Robin Vos

Robin Vos (Republican Party) is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing District 63. He assumed office on January 3, 2005. His current term ends on January 6, 2025.

Vos (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the Wisconsin State Assembly to represent District 33. He is on the ballot in the Republican primary on August 13, 2024.^[source]

Vos is Wisconsin's Assembly Speaker and was first elected to that office in 2013. He is the longest-serving Speaker of the Assembly in Wisconsin history^[1]^[2] He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and worked as a legislative assistant in state government. Vos has also owned and operated several businesses in Wisconsin.^[3]

Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) described Vos in 2021 as "probably the highest-profile elected Republican in the state right now, at least when it comes to state issues."^[4] Vos has campaigned on lowering taxes, fighting government mandates, encouraging economic development, and empowering parents.^[5]

In 2011, Vos helped advance Walker's Act 10 legislation, which limited public-sector union activity. The bill led to protests around the state and in the Capitol building.^[6] In 2018, Wisconsin's Republican-controlled legislature enacted measures reducing state executive officials' authority after Gov. Tony Evers (D) defeated Walker.^[7] The New York Times' Mitch Smith and Monica Davey wrote that Vos was "the most visible, most fervent spokesman for the package of measures that would limit Mr. Evers’s power and strengthen that of lawmakers."^[7]

During the coronavirus pandemic, Vos sued Wisconsin Department of Health Services executive Andrea Palm, alleging she overstepped her authority when she extended the state's stay-at-home order on behalf of Evers.^[8] The Wisconsin Supreme Court sided with Vos and Fitzgerald in a 4-3 decision, marking the first time a court ended a stay-at-home order.^[9]

Vos faced criticism from some Republicans, including former President Donald Trump (R), for refusing to decertify Wisconsin's 2020 presidential election results.^[10] Vos said, "As a conservative, I believe in upholding the constitution. That's why I won't take the impossible step to overturn the 2020 election."^[11] Trump also said that Vos didn't "hold the Wisconsin Elections Commission accountable, clean up the voter rolls or right any of the other terrible wrongs."^[12] In the 2022 Republican primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 63, Vos defeated Trump-backed Adam Steen 51.3% to 48.7%.^[13]

Biography

Vos has worked as a congressional district director, legislative assistant, and small business owner.

Vos previously served on the Racine County Board from 1994 to 2004 and on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents from 1989 to 1991.^[14]

Committee assignments

2023-2024

Vos was assigned to the following committees:

Employment Relations Committee, Co-Chair
Rules Committee, Vice Chairman
Joint Legislative Council Committee
Employment Relations Committee, Co Chair
Legislative Organization Committee, Co Chair

2021-2022

Vos was assigned to the following committees:

Employment Relations Committee, Co-Chair
Joint Legislative Council Committee
Legislative Organization Committee, Co-Chair
Assembly Organization Committee, Chair
Employment Relations Committee, Chair
Rules Committee

2019-2020

Vos was assigned to the following committees:

Employment Relations Committee, Co-Chair
Joint Legislative Council Committee
Legislative Organization Committee, Co-Chair
Assembly Organization Committee, Chair
Employment Relations Committee, Chair
Rules Committee, Vice-Chair

2017 legislative session

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

Wisconsin committee assignments, 2017
• Assembly Organization, Chair
• Employment Relations, Chair
• Rules, Vice chair
• Employment Relations, Co-chair
• Joint Legislative Council
• Legislative Organization, Co-chair

2015 legislative session

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

Wisconsin committee assignments, 2015
• Rules, Vice-Chair
• Assembly Organization, Chair
• Employment Relations, Co-Chair
• Joint Legislative Council
• Legislative Organization, Co-Chair

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Vos served on the following committees:

Wisconsin committee assignments, 2013
• Assembly Organization, Chair
• Employment Relations, Chair
• Rules, Vice chair
• Employment Relations, Co-chair
• Joint Legislative Council
• Legislative Organization, Co-chair

2011-2012

During the 2011-2012 legislative session, Vos served on these committees:

Wisconsin committee assignments, 2011
• Audit
• Audit, Vice Chair
• Employment Relations
• Joint Finance, Co-Chair
• Finance, Chair
• Joint Legislative Council

2009-2010

During the 2009-2010 legislative session, Vos served on these committees:

Wisconsin committee assignments, 2009
• Finance
• Insurance
• Finance
• Joint Legislative Council

Issues

Speed limit increase

After Illinois increased its speed limit to 70 miles per hour, Vos gave support to a bill, forwarded by Assemblyman Paul Tittl (R), that would increase Wisconsin's speed limit to 70 miles per hour. Tittl noted that Wisconsin was the sole state in the Midwest that still had a 65 miles per hour speed limit, despite the recent uptick of states increasing their speed limits. However, State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) said that the Senate did not plan to take up the issue any time soon, and Governor Scott Walker (R) had not taken a position on the bill.^[15]

Budget, 2011

The 2011 budget battle in Wisconsin was particularly unusual and contentious. Gov. Scott Walker's bill faced opposition from Democrats and citizen protestors in Madison, Wisconsin. At 3 a.m. on June 15, 2011, the Assembly passed the bill.

At one point in the process, Democrats introduced a wide-reaching amendment that would restore funding to public schools while, in part, nixing provisions for expanding the school vouchers program. When they introduced this, speakers argued that Republicans were rewarding school-voucher proponents who made campaign contributions.

“I did not take the time to look at how much (the state teachers union Wisconsin Education Association Council) gave to all of you to guarantee that you would offer amendments like this,” said Rep. Robin Vos in response.

Vos then said school districts beyond Milwaukee have problems — notably Racine, where Republicans hope to allow vouchers.

While Democrats called the budget an attack on middle-class families that includes $800 million in cuts to schools, Republicans said it was the first responsible budget in years.

“We said it’s time for government to go on a diet, and that’s exactly what we do in this budget,” Vos said.^[16]

Recall reform

On August 10, 2011, Vos (R) announced his intent to draft legislation that would amend the Wisconsin Constitution to clarify the reasons for recall.^[17] In a quote given to the Wisconsin Reporter, Vos said, "Losing an election does not mean you count down days until you can recall somebody," and that "despising someone should not rise to the level of a recallable offense."^[18]

In his press release, Vos said, "No longer should taxpayer dollars be wasted on unnecessary recall elections that were triggered by a vote that some special interest group didn’t like. It undermines our democracy and wastes precious taxpayer dollars that are needed elsewhere."^[17]

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), a business association with about 4,000 members, threw its support behind Vos' efforts. A statement on the organization's website outlined the group's position. "As we all know, uncertainty and political instability are not good for job creation. That’s why WMC will be supporting recall reform in Wisconsin."^[19]

Among those opposing the idea were Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca. Barca issued the following statement in an August press release:^[20]

"Floating this constitutional amendment the day after successful recall elections that held legislators accountable appears to indicate that Republicans are frightened that future actions to hold them accountable will also be successful. We must encourage and build on the amazing outpouring of public involvement in democracy that we have seen this year."

According to Article 13, section 12, the state constitution gives only these stipulations for recall:

Legislators must have served at least one year to be eligible for recall
To initiate a recall against a legislator, a recall petition needs to be signed by electors equaling at least twenty-five percent of the vote cast for the office of governor at the last preceding election, in the state, county or district which the incumbent represents

Under the constitution without the amendment, the state had no requirement for state level recall petitions to declare a reason why the targeted legislator should be recalled. A reason is currently required at the local level. Vos' amendment sought to unify the state and local requirements, thereby incorporating into state recall law a mandate requiring petitions to include a valid reason for recall.^[17]

Vos' amendment passed the Assembly but did not pass the Senate. Representative Jim Steineke (R) introduced a similar amendment in 2013.^[17]^[21]

Elections

2024

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

The primary will occur on August 13, 2024. The general election will occur on November 5, 2024. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.

General election for Wisconsin State Assembly District 33

Kelly Clark is running in the general election for Wisconsin State Assembly District 33 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
		Kelly Clark (Independent)

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= 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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 33

Alan Kupsik is running in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 33 on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate
		Alan Kupsik

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= 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 Assembly District 33

Incumbent Robin Vos and Andrew Cegielski (Unofficially withdrew) are running in the Republican primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 33 on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate
		Robin Vos
		Andrew Cegielski (Unofficially withdrew)

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= 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.

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.