James M. "Jim" Piwowarczyk II (born 1970) is an American realtor, Republican politician, and former law enforcement officer from Washington County, Wisconsin. He is a member of the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Assembly is controlled by the Republican ...

, and represents Wisconsin's 98th Assembly district in the 2025–2026 term. He is also a co-founder and editor of the conservative news website

Biography

Jim Piwowarczyk was born in

West Bend, Wisconsin West Bend is a city in Washington County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. As of the 2020 census, the population was 31,752. It is part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. History Early history and settlement Northeastern Washi ...

, about 1970. He was raised and educated in the West Bend area, graduating from Kewaskum High School in 1988. He went on to attend Moraine Park Technical College and Marian University, studying police science and justice administration. In 1994, he was hired as a police patrol officer in

Glendale, Wisconsin Glendale is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 13,357 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. A suburb north of Milwaukee, it is part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. History The Glendale area has ...

, and served 15 years in that department, rising to the rank of patrol sergeant. After leaving the Glendale police, he worked as a part-time officer in Kewaskum. While working as a police officer, he also started a small business with his wife, as a

Snap Fitness Snap Fitness is a privately-owned global chain of 24/7 fitness centers headquartered in Chanhassen, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 2003 and currently operates over 1,000 locations in over 18 countries across 5 continents, with almost ...

franchisee, and ultimately owned five gyms in southeastern Wisconsin, but sold out in 2020. During those years, he was also becoming active in real estate trading through his realty business Realty Solutions Group, which he continues to operate.

Political career

In 2020, Piwowarczyk co-founded the conservative partisan news website ''Wisconsin Right Now'', and as owner of the website, has final editorial control over the content. ''Wisconsin Right Now'' has become an influential voice in the conservative and Republican media landscape in Wisconsin. One of their first major news stories was a story questioning the validity of the election results from Milwaukee County in the

2020 United States presidential election United States presidential election, Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 3, 2020. The Democratic Party (United States), Democratic ticket of former vice president Joe Biden and California junior senator Kamala H ...

, and suggesting the election was rigged against

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...

. Piwowarczyk won a prize for excellence in journalism from the Milwaukee Press Club in 2021 for coverage of the multi-day story of the Water Street shootings in Milwaukee, and in 2022 for coverage of the controversial parole decision of Douglas Balsewicz. In 2024, the Wisconsin Legislature adopted a new redistricting plan after the

Wisconsin Supreme Court The Wisconsin Supreme Court is the Supreme court, highest and final court of appeals in the state judicial system of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. In addition to hearing appeals of lower Wisconsin court decisions, the Wisconsin Supreme Court also ...

struck down the decade-old Republican legislative gerrymander. Washington County was significantly affected by the redistricting; Piwowarczyk was drawn into the new 98th Assembly district, where no incumbent legislators then-resided. He announced in March 2024 that he would run for

in that district, seeking the Republican nomination. He was opposed by former state representative Don Pridemore, but won the primary by a wide margin, taking 65% of the vote. He easily won the general election in the heavily Republican district. He took office in January 2025.

Personal life and family

Jim Piwowarczyk is a son of James M. and Cynthia Piwowarczyk. James Sr. served for many years as county auditor in Washington County; Cynthia worked as a registered nurse. Jim Piwowarczyk married Susan L. Slatinsky of Green Bay; they met while attending Marian University. They have three school-age children and reside in the town of

Erin, Wisconsin Erin is a town in Washington County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,664 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Thompson is located in Erin. Erin is home to Erin Hills golf course which hosted the 2017 U.S. Open g ...

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (2024)

References

External links

Campaign website

''Wisconsin Right Now''
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Piwowarczyk, Jim 1969 births Living people People from West Bend, Wisconsin People from Hartford, Wisconsin American police officers American real estate brokers Journalists from Wisconsin Law enforcement officials from Wisconsin Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly 21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature