Tyler August
Majority Leader of the Wisconsin Assembly
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byJim Steineke
Speaker pro tempore of the Wisconsin Assembly
In office
October 8, 2013 – January 3, 2023
Preceded byBill Kramer
Succeeded byKevin Petersen
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 32nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Preceded byThomas Lothian
Personal details
Born (1983-01-26) January 26, 1983 (age 41)
Walworth County, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin–Madison
WebsiteLegislative website
Official Twitter

Tyler August (born January 26, 1983) is an American politician and legislator. He is the majority leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly since 2023 and previously served as the chamber's speaker pro tempore. A Republican, he was first elected to the Assembly in 2010, representing eastern Walworth County.

Early life and education

Born in Walworth County, Wisconsin, August graduated from Big Foot High School, in Walworth, Wisconsin, in 2001. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, but did not obtain a degree. He completed a leadership program at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business in 2012.[1]

Career

August first became active in state government by working on the staff of state representative Thomas Lothian, his predecessor in the Assembly, and is now a full-time legislator. He has been active with the Republican Party of Wisconsin, serving on the executive board of the state party, as well as serving as Chair for the Republican Party in Walworth County and in Wisconsin's 1st congressional district. He is also a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association of America.[1]

2010 election

August was first elected to the Assembly in 2010, where his main challenge was the hotly contested six-way Republican primary. On the night of the primary, Adam Gibbs, the 24-year-old son of former Wisconsin circuit court judge Michael Gibbs, was declared the winner by a mere four votes.[2] After a dramatic recount, August was ultimately ruled to be the winner by a margin of three votes.[3][4] August subsequently won the general election with 58% of the vote.[5]

Assembly Speaker pro tempore

In 2013, when Republican Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder resigned his seat in the Assembly to accept an appointment from Governor Scott Walker, the Republican conference selected Bill Kramer, the Speaker pro tempore, to replace him. They then elected Tyler August, at the time in just his second term, to become the new Speaker pro tempore.[6] He was subsequently re-elected by the conference at the start of the next three legislative sessions.[7]

In the current term, August serves on the Committees on Assembly Organization, Government Accountability and Oversight, Insurance, Rules, and Law Revision. He is co-chair of the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions, and also serves on the Joint Legislative Council and the Speaker's Task Force on Adoption.[1]

In November 2020, August was re-elected to his role as Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore.[8]

In June 2022, Governor Tony Evers called for a special session to pass laws which would have legalized abortion in Wisconsin until viability. Abortion was banned in Wisconsin earlier in the month after the Supreme Court of the United States decided that the Constitution of the United States did not confer the right to abortion. This decision triggered the implementation of an 1849 state law that banned abortion, except to protect the life of the mother.[9] However, August and other Republicans in the Legislature gaveled the special session in and out, keeping abortion illegal in the state.[10]

Assembly Majority Leader

August was elected as Majority Leader of the Assembly on November 10, 2022, replacing Jim Steineke, who resigned on July 27, 2022. He was replaced as Speaker pro tempore by Kevin Petersen.[11]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (2010)

Wisconsin Assembly, 32nd District Election, 2010[12][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Primary, September 14, 2010
Republican Tyler August 1,760 23.97%
Republican Adam Gibbs 1,757 23.93%
Republican Mel Nieuwenhuis 1,642 22.36%
Republican Dan Necci 1,311 17.86%
Republican Thomas E. Stelling 514 7.00%
Republican John K. Finley 354 4.82%
Scattering 4 0.05%
Plurality 3 0.04%
Total votes 7,342 100.0%
General Election, November 2, 2010
Republican Tyler August 10,868 58.09% +6.44%
Democratic Doug A. Harrod 5,156 27.56% -13.66%
Independent Daniel G. Kilkenny 1,983 10.60%
Independent Rick Pappas 648 3.46%
Scattering 53 0.28%
Plurality 5,712 30.53% +20.11%
Total votes 18,708 100.0% -29.43%
Republican hold

Wisconsin Assembly (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022)

Wisconsin Assembly, 32nd District Election, 2012[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 6, 2012
Republican Tyler August (incumbent) 15,586 57.10% -0.99%
Democratic Kim M. Peterson 10,828 39.67% +12.11%
Independent David Stolow 847 3.10%
Scattering 33 0.12%
Plurality 4,758 17.43% -13.10%
Total votes 27,294 100.0% +45.89%
Republican hold
Wisconsin Assembly, 32nd District Election, 2014[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 4, 2014
Republican Tyler August (incumbent) 13,714 65.79% +8.69%
Democratic Alan Kupsik 7,094 34.03% -5.64%
Scattering 37 0.18%
Plurality 6,620 31.76% +14.33%
Total votes 20,845 100.0% -23.63%
Republican hold
Wisconsin Assembly, 32nd District Election, 2016[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 8, 2016
Republican Tyler August (incumbent) 16,862 62.47% -3.32%
Democratic Christine Welcher 10,090 37.38% +3.35%
Scattering 42 0.16%
Plurality 6,772 25.09% -6.67%
Total votes 26,994 100.0% +29.50%
Republican hold
Wisconsin Assembly, 32nd District Election, 2018[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 6, 2018
Republican Tyler August (incumbent) 14,813 59.22% -3.25%
Democratic Katherine R. Gaulke 10,182 40.70% +3.32%
Scattering 20 0.08%
Plurality 4,631 18.51% -6.57%
Total votes 25,015 100.0% -7.33%
Republican hold
Wisconsin Assembly, 32nd District Election, 2020[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 3, 2020
Republican Tyler August (incumbent) 20,164 61.7%
Democratic Katherine R. Gaulke 12,460 38.2%
Scattering 33 0.1%
Plurality 7,740 23.6%
Total votes 32,657 100.0%
Republican hold
Wisconsin Assembly, 32nd District Election, 2022[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 8, 2022
Republican Tyler August (incumbent) 15,757 62.9%
Democratic Adam Jaramillo 9,269 37.0%
Scattering 27 0.1%
Plurality 6,488 25.90%
Total votes 25,053 100.0%
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ a b c Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (2019). "Elected officials: Legislature". Wisconsin Blue Book 2019-2020 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 54–55. ISBN 978-1-7333817-0-3. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  2. ^ Seiser, Lisa; Targo, Steve (September 16, 2010). "Four votes difference in Assembly race". The Lake Geneva Regional News. Retrieved May 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Schultz, Chris (September 23, 2010). "Flap slows recount". The Lake Geneva Regional News. Retrieved May 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Lockwood, Denise (September 27, 2010). "August prevails in vote recount". Kenosha News. Retrieved May 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b 2010 Fall General Election Results Summary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 1, 2010. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  6. ^ Behr, Madeleine (September 9, 2013). "Rep. Bill Kramer elected as new Assembly majority leader". The Badger Herald. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  7. ^ "August named speaker pro tempore". Kenosha News. January 7, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  8. ^ Journal, Riley Vetterkind | Wisconsin State. "Wisconsin legislative Republicans, Democrats elect leaders". madison.com. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  9. ^ Beck, Molly. "Roe decision means an immediate halt to abortion in Wisconsin, setting the stage for the state's 1849 ban to take effect". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  10. ^ Baker, Ben (June 2, 2022). "Republican lawmakers reject special session Evers called to end 1849 abortion law". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved June 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Vos elected to 6th session as Assembly speaker, August to serve as majority leader". Channel3000.com. 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  12. ^ FINAL Sept. 14, 2010 Fall Partisan Primary Results Summary (includes recount) (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. October 4, 2010. p. 34. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  13. ^ Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election - 11/6/2012 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 26, 2012. p. 15. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  14. ^ Canvass Results for 2014 General Election - 11/4/2014 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 26, 2014. p. 16. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  15. ^ Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 22, 2016. p. 16. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  16. ^ Canvass Results for 2018 General Election - 11/6/2018 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. February 22, 2019. p. 17. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  17. ^ Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 (Report). Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  18. ^ Results for 2022 General Election - 11/8/2022 (Report). Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 2, 2022.

External links

Wisconsin State Assembly Preceded byBill Kramer Speaker pro tempore of the Wisconsin Assembly 2013–2023 Succeeded byKevin Petersen Preceded byJim Steineke Majority Leader of the Wisconsin Assembly 2023–present Incumbent
Statewide political officials of Wisconsin
Floor leaders of state houses
Members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
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