Robert Wirch
1997 - Present
2025
27
Robert Wirch (Democratic Party) (also known as Bob) is a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing District 22. He assumed office in 1997. His current term ends on January 6, 2025.
Wirch (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate to represent District 22. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024. He advanced from the Democratic primary on August 13, 2024.
From 2003 to 2005, he was the Minority Caucus Chair.
Wirch served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1993 to 1997.
Biography
Wirch earned his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.[1]
Wirch's professional experiences include working in the United States Army Reserve, as a factory worker, and a liaison to the Job Training Partnership Act Programs. He worked as a supervisor on the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors from 1986 to 1993.
Wirch survived a recall attempt in 2011.
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Wirch was assigned to the following committees:
- Committee on Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry
- Committee on Labor, Regulatory Reform, Veterans and Military Affairs
- Committee on Licensing, Constitution, and Federalism
- Natural Resources and Energy Committee
2021-2022
Wirch was assigned to the following committees:
- Labor and Regulatory Reform Committee
- Natural Resources and Energy Committee
- Sporting Heritage, Small Business and Rural Issues Committee
- Veterans and Military Affairs and Constitution and Federalism Committee
2019-2020
Wirch was assigned to the following committees:
- Review of Administrative Rules Committee
- Administrative Rules Committee
- Government Operations, Technology, and Consumer Protection Committee
- Labor and Regulatory Reform Committee
- Sporting Heritage, Mining, and Forestry Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Administrative Rules |
| • Government Operations, Technology, and Consumer Protection |
| • Labor and Regulatory Reform |
| • Sporting Heritage, Mining, and Forestry |
| • Review of Administrative Rules |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Wirch served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Natural Resources and Energy |
| • Labor and Government Reform |
| • Sporting Heritage, Mining, and Forestry |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Wirch served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Finance |
| • Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications |
| • Natural Resources |
| • Joint Finance |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Wirch served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Energy, Biotechnology, and Consumer Protection |
| • Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs |
| • Natural Resources and Environment |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Wirch served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Commerce, Utilities, Energy, and Rail |
| • Environment |
| • Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs |
| • Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Technical Colleges, and Consumer Protection, Chair |
| • Joint Legislative Council |
Issues
Legislative walkout
Wirch and the 13 other Democratic senators participated in a legislative walkout on February 17, 2011, in opposition to Assembly Bill 11 - a Republican-sponsored bill aimed at limiting collective bargaining rights, compensation and fringe benefits of public employees.[2] The Democratic departure left the Senate one vote shy of a quorum. Reports confirmed the senators fled to a hotel in Rockford, Illinois.[3] State police were dispatched by Governor Scott Walker (R) to retrieve the senators, but were unable to cross state lines.[4] The 14 state senators who left the state were being described as the "Badger 14" or "Fab 14."[5]
On February 22, speaking from the basement of an Illinois hotel, Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller provided the minority response to Gov. Scott Walker, saying, "The governor has the tools at his disposal to put this issue to an end. As soon as he is willing to take a compromise, we will go back to work in an instant." Miller stated that the legislators payed for the trip themselves, and that no taxpayer money was spent.[6]
Walker called on the Democratic senators to return to the state by March 1 in order to vote to restructure the state's debt. If they did not, he stated he may have to start cutting state jobs, saying:
"It’s not just a number, it’s not just a budget, it’s ultimately a real person with a real family, so I’m going to push that back as far as I can. We’ve got to have real numbers to balance the budget to avoid layoffs. My hope is those 14 state senators … realize that in the end, it’s much better off to avoid those cuts, it’s much better off to avoid the most dire consequences that will come if we don’t pass this bill."[7]
The Democratic senators said they would not return until the governor was willing to compromise on the budget-repair bill.
Democrats threatened with arrest
Republicans passed a unanimous resolution on March 3 finding the missing legislators in contempt and threatening them with arrest. It gave them until 4 p.m. to return or the sergeant-at-arms would be ordered to take "any and all necessary steps, with or without force, and with or without the assistance of law enforcement, by warrant or other legal process, as he may deem necessary in order to bring that senator to the Senate chambers."[8]
The constitutionality of that resolution was unclear, however, as the Wisconsin Constitution only allows for the arrest of legislators while in session if they are suspected of committing a felony, treason, or breach of the peace. Jim Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, said the resolution was an "unreasonable abuse of police power."[9]
Sen. Jon Erpenbach provided the Democratic response, stating, "All 14 of us remain in Illinois, very strong in our convictions. Issuing arrest warrants at 4 p.m. isn't going to solve the problem. This is a debate about protection of the middle class in Wisconsin; that is what the Republicans should be focusing on."[8]
The move by Republicans came the day after they issued fines of $100 a day for not showing up at the Capitol, along with taking away parking spaces.[10] The week before Republicans also passed a rule suspending direct-deposit of paychecks. Sen. Erpenbach found a way around this by granting power of attorney to two of his aides, giving them power to, among other things, pick up his paycheck. In the end Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald mailed the check to Erpenbach.[11]
Meeting and possible compromises
On March 7, Democratic leader Sen. Mark Miller sent a letter to the governor and senate majority leader asking for a meeting near the Wisconsin-Illinois border to restart talks on the collective bargaining issue.[12] Gov. Walker responded at a press conference, calling the letter "ridiculous," and saying that several meetings between the two sides have taken place, but that Miller has stood in the way of a compromise.[13]
Sen. Chris Larson said, "Dems will return when collective bargaining is off the table. That could be soon based on the growing public opposition to the bill and the recall efforts against Republicans."[14]
On March 8, the Governor's office released an email exchange dated March 6 between Eric Schutt, Walker's deputy chief of staff, and Democratic Senators Cullen and Jauch. The exchange discusses possible compromises on the bill, including allowing unions to bargain for wages beyond inflation rates, permitting collective-bargaining on certain economic issues, allowing public workers to collectively bargain workplace safety issues, and limiting collective bargaining agreements to 2 years or less.[15]
Senate passes bill
On March 9, the Wisconsin State Senate approved Act 10, which included changes to the collective bargaining rights of public-sector workers. Republicans passed the bill by a vote of 18-1, with Sen. Dale Schultz (R) voting against it. Democrats, who had absented themselves in order to prevent the Senate from meeting its 20-member quorum, were not present to vote on the legislation.[16]
On May 26, 2011, Dane County Court Judge Maryann Sumi issued a stay against the law on the grounds that the legislative process had violated the state's open meetings law. The state Departments of Justice and Department of Administration appealed the decision to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. On June 14, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overruled the lower court's decision, stating it "exceeded its jurisdiction, invaded the legislature’s constitutional powers...and erred in enjoining the publication and further implementation of the act."[16]
Recall campaigns
In the wake of events surrounding the bill, both Democratic and Republican senators were targeted by active recall campaigns. Recall sponsors filed signatures on petitions targeting 6 Republican state senators and 3 Democratic state senators. Challenges were filed in all 9 of those campaigns, and the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board approved the six campaigns against Republicans at meetings on May 23 and May 31, and approved the three campaigns against Democrats on June 8. Democrats held onto the 30th District seat on July 19. Republicans lost two seats in the August 9 recalls, but held onto four. Two incumbent Democrats successfully retained their seats on August 16.
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
2024
See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Wisconsin State Senate District 22
Incumbent Robert Wirch is running in the general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 22 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
 | Robert Wirch (D) | |
| ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 22
Incumbent Robert Wirch advanced from the Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 22 on August 13, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Robert Wirch | 99.8 | 15,200 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 24 | ||
| Total votes: 15,224 | |||
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Campaign finance
Endorsements
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2020
See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Wisconsin State Senate District 22
Incumbent Robert Wirch won election in the general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 22 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Robert Wirch (D) | 96.2 | 55,214 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 3.8 | 2,171 | ||
| Total votes: 57,385 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 22
Incumbent Robert Wirch advanced from the Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 22 on August 11, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Robert Wirch | 99.7 | 11,412 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 38 | ||
| Total votes: 11,450 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
2016
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.
Incumbent Robert Wirch ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Senate District 22 general election.[17][18]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 22 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Robert Wirch Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 50,841 | |
| Total Votes | 50,841 | |||
| Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission | ||||
Incumbent Robert Wirch ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Senate District 22 Democratic primary.[19][20]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 22 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Robert Wirch Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2012
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2012
On August 30, 2011, Wirch announced he would be running for re-election to the newly redrawn 22nd District. Due to redistricting Wirch had to move in order to be within the 22nd. He ran unopposed in the primary election on August 14th and defeated Pam Stevens (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[21][22]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robert Wirch Incumbent |
69.6% | 51,177 | |
| Republican | Pam Stevens | 30.3% | 22,278 | |
| - | Scattering | 0.1% | 104 | |
| Total Votes | 73,559 | |||
2011 recall
Wirch defeated Republican Jonathan Steitz in the recall election on August 16.
In March 2011, an effort to recall Wirch from office got underway.[23] Approximately 18,300 signatures were filed with state election officials on April 21.[24] The GAB was initially scheduled to review challenges to the petition on May 31, but it was delayed until June 8. At that meeting the GAB verified 17,138 signatures, enough for the recall, setting the election date for July 19.[25]However, since multiple candidates filed, a primary between the two will be held July 19, with the recall on August 16.
Kenosha County Board supervisor Fred Ekornaas said in early May he planned to run against Wirch if a recall election happened.[26] Attorney Jonathan Steitz announced his bid on May 17, 2011.[27]
Dan Hunt, the organizer of the recall campaign, was said to have considered running.[28]
Steitz defeated Ekornaas in the July 19 primary, while Wirch defeated Steitz in the recall.
| August 16 Recall - District 22[29] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Robert Wirch (D)
|
25,524 | 57.35% | ||
| Jonathan Steitz (R) | 19,662 | 42.51% | ||
| Brian Harwood (Write-in) | 23 | .05% | ||
| Scattering | 42 | .09% | ||
2008
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2008
On November 4, 2008, Robert Wirch won re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate, District 22.[30]
Robert Wirch raised $208,096 for his campaign, while Benjamin Bakke raised $10,055.[31]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 22 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Robert Wirch (D)
|
54,946 | |||
| Benjamin Bakke (R) | 27,383 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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2020
Robert Wirch did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
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.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Wirch and his wife, Mary, have two children.[1]
Scorecards
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 [email protected].
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 3 to December 31.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 18 to March 8.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 4 to December 31.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 14 to May 13.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 7, 2019 through January 13, 2020.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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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.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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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.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 12 through March 15.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 5 through December 31.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 14 through June 4.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 7 to December 31.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 10 through March 16.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Wisconsin State Senate District 22 |
Officeholder Wisconsin State Senate District 22 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin.gov, "ASSEMBLY BILL 11," accessed 17 Feb. 2011
- ↑ Green Bay Press Gazette, "Wisconsin Democrats flee to Clock Tower Hotel in Rockford, Ill., to block anti-union bill," February 17, 2011
- ↑ Bloomberg Businessweek, "Senator: Missing Wis. lawmakers left the state," February 17, 2011
- ↑ Facebook, "Fab 14," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ WISN, "State Sen. Minority Leader Responds to Walker," February 22, 2010
- ↑ Christian Science Monitor, "Wisconsin governor to missing senators: Come back or I'll lay off 1,500," February 28, 2011
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Wall Street Journal, "Pressure Mounts on Absent Democrats in Wisconsin, Indiana," March 3, 2011
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "Senate orders arrest of missing Democrats," March 3, 2011
- ↑ My Fox Chicago, "Wisconsin GOP Slaps Missing Dems With $100 Daily Fines," March 2, 2011
- ↑ Talking Points Memo, "AWOL Wisconsin Dem Beats The System, Gets His Paycheck Mailed To Him," March 3, 2011
- ↑ New York Times, "Wisconsin Democrats Urge New Talks on Labor Bill," March 7, 2011
- ↑ CNN, "Wisconsin gov: Democratic senator's border meeting idea 'ridiculous'," March 7, 2011
- ↑ Talking Points Memo, "Wisconsin Dems Deny WSJ Report Of Imminent Return," March 6, 2011
- ↑ CNN, "E-mails: Wisconsin governor offers concessions on budget bill," March 8, 2011
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Wisconsin State Journal, "Front pages from historic Scott Walker protests," February 11, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidates on Ballot by Election - 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016," accessed November 4, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "2016 Fall General Election Results," accessed December 2, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidate Tracking by Office," accessed June 20, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections and Ethics Commissions, "2016 Partisan Primary," accessed September 16, 2016
- ↑ Government Accountability Board, "2012 Fall Partisan Primary," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ Government Accountability Board, "2012 Fall General Election," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ AOL News, "Wisconsin Election Recall Reality Check," February 23, 2011
- ↑ Business Insider, "Wisconsin Dems File Fourth Recall Petition In Fight Against Scott Walker," April 11, 2011
- ↑ WisPolitics, "Dem recalls certified," June 8, 2011
- ↑ 620 WTMJ, "Capitol Chaos: Possible Challenger in Recall Election," May 9, 2011
- ↑ Post Crescent, "Democrats get new recall challengers," May 19, 2011
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Kenosha County Board vice chair announces recall run against Wirch," May 7, 2011
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "District 22 recall election results," accessed August 26, 2011
- ↑ Government Accountability, "Wisconsin State Election Results, 2008," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 contributions," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Wisconsin State Senate District 22 1997-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Wisconsin State Assembly 1993-1997 |
Succeeded by - |
