Van Wanggaard

Van Wanggaard

Republican Party

Wisconsin State Senate District 21

Tenure

2015 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

10

Prior offices

Wisconsin State Senate District 21

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Compensation

Base salary

$57,408/year

Per diem

$140/day for senators who reside outside of Dane County; $70/day for Dane County senators

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 8, 2022

Personal

Profession

Police Officer, County Board Supervisor

Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Official Twitter

Personal LinkedIn

Van Wanggaard (Republican Party) is a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing District 21. He assumed office on January 5, 2015. His current term ends on January 4, 2027.

Wanggaard (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate to represent District 21. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Wanggaard previously served in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing District 21 from 2010 to July 2012. Wanggaard lost the seat to John Lehman (D) in a recall election in 2012. He served as a member on the Racine County Board of Supervisors, District 7, from 2002 to 2011.

Biography

Wanggaard is a 29-year veteran of the Racine Police Department. He worked as a director for Traffic Accident Consultants, Inc. from 1987 to 1995 and as an instructor with numerous law enforcement and state agencies.

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

Wanggaard was assigned to the following committees:

• Committee on Utilities and Technology, Vice Chairman
• Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, Chairman
• Committee on Labor, Regulatory Reform, Veterans and Military Affairs

2021-2022

Wanggaard was assigned to the following committees:

• Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties, Co-Chair
• Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, Chair
• Labor and Regulatory Reform Committee, Vice Chair
• Utilities, Technology, and Telecommunications Committee

2019-2020

Wanggaard was assigned to the following committees:

• Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties, Co-Chair
• Labor and Regulatory Reform Committee, Vice-Chair
• Judiciary and Public Safety Committee
• Utilities and Housing Committee

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Wanggaard served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Wanggaard served on these committees:

• Economic Development and Veterans and Military Affairs
• Insurance and Housing
• Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs, Chair
• Natural Resources and Environment
• Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems

Sponsored legislation

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.

Elections

2022

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Wisconsin State Senate District 21

Incumbent Van Wanggaard won election in the general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 21 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Van Wanggaard (R)	94.1	61,621
		Other/Write-in votes	5.9	3,838

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 65,459
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

No Democratic candidates ran in the primary.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Kendall Curtis (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 21

Incumbent Van Wanggaard defeated Jay Stone in the Republican primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 21 on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Van Wanggaard	74.6	20,194
	Submit photo	Jay Stone	25.2	6,831
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	58

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 27,083
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for Wisconsin State Senate District 21

Incumbent Van Wanggaard defeated Lori Hawkins in the general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 21 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Van Wanggaard (R)	58.0	48,603
		Lori Hawkins (D)	41.9	35,111
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	69

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 83,783
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 21

Lori Hawkins advanced from the Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 21 on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lori Hawkins	100.0	12,160

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 12,160
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 21

Incumbent Van Wanggaard advanced from the Republican primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 21 on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Van Wanggaard	100.0	15,385

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 15,385
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2014

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for 17 seats in the Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 12, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 2, 2014. Randy Bryce ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Van Wanggaard defeated Jonathan Steitz in the Republican primary. Bill Thompkins ran as a write-in candidate for the Restoring Power and Responsibility Party in the general election. Wanggaard defeated Bryce and Thompkins in the general election.

Wisconsin State Senate, District 21 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Van Wanggaard	61.5%	44,967
	Democratic	Randy Bryce	38.4%	28,106
	Restoring Power and Responsibility	Bill Thompkins	0%	34
Total Votes				73,107

Endorsements

In 2014, Wanggaard's endorsements included the following:

• Congressman Paul Ryan
• Tommy G. Thompson – Former Wisconsin Governor
• Senator Scott Fitzgerald – Senate Majority Leader
• Senator Glenn Grothman – Assistant Majority Leader
• Senator Joseph Leibham – Senate President Pro Tempore

• Senator Alberta Darling – Joint Finance Co-Chair
• Senator Mary Lazich
• Senator Frank Lasee
• Senator Neal Kedzie
• Senator Sheila Harsdorf

2012 recall

See also: Van Wanggaard recall, Wisconsin State Senate (2012)

Wanggaard faced Democrat John Lehman in a recall on June 5, 2012.

Unofficial results showed John Lehman (D) won the election by 779 votes and he declared victory. Wanggaard considered a recount - the county's board of canvassars had until June 15 to submit final vote totals. With the official canvass showing Lehman winning by 834 votes, Wanggaard called for a recount on June 15. Final tallies released July 2 showed Lehman won by 819 votes - 36,358 to 35,539. On July 10, Wanggaard announced he would not file a lawsuit, allowing the results to stand.

Recall of Wisconsin State Senator Van Wanggaard, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Van Wanggaard Incumbent	49.4%	35,517
	Democratic	John Lehman	50.5%	36,351
	-	Scattering	0.1%	56
Total Votes				71,924
Source: Wisconsin Government Accountability Board

An effort to recall Wanggaard was launched on November 15, 2011. Supporters of the recall submitted over 24,000 signatures on January 17, 2012. The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board voted unanimously on March 12 to order the recall, determining that at least 19,142 of the signatures were valid.

2010

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2010

Wanggaard defeated Democrat incumbent John Lehman in the November 2, 2010, general election. Wanggaard defeated Republican Bob Gulan in the September 14 primary election.

Wisconsin State Senate, District 21 (2010) General Election
Candidates		Votes	Percent
Van Wanggaard (R)		32,306	52.52%
John Lehman (D)		28,930	47.43%

Wisconsin Senate, District 21 Republican Primary (2010)
Candidates		Votes	Percent
Van H. Wanggaard (R)		13,864	79.89%
Bob Gulan (R)		3,475	20.03%

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Van Wanggaard did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2014

Wanggaard's campaign website highlighted the following issues:

Jobs & Economic Growth

• Excerpt: "Cut Taxes for Every Taxpayer"
• Excerpt: "Expand Investment Opportunity"
• Excerpt: "Bring the Hard Rock Casino to Kenosha"

Tax Reform

• Excerpt: "Property Tax Cuts – Wisconsin’s property tax burden is still too high. I will work to continue cutting property taxes."
• Excerpt: "Income Tax Cuts – I will work to flatten our income tax and lower tax rates for all taxpayers."
• Excerpt: "Business Taxes – Work to repeal Combined Reporting, and the Capital Gains Tax"

Education

• Excerpt: "Repeal and replace Common Core State Standards"
• Excerpt: "Bring innovations to the classroom"
• Excerpt: "Expand school choice opportunities statewide"

2nd Amendment

• Excerpt: "Continue to fight for Constitutional Carry with an optional permit for reciprocity purposes"
• Excerpt: "Fight all efforts to restrict your 2nd Amendment rights"

Pro-Life

• Excerpt: "Prohibit sex selection abortions"
• Excerpt: "Prohibit state health insurance policies from covering abortions"
• Excerpt: "Support a 'Choose Life' license plate"

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Van Wanggaard campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2022	Wisconsin State Senate District 21	Won general	$112,151	$143,476
2018	Wisconsin State Senate District 21	Won general	$189,938	N/A**
2014	Wisconsin State Senate, District 21	Won	$198,881	N/A**
2012	Wisconsin State Senate, District 21, recall election	Lost	$297,545	N/A**
2010	Wisconsin State Senate, District 21	Won	$257,684	N/A**
2006	Wisconsin State Assembly, District 62	Lost	$102,229	N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Wisconsin

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Wisconsin scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

2024

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show].

In 2024, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 16 to March 12. Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against MMAC's position. National Federation of Independent Business Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues. Wisconsin Conservation Voters Legislators are scored on their stances on conservation issues. Wisconsin Family Action Legislators are scored by the Wisconsin Family Action on their votes on legislation related to "marriage, family, the sanctity of human life, or religious freedom." Wisconsin Professional Police Association Legislators are scored on their votes by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association on legislation related to Wisconsin's law enforcement community. Wisconsin Sierra Club Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.

2023

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show].
In 2023, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 3 to December 31. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2022

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show].

In 2022, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 18 to March 8. Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce: Senate and House Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against MMAC's position. National Federation of Independent Business Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues. Wisconsin Conservation Voters Legislators are scored on their stances on conservation issues. Wisconsin Family Action Legislators are scored by the Wisconsin Family Action on their votes on legislation related to "marriage, family, the sanctity of human life, or religious freedom." Wisconsin Grocers Association Legislators are scored on their votes on industry-specific legislation. Wisconsin Professional Police Association Legislators are scored on their votes by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association on legislation related to Wisconsin's law enforcement community. Wisconsin Sierra Club Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.

2021

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show].

In 2021, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 4 to December 31. Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce: Senate and House Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against MMAC's position. National Federation of Independent Business Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. Wisconsin Conservation Voters Legislators are scored on their stances on conservation issues. Wisconsin Family Action Legislators are scored by the Wisconsin Family Action on their votes on legislation related to "marriage, family, the sanctity of human life, or religious freedom." Wisconsin Grocers Association Legislators are scored on their votes on industry-specific legislation. Wisconsin Professional Police Association Legislators are scored on their votes by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association on legislation related to Wisconsin's law enforcement community. Wisconsin Sierra Club Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.

2020

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show].

In 2020, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 14 to May 13. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. Wisconsin AFL-CIO Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy. Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters Legislators are scored on their stances on conservation issues. Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against MMAC's position. Wisconsin Professional Police Association Legislators are scored on their votes by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association on legislation related to Wisconsin's law enforcement community.

2019

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show].

In 2019, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 7, 2019 through January 13, 2020. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. Wisconsin AFL-CIO Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy. Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters Legislators are scored on their stances on conservation issues. Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against MMAC's position.

2018

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show].

In 2018, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 16 through March 27. Special sessions were held from January 1 through February 27 and from March 15 through March 29. Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against MMAC's position. National Federation of Independent Business in Wisconsin: 2016 legislative voting record Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. Wisconsin AFL-CIO Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy. Wisconsin Family Action: 2017-2018 legislative scorecard Legislators are scored by the Wisconsin Family Action on their votes on legislation related to "marriage, family, the sanctity of human life, or religious freedom." Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters Legislators are scored on their stances on conservation issues. Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Legislators are scored on their votes on legislation WMC deemed as "most important issues for the business community." Wisconsin Professional Police Association: 2018 report card Legislators are scored on their votes by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association on legislation related to Wisconsin's law enforcement community. Wisconsin Sierra Club Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.

2017

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show].

In 2017, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 3 through December 31. There were also special sessions. The first special session was January 5. The second special session was August 1 through September 15. Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against MMAC's position. National Federation of Independent Business in Wisconsin: 2016 legislative voting record Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. Wisconsin AFL-CIO Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy. Wisconsin Family Action: 2017-2018 legislative scorecard Legislators are scored by the Wisconsin Family Action on their votes on legislation related to "marriage, family, the sanctity of human life, or religious freedom." Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters Legislators are scored on their stances on conservation issues. Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Legislators are scored on their votes on legislation WMC deemed as "most important issues for the business community." Wisconsin Sierra Club Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.

2016

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show].

In 2016, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 12 through March 15. Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce: 2015-2016 voting record Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against MMAC's position. National Federation of Independent Business in Wisconsin: 2016 legislative voting record Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues. The American Conservative Union: 2016 scorecard Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. Wisconsin AFL-CIO - Senate & Assembly: 2015-2016 voting record Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy. Wisconsin Family Action: 2015-2016 legislative scorecard Legislators are scored by the Wisconsin Family Action on their votes on legislation related to "marriage, family, the sanctity of human life, or religious freedom." Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters: 2015-2016 scorecard Legislators are scored on their stances on conservation issues. Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce: 2015-2016 voting record Legislators are scored on their votes on legislation WMC deemed as "most important issues for the business community." Wisconsin Professional Police Association: 2015-2016 report card Legislators are scored on their votes by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association on legislation related to Wisconsin's law enforcement community. Wisconsin Sierra Club: 2015-2016 scorecard Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.

2015

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show].

In 2015, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 5 through December 31. Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce: 2015-2016 voting record Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against MMAC's position. The American Conservative Union: 2015 scorecard Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. Wisconsin AFL-CIO - Senate & Assembly: 2015-2016 voting record Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy. Wisconsin Family Action: 2015-2016 legislative scorecard Legislators are scored by the Wisconsin Family Action on their votes on legislation related to "marriage, family, the sanctity of human life, or religious freedom." Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters: 2015-2016 scorecard Legislators are scored on their stances on conservation issues. Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce: 2015-2016 voting record Legislators are scored on their votes on legislation WMC deemed as "most important issues for the business community." Wisconsin Professional Police Association: 2015-2016 report card Legislators are scored on their votes by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association on legislation related to Wisconsin's law enforcement community. Wisconsin Sierra Club: 2015-2016 scorecard Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental bills.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Wanggaard and his wife, Mary Jo, have two children.

See also

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Officeholder

Wisconsin State Senate District 21

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by -	Wisconsin State Senate District 21 2015-Present	Succeeded by -
Preceded by -	Wisconsin State Senate District 21 2011-2012	Succeeded by -

[show]

Current members of the Wisconsin State Senate

Leadership

Senate President:Mary Felzkowski

Majority Leader:Devin LeMahieu

Minority Leader:Dianne Hesselbein

Senators

District 1

André Jacque (R)

District 2

Eric Wimberger (R)

District 3

Tim Carpenter (D)

District 4

Dora Drake (D)

District 5

Rob Hutton (R)

District 6

LaTonya Johnson (D)

District 7

Chris Larson (D)

District 8

Jodi Sinykin (D)

District 9

Devin LeMahieu (R)

District 10

Rob Stafsholt (R)

District 11

Stephen Nass (R)

District 12

Mary Felzkowski (R)

District 13

John Jagler (R)

District 14

Sarah Keyeski (D)

District 15

Mark Spreitzer (D)

District 16

Melissa Ratcliff (D)

District 17

Howard Marklein (R)

District 18

Kristin Alfheim (D)

District 19

Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R)

District 20

Dan Feyen (R)

District 21

Van Wanggaard (R)

District 22

Robert Wirch (D)

District 23

Jesse James (R)

District 24

Patrick Testin (R)

District 25

Romaine Quinn (R)

District 26

Kelda Roys (D)

District 27

Dianne Hesselbein (D)

District 28

Julian Bradley (R)

District 29

Cory Tomczyk (R)

District 30

Jamie Wall (D)

District 31

Jeff Smith (D)

District 32

Brad Pfaff (D)

District 33

Chris Kapenga (R)

Republican Party (18)

Democratic Party (15)