sent the convention his greetings, noting commonalities between the city's socialist heritage and the goals of the Communist Party.<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20011211190600/http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/jul01/com07070601a.asp|archivedate=December 11, 2001|title=Life of the party|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/jul01/com07070601a.asp|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=July 7, 2001|last=Johnson|first=Annysa|accessdate=November 22, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Norquist later released a statement saying he "does not endorse Communist ideology and condemns many elements of Communist history."<ref name="The_New_York_Times_May_25_2016c">{{cite news|last=Ayres|first=B. Drummond Jr.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/22/us/political-briefing-red-carpet-welcome-has-mayor-on-the-spot.html |title=Political Briefing - Red-Carpet Welcome Has Mayor on the Spot |newspaper=The New York Times |date= July 22, 2001 |accessdate= May 25, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20011109060008/http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/jul01/norq14071301a.asp|archivedate=November 9, 2001|title=Mayor didn't see letter, aides say|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/jul01/norq14071301a.asp|last=Borowski|first=Greg J.|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=July 13, 2001|accessdate=November 22, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

When presented in June 2003 with the opportunity to lead the [[New Urbanism|Congress for the New Urbanism]], Norquist said that he would resign at the beginning of the following year rather than serve out his full term. The announcement was timed to prevent a special election. Instead, the head of the common council, [[Marvin Pratt]], served as acting mayor.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}

His term was marked by public conflicts with other city leaders, including Bo Black, former head of [[Summerfest]]; Arthur Jones, his one-time bodyguard who became chief of police; and Bradley DeBraska, head of the police union. Despite some conflict, Norquist's legacy in  Milwaukee includes a decline in poverty, a boom in downtown housing, and reforms in both education and welfare.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}

==Post mayoral career==
At the beginning of 2004, Norquist began working full-time as the head of the [[New Urbanism|Congress for the New Urbanism]], an urban planning and development reform organization based in Chicago, Illinois. He left CNU in 2014 after a decade with the organization. During his tenure, he spoke often and eloquently about the regulatory obstacles that continue to get in the way of good urbanism. Building on his experience taking down the Park East Freeway in Milwaukee, he championed a national CNU campaign that has helped advocates and local officials in their own highway teardown movements. Norquist is now the John M DeGrove Fellow at Florida Atlantic University and adjunct professor at DePaul University Real Estate Program.

==Personal life and family==
John Norquist is a son of Rev. Ernest O. Norquist and his wife Jeannette Norquist.  He is of Swedish descent.

He is married to Susan Mudd and has one son, Benjamin, and one daughter, Katherine. Susan is the descendant of [[Samuel Mudd]], the doctor who treated President [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s assassin, [[John Wilkes Booth]].

==Electoral history==
===Wisconsin Assembly (1974, 1976, 1978, 1980)===
{| class=wikitable
|-
! Year 
! Election
! Date
!! colspan="4"| Elected
!! colspan="4"| Defeated
! Total
! Plurality
|-
! rowspan="2" valign="top" | 1974<ref name="1975elex"/>
| valign="top" | Primary
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Sep. 10}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Norquist}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 3,243
| valign="top" align="right" | 55.97%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Earl Keegan Jr.]] (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 2,551
| valign="top" align="right" | 44.03%
| valign="top" align="right" | 5,794
| valign="top" align="right" | 692
|- 
| valign="top" | General
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 5}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Norquist}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 8,704
| valign="top" align="right" | 100.0%
| colspan="4" | 
| valign="top" align="right" | 8,704
| valign="top" align="right" | 8,704
|-
! valign="top" | 1976<ref name="1977elex">{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/XFTVPSYH4JPMZ8D |title= The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1977 |year= 1977 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau]] |editor-last1=  Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |editor-last2= Robbins |editor-first2= Patricia V. |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |page= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AXFTVPSYH4JPMZ8D/full/AI2PKC363GFVOT8N 914] |accessdate= July 22, 2023 }}</ref>
| valign="top" | General
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 2}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Norquist (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 13,499
| valign="top" align="right" | 79.25%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Shirley F. Bissett}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 3,534
| valign="top" align="right" | 20.75%
| valign="top" align="right" | 17,033
| valign="top" align="right" | 9,965
|-
! rowspan="2" valign="top" | 1978<ref name="1979elex">{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/KCFKES24WHTNW8F |title= The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1979&ndash;1980 |year= 1979 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau]] |editor-last1=  Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |editor-last2= Robbins |editor-first2= Patricia V. |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AKCFKES24WHTNW8F/full/AAXNJJPI5U6Q4O8Q 905], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AKCFKES24WHTNW8F/full/ACQZTV6RGXWFPU8F 924] |accessdate= July 22, 2023 }}</ref>
| valign="top" | Primary
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Sep. 12}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Norquist (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 3,590
| valign="top" align="right" | 75.37%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Raymond J. Borkowski}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 1,173
| valign="top" align="right" | 24.63%
| valign="top" align="right" | 4,763
| valign="top" align="right" | 2,417
|-
| valign="top" | General
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 7}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Norquist (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 10,327
| valign="top" align="right" | 80.50%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Richard W. Croke}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 2,501
| valign="top" align="right" | 19.50%
| valign="top" align="right" | 12,828
| valign="top" align="right" | 7,826
|-
! valign="top" | 1980<ref name="1981elex">{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WSZOQ2EA4U3UJ8F |title= The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1981&ndash;1982 |year= 1981 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau]] |editor-last1=  Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |editor-last2= Robbins |editor-first2= Patricia V. |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |page= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AWSZOQ2EA4U3UJ8F/full/ASG5KZOWUNBJKM9D 915] |accessdate= July 22, 2023 }}</ref>
| valign="top" | General
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 4}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Norquist (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 13,297
| valign="top" align="right" | 100.0%
| colspan="4" | 
| valign="top" align="right" | 13,297
| valign="top" align="right" | 13,297
|}

===Wisconsin Senate (1982, 1986)===

{| class=wikitable
|-
! Year 
! Election
! Date
!! colspan="4"| Elected
!! colspan="4"| Defeated
! Total
! Plurality
|-
! rowspan="2" valign="top" | 1982<ref name="1983elex">{{cite report|url=https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/ZJZ7PTZ7WFUWF8X |title= The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1983&ndash;1984 |year= 1983 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau]] |editor-last1=  Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |editor-last2= Robbins |editor-first2= Patricia V. |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AZJZ7PTZ7WFUWF8X/full/A4KP7BGVVOQYYT86 885], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AZJZ7PTZ7WFUWF8X/full/A6L6CCPEYOREB78E 906] |accessdate= July 22, 2023 }}</ref>
| valign="top" | Primary
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Sep. 14}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Norquist}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 11,281
| valign="top" align="right" | 73.00%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Maria Flores}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 4,172
| valign="top" align="right" | 27.00%
| valign="top" align="right" | 15,453
| valign="top" align="right" | 7,109
|-
| valign="top" | General
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 2}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Norquist}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 25,921
| valign="top" align="right" | 100.0%
| colspan="4" rowspan="2" | 
| valign="top" align="right" | 25,921
| valign="top" align="right" | 25,921
|-
! valign="top" | 1986<ref name="1987elex">{{cite report|url=https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/ZJZ7PTZ7WFUWF8X |title= The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1987&ndash;1988 |year= 1987 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau]] |editor-last1=  Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |editor-last2= Barish|editor-first2= Lawrence S. |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |page= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AKW3XV2DGSUDCO8L/full/ACJYYKL2FFHNYO9B 903] |accessdate= July 22, 2023 }}</ref>
| valign="top" | General
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 4}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Norquist (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 23,860
| valign="top" align="right" | 100.0%
| valign="top" align="right" | 23,860
| valign="top" align="right" | 23,860
|}

===Milwaukee Mayor (1988, 1992, 1996, 2000)===

{| class=wikitable
|-
! Year 
! Election
! Date
!! colspan="4"| Elected
!! colspan="4"| Defeated
! Total
! Plurality
|-
! rowspan="7" valign="top" | 1988
| rowspan="6" valign="top" | Primary<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-milwaukee-mayor/128676967/ |title= Milwaukee mayor: Schreiber, Norquist |newspaper= [[Wisconsin State Journal]] |date= February 17, 1988 |page= 13 |accessdate= July 22, 2023 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>
| rowspan="6" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Feb. 16}}
| rowspan="6" valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Martin J. Schreiber]]}}
| rowspan="6" valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| rowspan="6" valign="top" align="right" | 44,984
| rowspan="6" valign="top" align="right" | 45.24%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Norquist}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 40,575
| valign="top" align="right" | 40.81%
| rowspan="6" valign="top" align="right" | 99,427
| rowspan="6" valign="top" align="right" | 4,409
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Lee Holloway]]}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} | [[Nonpartisan politician|Non.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 7,885
| valign="top" align="right" | 7.93%
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Donna Horowitz}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} | [[Nonpartisan politician|Non.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 5,983
| valign="top" align="right" | 6.02%
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Willie G. Lovelace}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} | [[Nonpartisan politician|Non.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 
| valign="top" align="right" | <1%
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Kevin J. Robinson}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} | [[Nonpartisan politician|Non.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 
| valign="top" align="right" | <1%
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Sandra Sherman}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} | [[Nonpartisan politician|Non.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 
| valign="top" align="right" | <1%
|-
| valign="top" | General<ref name="1988gen"/>
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Apr. 5}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Norquist}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 112,902
| valign="top" align="right" | 54.64%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Martin J. Schreiber]]}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 93,738
| valign="top" align="right" | 45.36%
| valign="top" align="right" | 206,640
| valign="top" align="right" | 19,164
|-
! rowspan="6" valign="top" | 1992
| rowspan="5" valign="top" | Primary<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-mayors-primaries/128677448/ |title= 5 mayors survive re-election test |newspaper= [[Green Bay Press-Gazette]] |date= February 19, 1992 |page= 4 |accessdate= July 22, 2023 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>
| rowspan="5" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Feb. 18}}
| rowspan="5" valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Norquist (inc)}}
| rowspan="5" valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| rowspan="5" valign="top" align="right" | 49,180
| rowspan="5" valign="top" align="right" | 49.31%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Gregory Gracz}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} | [[Nonpartisan politician|Non.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 36,444
| valign="top" align="right" | 36.54%
| rowspan="5" valign="top" align="right" | 99,710
| rowspan="5" valign="top" align="right" | 12,736
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Michael McGee Jr.]]}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} | [[Nonpartisan politician|Non.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 7,082
| valign="top" align="right" | 7.10%
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Ira Robins}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} | [[Nonpartisan politician|Non.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 4,790
| valign="top" align="right" | 4.80%
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Willie G. Lovelace}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} | [[Nonpartisan politician|Non.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 1,266
| valign="top" align="right" | 1.27%
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|David Hall}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} | [[Nonpartisan politician|Non.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 978
| valign="top" align="right" | 0.98%
|-
| valign="top" | General<ref name="1992gen">{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-times-norquist-re-elected-ma/128677643/ |title= Norquist easily wins 2nd term |newspaper= [[Racine Journal Times]] |date= April 8, 1992 |page= 7 |accessdate= July 22, 2023 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Apr. 7}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Norquist (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 77,714
| valign="top" align="right" | 63.04%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Gregory Gracz}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} | [[Nonpartisan politician|Non.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 45,563
| valign="top" align="right" | 36.96%
| valign="top" align="right" | 123,277
| valign="top" align="right" | 32,151
|-
! valign="top" | [[1996 Milwaukee mayoral election|1996]]
| valign="top" | General<ref name="1996gen">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-spring-election/128677920/ |title= Final Spring Elections Results |newspaper= [[Wisconsin State Journal]] |date= March 21, 1996 |page= 20 |accessdate= July 22, 2023 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Mar. 19}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Norquist (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 82,148
| valign="top" align="right" | 59.91%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Richard Artison]]}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} | [[Nonpartisan politician|Non.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 54,972
| valign="top" align="right" | 40.09%
| valign="top" align="right" | 137,120
| valign="top" align="right" | 27,176
|-
! rowspan="3" valign="top" | [[2000 Milwaukee mayoral election|2000]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | Primary<ref name="2000pri">{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-milwaukee-mayor-primar/128678318/ |title=  Norquist, Watts for mayor |newspaper= [[The Capital Times]] |date= February 16, 2000 |page= 5 |accessdate= July 22, 2023 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>
| rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Feb. 15}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Norquist (inc)}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 21,674
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 51.94%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|George Watts}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} | [[Nonpartisan politician|Non.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 12,432
| valign="top" align="right" | 29.79%
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 41,730
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 9,242
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Wendell Harris}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} | [[Nonpartisan politician|Non.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 7,624
| valign="top" align="right" | 18.27%
|-
| valign="top" | General<ref name="2000gen">{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-norquist-4th-ter/128678595/  |title= Norquist wins 4th term as Milwaukee mayor |newspaper= [[Wisconsin State Journal]] |date= April 5, 2000 |page= 3 |accessdate= July 22, 2023 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Apr. 4}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Norquist (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 52,847
| valign="top" align="right" | 55.96%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|George Watts}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} | [[Nonpartisan politician|Non.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 41,582
| valign="top" align="right" | 44.04%
| valign="top" align="right" | 94,429
| valign="top" align="right" | 11,265
|}

==Published works==
* {{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=7khPAAAAMAAJ |title= The Wealth of Cities |last= Norquist |first= John O. |publisher= Basic Books |year= 1998 |isbn= 0-7382-0134-0 }}

==Awards==
* Edmund N. Bacon Prize, Ed Bacon Foundation (now under the [[Philadelphia Center for Architecture]]), 2008

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050126085704/http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/jan01/norq14011301a.asp Biographical sketch from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
*[http://governing.com/poy/1998/ptnorq.htm Biography in ''Governing'' magazine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021228065237/http://governing.com/poy/1998/ptnorq.htm |date=December 28, 2002 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050111051029/http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/jan02/16040.asp Retrospective on Norquist's term as mayor from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929121014/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=151768 Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel urban design critic Whitney Gould on Norquist's legacy]
* https://web.archive.org/web/20041201064357/http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/may01/norq26052501a.asp?format=print
* {{C-SPAN|17599}}

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{{s-par|us-wi-hs}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Earl Keegan Jr.]] }}
{{s-ttl|title  = {{nowrap|Member of the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]]}} {{nowrap|from the [[Wisconsin's 8th Assembly district|8th]] district}} |years= January 6, 1975{{spnd}}January 3, 1983 }}
{{s-aft|after  = [[Lois Plous]] }}
{{s-par|us-wi-sen}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Jerry Kleczka]] }}
{{s-ttl|title  = {{nowrap|Member of the [[Wisconsin Senate]]}} {{nowrap|from the [[Wisconsin's 3rd Senate district|3rd]] district}} |years= January 3, 1983{{spnd}}April 15, 1988 }}
{{s-aft|after  = [[Brian Burke (American politician)|Brian Burke]] }}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Henry W. Maier]] }}
{{s-ttl|title  = [[List of mayors of Milwaukee|Mayor of Milwaukee]]| |years=  April 18, 1988{{spnd}}January 1, 2004 }}
{{s-aft|after  = [[Marvin Pratt]] (acting) }}
{{s-end}}
{{Mayors of the City of Milwaukee}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Norquist, John}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century mayors of places in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:21st-century mayors of places in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Politicians from Princeton, New Jersey]]
[[Category:American people of Swedish descent]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly]]
[[Category:Democratic Party Wisconsin state senators]]
[[Category:Mayors of Milwaukee]]
[[Category:Writers from Princeton, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Writers from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:New Urbanism]]
[[Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature]]