Robert W. Wirch (born November 16, 1943) is an American politician serving as a
Democratic member of the
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the larger Wisconsin State Assembly they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin. The powers of the Wisconsin Senate are modeled after t ...
, representing the
22nd district since 1997. He previously served in the
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin.
Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...
from 1993 through 1997.
Early life and education
Wirch was born in
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha () is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the seat of Kenosha County. Per the 2020 census, the population was 99,986 which made it the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, Kenos ...
and graduated from
Bradford High School. He received a bachelor's degree from the
University of Wisconsin–Parkside
The University of Wisconsin–Parkside (UWP) is a public university in Somers, Wisconsin. It is part of the University of Wisconsin System and has 4,644 students, 161 full-time faculty, and 89 lecturers and part-time faculty. The university of ...
in 1970 and served in the
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve (USAR) is a Military reserve force, reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the Army element of the reserve components of the United States Armed F ...
from 1965 to 1971.
Career
He served as a member of the Board of Supervisors for
Kenosha County
Kenosha County is located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 169,151 as of the 2020 census, making it the eighth most populous county in Wisconsin. The county shares the same name as the city of Kenosh ...
from 1986 to 1994.
Wisconsin legislature
In 1992, Wirch was elected to the
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin.
Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...
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
Reinhold Richard Priebus ( ; born March 18, 1972) is an American lawyer and politician who served as White House Chief of Staff for President Donald Trump from January 20, 2017, until July 31, 2017. He also served as the chairman of the Republ ...
, and his 2011 victory against a recall attempt. He served as the Democratic Minority Caucus Chairperson from 2003 to 2005.
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
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly (a body that uses parliamentary procedure, such as a legislature) necessary to conduct the business of that group. According to ''Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised'', the ...
on
Governor Scott Walker's Budget Repair legislation. The Budget Repair bill later passed.
2011 recall attempt
On February 24, 2011, ''Taxpayers to Recall Robert Wirch'' officially registered with the
Wisconsin Government Accountability Board The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (G.A.B.) was a regulatory agency for the State of Wisconsin which administered and enforced Wisconsin law pertaining to campaign finance, elections, ethics and lobbying. The agency was re-organized, over ...
as a result of the
2011 Wisconsin protests
Eleven or 11 may refer to:
*11 (number), the natural number following 10 and preceding 12
* one of the years 11 BC, AD 11, 1911, 2011, or any year ending in 11
Literature
* ''Eleven'' (novel), a 2006 novel by British author David Llewellyn
*''El ...
. 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. On August 16, 2011, Wirch won 57% of the vote in a recall election, defeating Republican Jonathan Steitz.
Personal life
Wirch resides in
Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Pleasant Prairie is a village in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located in Kenosha County along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan, Pleasant Prairie was home to 21,250 people at the 2020 census. The village is positioned directly south of ...
. 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)
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Wisconsin Senate (1996-2016)
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References
External links
Senator Robert Wirchat the
Wisconsin State Legislature
The Wisconsin Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Legislature is a bicameral body composed of the upper house, Wisconsin State Senate, and the lower Wisconsin State Assembly, both of which have had Republican ...
Bob Wirch for State Senateofficial campaign site
Wisconsin Historical Society-Robert W. Wirch*
Campaign 2008campaign contributions at ''Wisconsin Democracy Campaign''
22nd Senate District, Senator Wirchin the
Wisconsin Blue Book
The ''Wisconsin Blue Book'' is a biennial publication of the Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau. The ''Blue Book'' is an almanac containing information on the government, economics, demographics, geography and history of the state of Wisc ...
(2005–2006)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wirch, Robert W.
1943 births
Living people
County supervisors in Wisconsin
Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Democratic Party Wisconsin state senators
Politicians from Kenosha, Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Parkside alumni
21st-century American politicians
People from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Mary D. Bradford High School alumni