While in college, Testin became actively involved with the Republican Party of Wisconsin and served as a deputy field director for the successful congressional campaign of Sean Duffy. A few months later, he was hired as field director for Republican candidate Kim Simac in the 2011 Wisconsin Senate recall elections. Over the next several years, after graduating from college, Testin was primarily employed as a store manager for a mattress retailer (2011–2014), and then as a sales representative for M Shiraz Wines of Wisconsin (since 2014).[1]
In 2012, following the implementation of the 2011 Republican redistricting plan, he made his first bid for elected office, running for Wisconsin State Assembly in the open 71st Assembly district—based in Stevens Point, Plover, and neighboring parts of Portage County.[2] He fell far short of fellow first-time candidate Katrina Shankland, who carried 60% of the general election vote.[3]
In 2016, Testin was again a candidate for office, challenging 13-year incumbent State Senator Julie Lassa.[4] This time he prevailed, taking 52% of the vote in a year when the Republican presidential candidate carried the state for the first time since 1984.[5] He was subsequently reelected in 2020.[6] Following the 2020 election, the Senate Republican caucus elected him President pro tempore for the 2021–2022 session.[7]
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