Republican State Sen. Van Wanggaard has announced that he is retiring from the Senate.
Van Wanggaard, Republican senator from Wisconsin’s 21st District, announced during the last day of Senate session on March 17, 2026, that he will not seek reelection after a career defined by resilience and public service. Citing health concerns, he said: “His health and his family’s health won’t allow [running for reelection]. In the last 4 years, I lost 3 siblings, my daughter has stage 4 cancer, my brother had a heart attack, and he has dementia.”
Born April 19, 1952, in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to a military family, he moved to Racine at age three. A 1970 Racine Lutheran graduate, Wanggaard spent nearly 30 years with the Racine Police Department (1972–2001) as a traffic investigator, hostage negotiator, and instructor. A 2000 on-duty crash with a fleeing fugitive ended his career early due to injuries. He later taught at Gateway Technical College and served as school liaison while chairing the Racine Police and Fire Commission (2003–2013).
Wanggaard began his political career in 2002 by defeating a 10-year incumbent for Racine County Board District 7 with nearly 70% of the vote. He served four terms, including as chair of Public Protection and Criminal Justice. Although his 2006 Assembly bid was unsuccessful, he achieved a breakthrough in 2010 by defeating Democrat John Lehman in the general election, 52.5% to 47.5%.
Wanggaard soon became chair of the Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs Committee. The 2011 Act 10 protests and the Walker recall wave made him a target. In June 2012, Lehman reclaimed the seat by 819 votes (50.5%–49.4%) after a recount, one of only two successful Senate recalls that cycle. I was fortunate to serve on Van’s campaign during that cycle, and it remains one of the most meaningful experiences in my political career. From the very beginning, we were all in—we were knocking on doors and calling voters daily because we knew what was at stake and who we were fighting for. Working with Van didn’t feel like joining a campaign; it meant being welcomed into his family. He had this rare gift of making every volunteer, staffer, and supporter feel genuinely seen and valued. He truly and deeply cared about the people who poured their hearts into the effort, and he never failed to return that loyalty in kind.
With Lehman running for lieutenant governor, Wanggaard returned in 2014, defeating union activist and perennial candidate Randy Bryce 61.5%–38.4%. He won reelection comfortably in 2018 (58%) and 2022 (94%, unopposed in the general). Rising in GOP leadership, he became the Majority Caucus Chair in 2017 and has chaired the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee and co-chaired the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties.
Wanggaard’s legislative record focuses on law-and-order priorities, including tougher penalties, wrongful-imprisonment reforms, school choice expansion, tax relief, Second Amendment rights, and pro-life measures. He supported post-Act 10 labor reforms, public safety funding, and efforts to grow Wisconsin’s economy. As a full-time legislator, he helped solidify Republican majorities in southeastern Wisconsin while representing a district that leaned slightly Democratic in recent presidential races.
Wanggaard has been married to his wife, Mary Jo, for 48 years. They have two adult children and three granddaughters. He remains deeply involved in the Racine community through Harbor Fest, his church, veterans’ groups, and the Racine Zoo board. Wanggaard’s decision caps a remarkable arc. From beat cop to county supervisor to twice-elected senator who made a remarkable comeback after a recall to reclaim his seat, he exemplifies determination and community commitment. His legacy includes advancing criminal-justice infrastructure and modeling persistence in a district that repeatedly tested—and ultimately rewarded—his tenacity.
