Van H. Wanggaard
Van H. Wanggaard (born April 19, 1952) is a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing Racine County since January 5, 2015, and before that from January 3, 2011 until July 11, 2012.[1][2]
Van H. Wanggaard | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 21st district | |
| Assumed office January 5, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | John Lehman |
| In office January 3, 2011 – July 11, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | John Lehman |
| Succeeded by | John Lehman |
| Member of the Racine County Board of Supervisors | |
| In office 2002–2011 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 19, 1952 Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Jo Wanggaard |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Gateway Technical College |
| Profession | Former investigator for the Racine Police Department |
Background/family life
Born in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Wanggaard graduated from Racine Lutheran High School in 1970. He then graduated from Gateway Technical College with a certificate in Police Science Instruction. Wanggard also took course work at University of Wisconsin–Extension, University of Wisconsin–Parkside, Green Bay Technical College, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Racine Technical College, Gateway Technical College, Wisconsin State Patrol Academy, and the United States Coast Guard National SAR School. Wanggard also taught at Gateway Technical College.
Wanggaard worked for the Racine Police Department from 1972 to 2001 as an investigator. He and his wife have two children.[3][4][5]
Political career
Wanggaard was elected to the Racine County Board of Supervisors in 2002, a seat he held until he joined the State Senate in 2011.
In 2006, Wanggaard ran unsuccessfully for the 62nd Wisconsin Assembly District, defeated by future Racine Mayor Cory Mason.
In 2010, Wanggaard ran again for state legislative office, this time challenging incumbent Democrat John Lehman in the 21st senate district. This time Wanggaard was successful, winning the seat as part of the 2010 Republican wave election which saw Republicans flip 721 state legislative seats around the country.[6][7]
Shortly after the 2010 election, the new unified Republican government attempted to pass a controversial budget restructuring. The bill was characterized as an assault on unions and public education, and led to senate recall elections in 2011 and 2012, as well as a recall election for the Governor, Scott Walker. Wanggaard was one of the 16 senators who faced recall elections, and was challenged by his defeated 2010 rival, former-senator John Lehman. Lehman defeated Wanggaard in the recall election held on June 5, 2012. This was the 2nd time that a senator serving in the 21st district had been successfully recalled, the first being George Petak in 1996.[8]
After the 21st was redrawn into a safe Republican district, Lehman chose not to run for re-election in 2014, opting instead to seek the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin. Wanggaard sought and received the Republican nomination to reclaim the 21st senate district and defeated Democrat Randy Bryce in the general election.[9][10]
As of 2018, Wanggaard is the Wisconsin Senate Majority Caucus Chair.
Electoral history
Wisconsin Assembly (2006)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Election | |||||
| Democratic | Cory Mason | 1,976 | 58.17% | ||
| Republican | Van H. Wanggaard | 1,416 | 41.68% | ||
| Write-ins | 5 | 0.15% | |||
| Total votes | '3,397' | '100.0%' | |||
| General Election | |||||
| Democratic | Cory Mason | 10,302 | 52.37% | -37.18% | |
| Republican | Van H. Wanggaard | 9,363 | 47.60% | ||
| Write-ins | 6 | 0.03% | |||
| Total votes | '19,671' | '100.0%' | -8.65% | ||
| Democratic hold | |||||
Wisconsin Senate (2010-2018)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Election | |||||
| Republican | Van H. Wanggaard | 13,864 | 61.13% | ||
| Democratic | John W. Lehman (incumbent) | 5,317 | 23.45% | ||
| Republican | Bob Gulan | 3,475 | 15.32% | ||
| Write-ins | 22 | 0.10% | |||
| Total votes | '22,678' | '100.0%' | |||
| General Election | |||||
| Republican | Van H. Wanggaard | 32,036 | 52.52% | +5.62% | |
| Democratic | John W. Lehman (incumbent) | 28,930 | 47.43% | -5.60% | |
| Write-ins | 29 | 0.05% | |||
| Total votes | '60,995' | '100.0%' | +5.60% | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Election | |||||
| Democratic | John W. Lehman | 20,284 | 67.80% | ||
| Democratic | Tamra Varebrook | 9,513 | 31.80% | ||
| Write-ins | 122 | 0.41% | |||
| Total votes | '29,919' | '100.0%' | |||
| General Election | |||||
| Democratic | John W. Lehman | 36,358 | 50.53% | +3.10% | |
| Republican | Van H. Wanggaard (incumbent) | 35,539 | 49.39% | -3.13% | |
| Write-ins | 58 | 0.08% | |||
| Total votes | '71,955' | '100.0%' | +17.97% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Election[14] | |||||
| Republican | Van H. Wanggaard | 10,563 | 53.19% | ||
| Democratic | Randy Bryce | 4,967 | 25.01% | ||
| Republican | Jonathan Steitz | 4,293 | 21.62% | ||
| Write-ins | 37 | 0.19% | |||
| Total votes | '19,860' | '100.0%' | |||
| General Election[15] | |||||
| Republican | Van H. Wanggaard | 44,967 | 61.42% | +11.96% | |
| Democratic | Randy Bryce | 28,106 | 38.39% | -12.15% | |
| Independent | Bill Thompkins | 34 | 0.05% | ||
| Write-ins | 106 | 0.14% | |||
| Total votes | '73,213' | '100.0%' | +1.79% | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Election[16] | |||||
| Republican | Van Wanggaard (incumbent) | 15,385 | 55.68% | ||
| Democratic | Lori Hawkins | 12,160 | 44.01% | ||
| Write-ins | 88 | 0.32% | |||
| Total votes | '27,633' | '100.0%' | |||
| General Election[17] | |||||
| Republican | Van Wanggaard (incumbent) | 48,603 | 58.01% | -3.41% | |
| Democratic | Lori Hawkins | 35,111 | 41.91% | +3.52% | |
| Write-ins | 69 | 0.08% | |||
| Total votes | '83,783' | '100.0%' | +14.44% | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
References
- Alison Bauter. "Recount affirms Lehman's win in Senate recall race". jsonline.com.
- "Election Recount Information". wi.gov.
- 'Wisconsin Blue Book 2011-2010, Biographical Sketch of Van H. Wanggaard, pg. 60
- "Van Wanggaard's Biography - The Voter's Self Defense System - Vote Smart". Project Vote Smart.
- "Default Parallels Plesk Page". voteforvan.com.
- Mike Moore (2010-11-02). "STATE SENATE: Lehman concedes to Wanggaard as Senate falls to GOP control". Racine Journal Times. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
- Tim Storey (2010-12-10). "GOP Makes Historic State Legislative Gains in 2010". Rasmussen Reports. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
- Craig Gilbert (2012-05-20). "Racine's 21st Senate District no stranger to recalls". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
- Bergquist, Lee. "Election 2014: Allen, Brostoff, Wanggaard, Bowen win legislative primaries" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel August 13, 2014
- 'Wanggaard reclaims senate seat,' The Journal Times, Mark Schaff, November 5, 2014
- Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 2003-2004 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 920, 923. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
- Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections". State of Wisconsin 2011-2012 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 892, 893. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
- Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections". State of Wisconsin 2013-2014 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 892, 893. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
- Canvass Results for 2014 Fall Partisan Primary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
- Canvass Results for 2014 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. 2014-11-04. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
- Canvass Results for 2018 Partisan Primary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. 2018-08-14. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
- Canvass Results for 2018 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. 2018-11-08. Retrieved 2019-03-26.