Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford

Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford
Member of the Madison Common Council from the 15th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 18, 2023
Preceded byGrant Foster[1]
Personal details
BornMay 1970 (age 56)[2]
PartyDemocratic
WebsiteOfficial website
Campaign website

Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford (born 1970) is an American politician and comedian. A member of the Democratic Party, she has served as an alder on the Common Council of Madison, Wisconsin, since 2023, representing the fifteenth district. She is the first openly transgender woman and second openly transgender person to be elected to public office in Wisconsin.[3][4]

Early life and comedy career

Born in May 1970,[2][5] Martinez-Rutherford grew up in Texas. In her early adulthood, she was a small group pastor for non-denominational evangelical churches. She moved to California in the early 2000s, where she began her career as a stand-up comic, and began her gender transition in 2007.[6]

Martinez-Rutherford moved to Madison, Wisconsin in 2012.[3][2] In 2015, she founded Lady Laughs Comedy, a production company that runs an annual comedy festival in Madison[7] and offers classes in stand-up comedy.[2]

Political career

In 2023, after seeing multiple anti-LGBTQ hate crimes including the Pulse nightclub shooting and the Club Q shooting in Colorado, Martinez-Rutherford decided to run for office. She announced her candidacy for alder on the Common Council, in district 15 in the Willy Street, Marquette, and Eastmorland neighborhoods.[8][9] On April 4, 2023, she was elected to the council by a narrow 54-vote margin, becoming the first openly transgender woman elected to public office in Wisconsin.[10][3] Since 2023, the city has raised the transgender pride flag over City Hall on Transgender Day of Visibility each year, an initiative started by Martinez-Rutherford.[11]

Martinez-Rutherford launched a re-election campaign in the 2025 spring election. Prior to Election Day, she withdrew from the race to recover from a surgery, but her name remained on the ballot due to state statute.[12] Following her withdrawal, she endorsed her opponent, Ryan Koglin.[13] Despite her withdrawal, she won 51% of the vote on April 1, 2025, then decided to accept her re-election, remaining in office.[14][15]

Martinez-Rutherford ran in and won the Democratic primary for the Wisconsin State Assembly in the 2026 election, for the 76th district. The seat is open after incumbent Francesca Hong announced her candidacy for governor.[8] Out of a field of five candidates on the primary ballot, Martinez-Rutherford placed first with 6,170 votes, or 29.4% of the electorate.[16]

Electoral history

Madison Common Council (2023, 2025)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2023 General[17] Apr. 3 Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford Nonpartisan 3,609 50.08% Brad Hinkfuss Non. 3,555 49.33% 7,207 54
2025 General[18] Apr. 1 Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford (inc) (withdrawn) Nonpartisan 3,833 51.16% Ryan Koglin Non. 3,555 48.24% 7,492 219

References

  1. ↑ Wegehaupt, Nate (December 20, 2022). "District 15 Alder Grant Foster Not Seeking Reelection". WORT. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ginsberg, Maddie (January 15, 2025). "What's so funny?". Madison Magazine. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Moore, Andy (June 11, 2023). "'You Care About Us, and That Makes Me Proud'". The Progressive. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  4. ↑ Wall, Nathan (April 29, 2022). "Local Government Feature: Vered Meltzer '04". The Lawrentian.
  5. ↑ Martinez-Rutherford, Dina Nina [@dinaninaxo]; (April 14, 2026). "So excited to celebrate my birthday with you all" – via Instagram.
  6. ↑ Mills, Emily (June 6, 2023). "Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford: Life Transformed". Brava Magazine. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  7. ↑ Geyer, Allison (November 8, 2018). "From stage to screen: Lady Laughs Comedy Festival to film special". Isthmus. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  8. 1 2 McGroarty, Erin (October 21, 2025). "Madison alder could be first transgender member of Legislature". The Cap Times. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  9. ↑ Trussoni, Isaac (January 24, 2023). ""I'm reading the room." Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford says the time is right to run for Common Council". Madison 365. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  10. ↑ Bandstra, Andrew (April 5, 2023). "Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford wins Madison council race, becoming city's first trans elected official". Channel 3000+ News. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  11. ↑ Beran, Liam (April 1, 2025). "Madison 'always will be home to trans people'". Isthmus. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  12. ↑ Castellano, Katie (April 8, 2025). "Elected Madison alder accepts position after initially dropping out of race". WMTV. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  13. ↑ Nururdin, Enjoyiana (February 24, 2025). "Owner of dog day care set for City Council after incumbent drops out". The Cap Times. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  14. ↑ Nururdin, Enjoyiana (April 2, 2025). "She dropped out of a Madison City Council race. Voters elected her anyway". The Cap Times. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  15. ↑ Calderon, Samantha (April 8, 2025). "Incumbent Madison District 15 alder accepts re-election despite suspending campaign". Fox 47 News. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  16. ↑ https://elections.countyofdane.com/Election-Result/194
  17. ↑ 2023 Spring Election - Madison Alderperson District 15 - Votes by Precinct (Report). Office of the Clerk of Dane County, Wisconsin. April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  18. ↑ 2025 Spring Election - Madison Alderperson District 15 - Votes by Precinct (Report). Office of the Clerk of Dane County, Wisconsin. April 1, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
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