Christopher Hitchings Danou (born January 18, 1967) is an American conservationist, Democratic politician, and former law enforcement officer from Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. He served four terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, from 2009 through 2017; during his first two terms his constituency was the 91st Assembly district, and after the 2011 redistricting, he represented the 92nd district. After leaving office, he worked as government relations director for Gathering Waters, a conservation nonprofit that advocates for Wisconsin's land trusts. Danou is a candidate for Assembly again in 2026, running in what is now the 29th Assembly district.
Early life and career Chris Danou was born in Bloomington, Illinois, in January 1967. As a child, he moved with his parents to Marshfield, Wisconsin, where he was raised and educated; he graduated from Marshfield's Columbus High School in 1985. After high school, he first attended the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point at Marshfield, where he earned his associate's degree in 1987; he immediately went on to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he earned his bachelor's degree in history in 1989. He continued his education at American University, in Washington, D.C., and obtained his master's in international relations in 1991. For his master's work at American University, he performed a research internship with the Friends of the Earth. He immediately entered another graduate program, for wildlife management, at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, ultimately earning another master's degree in 1997.
After completing his education, Danou worked as a conservation warden for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and was then employed as a police officer in Onalaska, Wisconsin; he was a member of the County Emergency Response Team (SWAT Unit) and the Metropolitan Enforcement Group, and served as a school liaison officer. He was active in the local police union—the Onalaska Professional Police Association—and became president of the union.
Political career Danou made his first bid for public office in 2006, seeking the Democratic Party nomination for Wisconsin Senate in the 31st Senate district, attempting to challenge incumbent Republican state senator Ron Brown. Danou made healthcare a central issue of his campaign, saying that the legislature should enact a plan to provide guaranteed medical coverage for all children and 98 percent of adults, or state legislators should be required to surrender their state insurance plan. He faced a competitive Democratic primary against prominent farmer and agricultural advocate Kathleen Vinehout, however. Vinehout prevailed in the September primary, receiving 64% of the vote.
Two years later, Danou made another run for political office, this time running for Wisconsin State Assembly in the 91st Assembly district seat being vacated by the retirement of Barbara Gronemus. Danou faced another competitive Democratic primary, this time with a crowded field of five opponents, including Arcadia mayor John Kimmel and Pepin County supervisor James K. Kraft. Danou prevailed in the primary with 34% of the vote, and went on to defeat Republican Dave Hegenbarth in the general election. He served two terms representing the 91st Assembly district before the 2011 redistricting act, which shifted Danou's Trempealeau County from the 91st district to the 92nd Assembly district. Under the new district, Danou won two more terms. He ran for a fifth term in 2016, but was narrowly defeated, falling 1,065 votes short of Republican Treig Pronschinske of Mondovi.
After leaving office, Danou went to work for Gathering Waters, a nonprofit that advocates for resources and education for Wisconsin's land trusts.
Danou was largely removed from politics for the next decade, but occasionally endorsed former Assembly colleagues such as Tom Nelson, JoCasta Zamarripa, and Kelda Roys.
In 2026, Danou returned to electoral politics, running again for Wisconsin State Assembly. Since his last election, Wisconsin had undergone another significant redistricting, and his home of Trempealeau was now located in the new 29th Assembly district, in a district configuration similar to the pre-2011 91st district—comprising Buffalo, Pepin, and southern Pierce County, along with most of Trempealeau County. In the 2026 general election, Danou faces a rematch with his 2016 opponent, Treig Pronschinske.
Electoral history Wisconsin Senate, 31st district (2006) Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 2006 Primary Democratic 9,235 64.21% Dem. 5,143 35.76% 14,382 4,092
Wisconsin Assembly, 91st district (2008, 2010) Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 2008 Primary Democratic 1,655 34.74% Dem. 1,202 25.23% 4,764 453 Dem. 579 12.15% Dem. 551 11.06% Dem. 527 11.06% Dem. 249 5.23% General Democratic 14,377 53.34% Rep. 11,583 42.97% 26,953 2,794 Ind. 712 2.64% Lib. 256 0.95% 2010 General Democratic 11,375 58.70% Rep. 8,000 41.28% 19,378 3,375
Wisconsin Assembly, 92nd district (2012–2016) Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 2012 General Democratic 20,308 98.76% Rep. 50 0.24% 20,562 2014 General Democratic 11,862 56.58% Rep. 9,096 43.38% 20,966 2,766 2016 General Republican 13,605 51.99% Dem. 12,540 47.92% 26,167 1,065
Wisconsin Assembly, 29th district (2026)
References
External links Chris Danou official campaign website
Follow the Money - Chris Danou 2008 2006 campaign contributions