Van H. Wanggaard (born April 19, 1952) is a Republican politician and former law enforcement officer. He is a member of the

Wisconsin State Senate The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the Wisconsin State Assembly they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin. The powers of the Wisconsin Senate are modeled after those o ...

, representing Racine and

Kenosha Kenosha () is a city in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. It is the fourth-most populous city in Wisconsin, with a population of 99,986 at the 2020 census. Situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, Ke ...

counties since January 5, 2015. He was previously elected to the same office in 2010, but was removed by

recall election A recall election (also called a recall referendum, recall petition or representative recall) is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a referendum before that official's term of office has ended. Recalls ...

in June 2012.

Background/family life

Born in

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Fort Leavenworth () is a United States Army installation located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, in the city of Leavenworth, Kansas, Leavenworth. Built in 1827, it is the second oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C., an ...

, 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 Milwaukee Area Technical College (or MATC) is a public two-year vocational-technical and community college based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. MATC offers day, evening, weekend and online classes at campuses in downtown Milwaukee, O ...

, Racine Technical College, Gateway Technical College, Wisconsin State Patrol Academy, and the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and Admiralty law, law enforcement military branch, service branch of the armed forces of the United States. It is one of the country's eight Uniformed services ...

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.

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 for the 62nd Wisconsin Assembly district but was 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. 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

s in

2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...

and

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

, 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 George Anthony Petak Jr. (November 6, 1949 – December 24, 2024) was an American Republican politician and political consultant from Racine, Wisconsin. He served five and a half years in the Wisconsin Senate, representing Wisconsin's 21st Sen ...

in 1996. 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 The lieutenant governor of Wisconsin is the first person in the Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Wisconsin, line of succession of Wisconsin's executive branch, thus serving as governor in the event of the death, resignation, ...

. Wanggaard sought and received the Republican nomination to reclaim the 21st senate district and defeated Democrat Randy Bryce in the general election.'Wanggaard reclaims senate seat,' The Journal Times, Mark Schaff, November 5, 2014 As of 2018, Wanggaard is the Wisconsin Senate Majority Caucus Chair.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (2006)

Wisconsin Senate (2010–present)

References

External links

Senator Van H. Wanggaard - Majority Caucus Chair
at

Wisconsin Legislature The Wisconsin Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of the upper house, Wisconsin State Senate, and the lower Wisconsin State Assembly, both of which have had Republ ...

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wanggaard, Van 1952 births Living people People from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Politicians from Racine, Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–Parkside alumni Milwaukee Area Technical College alumni County supervisors in Wisconsin Republican Party Wisconsin state senators Recalled state legislators of the United States 21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature