Robert Wirch
Wirch in 2009
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 22nd district
Assumed office
January 6, 1997
Preceded byJoseph F. Andrea
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 65th district
In office
January 4, 1993 – January 6, 1997
Preceded byJohn Antaramian
Succeeded byJohn Steinbrink
Member of the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors
In office
1986–1994
Personal details
Born (1943-11-16) November 16, 1943 (age 80)
Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Mary Wirch
​
​
(m. 1973; died 2020)​
ChildrenDavid, Julia
Residence(s)Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Parkside (BA)
ProfessionFactory worker
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
U.S. Army Reserve
Years of service1965–1971

Robert W. Wirch (born November 16, 1943) is an American Democratic politician from Kenosha County, Wisconsin. He is a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing Wisconsin's 22nd Senate district since 1997. He previously served two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, from 1993 to 1997, and served on the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors before that.

Early life and education

Wirch was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and graduated from Bradford High School. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Parkside in 1970 and served in the United States Army Reserve from 1965 to 1971.

Career

He served as a member of the Board of Supervisors for Kenosha County from 1986 to 1994.

Wisconsin legislature

In 1992, Wirch was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly and was re-elected in 1994. In 1996, Wirch chose to run for Wisconsin Senate in the seat vacated by retiring senator Joseph F. Andrea. Wirch was elected to the Senate in 1996 and has been reelected six times, including his 2004 victory over future White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus,[1] and his 2011 victory against a recall attempt. He served as the Democratic Minority Caucus Chairperson from 2003 to 2005.[2]

2011 Wisconsin protests

See also: 2011 Wisconsin protests

On February 20, 2011, it was reported that Wirch, along with 13 other Democratic Wisconsin State Senators, had left the state, allegedly to deny the State Senate a quorum on Governor Scott Walker's Budget Repair legislation.[3] The Budget Repair bill later passed.

2011 recall attempt

See also: Wisconsin Senate recall elections, 2011

On February 24, 2011, Taxpayers to Recall Robert Wirch officially registered with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board as a result of the 2011 Wisconsin protests.[4] 13,537 valid signatures of electors residing within the 22nd District had to be collected by April 25, 2011, to generate a recall election. On April 21, Taxpayers to Recall Robert Wirch filed 18,300 signatures with Wisconsin's Government Accountability Board.[5] On August 16, 2011, Wirch won 57% of the vote in a recall election, defeating Republican Jonathan Steitz.[6]

Personal life

Wirch resides in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Mary, his wife of 47 years, died on February 23, 2020, from complications related to gall bladder cancer. They have a son, David, and a daughter, Julia.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1992, 1994)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1992 Primary[7] Sep. 8 Robert W. Wirch Democratic 3,229 45.52% Wanda Lynn Bellow Dem. 2,085 29.39% 7,094 1,144
Stephen P. Casey Dem. 1,780 25.09%
General[7] Nov. 3 Robert W. Wirch Democratic 15,144 74.13% Darnell H. Mason Rep. 5,286 25.87% 20,430 9,858
1994 General[8] Nov. 8 Robert W. Wirch (inc) Democratic 10,722 69.34% Walter E. Velden Rep. 4,741 30.66% 15,463 5,981

Wisconsin Senate (1996–present)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1996 General[9] Nov. 5 Robert W. Wirch Democratic 33,847 56.81% Bruno M. Rizzo Rep. 25,728 43.19% 59,575 8,119
2000 General[10] Nov. 7 Robert W. Wirch (inc) Democratic 39,321 55.98% Dave Duecker Rep. 30,897 43.99% 70,244 8,424
2004 General[11] Nov. 2 Robert W. Wirch (inc) Democratic 42,097 52.11% Reince Priebus Rep. 38,644 47.84% 80,779 3,453
2008 General[12] Nov. 4 Robert W. Wirch (inc) Democratic 54,946 66.65% Benjamin Lee Bakke Rep. 27,383 33.21% 82,444 27,563
2011 Recall[13] Aug. 16 Robert W. Wirch (inc) Democratic 26,524 57.35% Jonathan Steitz Rep. 19,662 42.51% 82,444 27,563
Brian Harwood (write-in) Ind. 23 0.05%
2012 General[14] Nov. 6 Robert W. Wirch (inc) Democratic 51,177 69.57% Pam Stevens Rep. 22,278 30.29% 73,559 28,899
2016 General[15] Nov. 8 Robert W. Wirch (inc) Democratic 50,841 98.16% --unopposed-- 51,794 49,888
2020 General[16] Nov. 3 Robert W. Wirch (inc) Democratic 55,214 96.22% 57,385 53,043

External links

References

  1. ^ Huey-Burns, Caitlin (January 24, 2011). "10 Things You Didn't Know About Reince Priebus". U.S. News.
  2. ^ "Senator Robert Wirch profile". Wisconsin State Legislature. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  3. ^ Glauber, Bill (February 20, 2011). "In Illinois, Wisconsin Senate Democrats vow unity". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  4. ^ "Taxpayers to Recall Robert Wirch". Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. March 9, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  5. ^ Tolan, Tom (April 21, 2011). "Recall petitions filed against 4 lawmakers". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  6. ^ "August 16 Wisconsin recall election results". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. August 17, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  7. ^ a b Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1993). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1993–1994 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 905, 922. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  8. ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1995). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1995–1996 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 905, 922. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  9. ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1997). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1997–1998 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 888, 889, 890. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  10. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2000 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. May 10, 2001. p. 9. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  11. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2004. p. 9. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  12. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/04/2008 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2008. p. 8. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  13. ^ Pohlman, Julie; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2013). "Elections in Wisconsin" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 2013–2014 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 892, 893, 894. ISBN 978-0-9752820-6-9. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  14. ^ Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election - 11/6/2012 (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 26, 2012. p. 7. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  15. ^ Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 22, 2016. p. 7. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  16. ^ Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 18, 2020. p. 6. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
Wisconsin Senate Preceded byJoseph F. Andrea Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 22nd district January 6, 1997 – present Incumbent
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