Howard Marklein is a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Senate representing District 17, serving since January 2015. Born October 3, 1954, in Madison, Wisconsin, he earned a degree from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and worked as an accountant and fraud examiner before retiring. He previously served in the Wisconsin State Assembly representing the 51st district for four years, and has won all four elections he has contested between 2010 and 2026.