Republican State Senator Van Wanggaard announces retirement

RACINE, Wis. - Senator Van Wanggaard announced Tuesday, March 17 that he will retire at the end of his term and will not seek reelection. 

Wanggaard is the longest serving Republican state senator and is the only Republican ever to be elected to four terms as senator in the 21st District. 

Senator Van Wanggaard statement

What they're saying:

"I would like to thank everybody for their patience while I made this decision. As I said at the end of the year, my heart was telling me one thing, my head the other, and I wasn’t sure which was saying what. 

"I have seen the extreme ideas Democrats have been trying to normalize the last few weeks locally and statewide throughout the session. Ideas that have been proven to be disasters elsewhere. More than $7 billion in new spending for special interests and government – not the people.  Giving power to bureaucrats, forcing costly regulations which will drive up costs for families. Thinking the answer to making things more "affordable" for families is fixed by creating more "free" government programs all paid for by taxes on those same families and employers, driving costs up further. While he wasn’t talking about affordability, President Reagan was right. "Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem."

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"In my heart, I desperately want to run again. I would love to continue to serve as a common-sense conservative voice in the Legislature. Public service is in my blood. Whether it was as a police officer, county board supervisor, Racine Zoo Board member and president, police and fire commissioner, or state senator, serving the community has been my life’s work. I am confident I would win a tough re-election on my platform of protecting the vulnerable, making life affordable, and eliminating waste and fraud in government. 

"My head is telling me it’s time to retire.  I’ll be 78 years old at the end of the next term. My staff and colleagues worked with me to try to make something workable for the campaign and the next four years. But my health, and the health of my family will not allow me to put my all into this campaign, or serving the 21st District.  After running for election 4 years ago, I’ve lost 3 siblings, my daughter was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, and a brother had a heart attack and has dementia. That weighs on me more than you can know. 

"When my law enforcement career was cut short by a federal fugitive fleeing custody, breaking my neck and flattening my spinal cord, I never could have imagined being, much less enjoying being, an elected official.  

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"To the people who helped make that happen, to my staff and all my colleagues who served with me, the voters of the Racine and Kenosha counties who elected me to four terms in the state senate and most importantly my family."

Reaction

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester)

"I have known and been close friends with Van for over 25 years. Van has led a selfless career in public service, starting in law enforcement where he fought to keep the residents of Racine safe. We then served together on the county board before both coming to the Capitol. Throughout his career, Van has always advocated for his constituents and worked hard for his district.

"Van’s love for his family is admirable and is a testament to the kind of person he is, both inside and outside of the Capitol. His announcement today is bittersweet as we are losing a hard-working, common-sense member of the legislature. I wish him nothing but the best and am grateful for his friendship."

Racine Transit Director and candidate for State Senate in the 21st district, Trevor Jung

"With Senator Wanggaard announcing he will not seek reelection, I want to thank him for his years of service and wish him and his family well.

"This news does not change the focus of this campaign, which has always been dedicated to the issues that matter most: making childcare and housing more affordable, supporting our public schools, and strengthening Wisconsin’s economy.

"This is an opportunity to bring new leadership that listens and delivers for the people of the 21st District."

SSDC Communications Director Will Karcz

"Whether we’re talking about the retirement of Rob Hutton, Stephen Nass, Senator Wanggaard, or any others who follow suit, it's clear that members of the Republican caucus would rather retire than risk losing their seats or serving in a Republican minority. Voters across Wisconsin are fed up with the dysfunction and lack of action we’ve seen from Senate Republicans. Democrats will win a majority in the Senate this November and get to work cutting costs, investing in our communities, and creating a strong future for our state."