Robert Wirch

Robert W. Wirch (born November 16, 1943) is an American politician serving as a Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 22nd district since 1997. He previously served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1993 through 1997.

Robert Wirch
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
Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Mary Wirch
ChildrenDavid, Julia
ResidencePleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Parkside
ProfessionFactory worker
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
U.S. Army Reserve
Years of service1965–1971

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)
Wisconsin Assembly, 65th District Election, 1992[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Robert W. Wirch 3,229 40.66%
Democratic Wanda Lynn Bellow 2,085 26.26%
Democratic Stephen P. Casey 1,780 22.42%
Republican Darnell H. Mason 847 10.67%
Total votes '7,941' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Robert W. Wirch 15,144 74.13%
Republican Darnell H. Mason 5,286 25.87%
Total votes '20,430' '100.0%'
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly, 65th District Election, 1994[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Robert W. Wirch (incumbent) 2,813 77.58%
Republican Walter E. Velden 813 22.42%
Total votes '3,626' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Robert W. Wirch (incumbent) 10,722 69.34%
Republican Walter E. Velden 4,741 30.66%
Total votes '15,463' '100.0%'
Democratic hold

Wisconsin Senate (1996-2016)
Wisconsin Senate, 22nd District Election, 1996[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Robert W. Wirch 16,136 82.91%
Republican Bruno M. Rizzo 2,317 11.90%
Republican Marcus Donegan 1,010 5.19%
Total votes '19,463' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Robert W. Wirch 33,847 56.81%
Republican Bruno M. Rizzo 25,728 43.19%
Total votes '59,575' '100.0%'
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Senate, 22nd District Election, 2000
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election[10]
Democratic Robert W. Wirch (incumbent) 8,884 77.43%
Republican Dave Duecker 2,580 22.49%
Write-ins 9 0.08%
Total votes '11,473' '100.0%'
General Election[11]
Democratic Robert W. Wirch (incumbent) 39,321 55.98%
Republican Dave Duecker 30,897 43.99%
Write-ins 26 0.04%
Total votes '70,244' '100.0%' +17.91%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Senate, 22nd District Election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election[12]
Democratic Robert W. Wirch (incumbent) 7,301 51.97%
Republican Reince Priebus 6,730 47.91%
Write-ins 17 0.12%
Total votes '14,048' '100.0%'
General Election[13]
Democratic Robert W. Wirch (incumbent) 42,097 52.11%
Republican Reince Priebus 38,644 47.84%
Write-ins 38 0.05%
Total votes '80,779' '100.0%' +15.00%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Senate, 22nd District Election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election[14]
Democratic Robert W. Wirch (incumbent) 7,608 81.08%
Republican Benjamin Lee Bakke 1,698 18.10%
Write-ins 77 0.82%
Total votes '14,048' '100.0%'
General Election[15]
Democratic Robert W. Wirch (incumbent) 54,946 66.65%
Republican Benjamin Lee Bakke 27,383 33.21%
Write-ins 115 0.14%
Total votes '82,444' '100.0%' +2.06%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Senate, 22nd District Recall Election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election[16]
Republican Jonathan Steitz 5,981 61.06%
Republican Fred R. Ekornaas 3,369 34.39%
Write-ins 446 4.55%
Total votes '9,796' '100.0%'
General Election[17]
Democratic Robert W. Wirch (incumbent) 26,524 57.35%
Republican Jonathan Steitz 19,662 42.51%
Independent Brian Harwood (write-in) 23 0.05%
Write-ins 42 0.09%
Total votes '46,251' '100.0%' -43.90%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Senate, 22nd District Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election[18]
Democratic Robert W. Wirch (incumbent) 5,575 49.78%
Republican Pam Stevens 5,574 49.77%
Write-ins 51 0.46%
Total votes '11,200' '100.0%'
General Election[19]
Democratic Robert W. Wirch (incumbent) 51,177 69.57%
Republican Pam Stevens 22,278 30.29%
Write-ins 104 0.14%
Total votes '73,559' '100.0%' +59.04%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Senate, 22nd District Election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election[20]
Democratic Robert W. Wirch (incumbent) 6,057 97.80%
Write-ins 136 2.20%
Total votes '6,193' '100.0%'
General Election[21]
Democratic Robert W. Wirch (incumbent) 50,841 98.16%
Write-ins 953 1.84%
Total votes '51,794' '100.0%' -29.59%
Democratic hold

References
  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. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1993-1994 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 905, 922. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  8. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 905, 922. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  9. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1997-1998 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 888, 889. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  10. Results of Fall Primary Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. 2000-09-12. p. 16. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  11. Results of Fall General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. 2000-11-07. p. 9. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  12. Results of Fall Primary Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. 2004-09-14. p. 17. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  13. Results of Fall General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. 2004-11-02. p. 9. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  14. Results of Fall Primary Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. 2008-09-09. p. 16. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  15. Canvass Summary Fall General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. 2008-11-04. p. 11. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  16. Canvass Results for 2011 Primary Recall Election State Senate 22 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. 2011-07-19. p. 1. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  17. Canvass Results for 2011 Recall Election State Senate 22 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. 2011-08-16. p. 1. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  18. Canvass Results for 2012 Partisan Primary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. 2012-08-14. p. 11. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  19. Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. 2012-11-06. pp. 6, 7. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  20. Canvass Results for 2016 Partisan Primary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. 2016-08-09. pp. 12, 13. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  21. Canvass Results for 2016 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. 2016-11-29. p. 7. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
Wisconsin State Senate
Preceded by
Joseph F. Andrea		 Wisconsin State Senator - 22nd District
1996 – Present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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