Scott Walker

|  |

45th Governor of Wisconsin
From: January 3, 2011 – January 7, 2019

Lieutenant | Rebecca Kleefisch
Predecessor | Jim Doyle
Successor | Tony Evers
5th Milwaukee County Executive
From: April 30, 2002 – December 27, 2010[1]
Predecessor | Janine Geske (acting)
Successor | Lee Holloway (acting)
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 14th district
From: June 1, 1993 – April 30, 2002[1]
Predecessor | Peggy Rosenzweig
Successor | Leah Vukmir
Information

Party  | Republican

Spouse(s)  | Tonette Walker

Religion  | Evangelical Christian

Scott Walker was Conservative of the Year 2014
For the Texas judge, see Scott Walker (Texas).

Scott Kevin Walker (born November 2, 1967) was a conservative and Republican governor of Wisconsin and was a candidate in the 2016 presidential election. Previously he was executive of Milwaukee County and a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, and while in college he ran a student pro-life organization.

While a governor of a blue state, Walker successfully passed a large amount of solidly conservative legislation with the help of the GOP-controlled legislature. Despite strong opposition from leftists, Walker's accomplishments include expanding gun rights, protecting the right to life, and making Wisconsin more business-friendly. Wisconsin's economic position strengthened due to his policies.[2]

After Walker lost reelection in 2018, he disappointed many conservatives by taking a position to advocate for a Constitutional Convention.[3] In 2021, Walker became president of Young Americans for Freedom.

## Contents

* 1 Early life
* 2 Early political career
* 3 Governor of Wisconsin
* 3.1 2010 election
* 3.2 Right to work and 2012 recall election
* 3.3 2014 election
* 3.4 Reforms
* 3.5 2016 presidential primaries
* 3.6 Trump carries state
* 3.7 2018 election and legacy
* 4 Personal life
* 5 External links
* 6 References

## Early life[edit]

Walker was born on November 2, 1967 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[4] His father was a Baptist minister, and the Walker family moved to Plainfield, Iowa and then to the small town of Delavan, Wisconsin when Walker was nine.[1][4] Walker was active in school sports and other activities as a kid, and he was an Eagle Scout.[5] In 1985, he was one of two boys chosen to represent Wisconsin for the Boys Nation, an event in Washington D.C. sponsored by the American Legion.[4] At the event, Walker was able to meet United States President Ronald Reagan, "who he said inspired him and became his role model",[4] and he has stated that the even gave "him the political bug."[5] Walker graduated from Delavan-Darien High School in 1986.[1]

The same year he graduated high school, Walker entered Marquette University, and he would be a student there until the spring of 1990.[4] Walker was very active in student government, and he unsuccessfully ran for student president in 1988.[1] In addition, he led the pro-life Students for Life group at Marquette.[6] Walker earned good grades, had a clean record, and was only 34 credits away from graduating, however he voluntarily dropped out after he received a well-paying job at American Red Cross.[5][7] Liberals tried to mock him because of this in 2015, but Marquette made clear that he was "a senior in good standing when he voluntarily withdrew".[4]

## Early political career[edit]

In 1990, Walker unsuccessfully ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly.[1] In 1993, he was successfully elected to the state assembly in a special election.[5] He was re-elected four times, serving until 2002.[1][4] As early as his first election campaign and his tenure as state representative, it was clear that Walker was a solid fiscal and social conservative.[1][4] In addition, he sponsored or cosponsored nearly every pro-life bill in the Assembly.[6]

In 2002, the Democrat Milwaukee County Executive, Tom Ament, decided to retire rather than face a recall election due to a pension scandal.[1][5] Walker won the election in a historic victory, becoming "the youngest person and first Republican [ever] elected to the position"[1] in a liberal county.[5] As Milwaukee County Executive, Walker again showed his strong conservative values by shrinking the government workforce by 20 percent, by cutting over $44 million in proposed spending through his veto powers, and returning $370,000 of his government salary back to the county, among many other decisions.[5] Walker was re-elected to the position in 2004 and 2008,[1][4] and despite being in a liberal county, he ran as a conservative.[4]

In January 2005, Walker announced he would run for Wisconsin Governor in the 2006 election.[8] In March 2006, after 14 months of campaigning and due to low campaign funds and support, Walker dropped out of the race and endorsed his Republican primary opponent, Congressman Mark Green, actively campaigning for him.[8] Green lost the election, and this helped position Walker as the frontrunner in the 2010 election.[8]

## Governor of Wisconsin[edit]

### 2010 election[edit]

Walker ran for and was elected Governor of Wisconsin, defeating liberal, pro-abortion Democrat Tom Barrett with over 52 percent of the vote.[4][9] As with his previous campaigns, Walker ran on a strong conservative platform, including support for gun-rights, life, marriage between a man and a woman, among other issues.[1] Walker's victory came amid a massive series of GOP victories, as conservative Republican Ron Johnson won the contested U.S. Senate seat, and the party gained majorities in the U.S. House delegation, State Assembly, and State Senate.[10][11]

### Right to work and 2012 recall election[edit]

Leftwing insurrectionists take over the Wisconsin state capitol.

See also: Wisconsin budget controversy

Scott Walker became a leader of conservatives nationwide when he supported and then signed into law a repeal of most of the collective bargaining privileges of most government workers.[1][4] Walker took this historic step to prevent the State from continuing on a path of financial ruin and overspending.[12]

Union-controlled leftist politicians went berserk at the commonsense bill to reduce union control over the state, and they blocked the bill for three weeks by fleeing to Illinois until the Senate removed "some financial elements from the bill", making it legal to pass it without the missing Democrats.[13] Leftists continued to fight the bill, but it was ultimately declared to be legal, twice, by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.[1][14]

Walker faced a liberal-promoted recall election on June 5, 2012, but won it by a landslide—53 percent of the vote, even more than in 2010.[15] By late May, liberals were already beginning to blame each other for Walker's lead in the polls: "Top union officials are lashing out at Washington Democrats, claiming they haven't done enough to help them unseat Gov. Scott Walker in Wisconsin's recall election."[16] Walker became the first governor in United States history to survive a recall election.[17]

### 2014 election[edit]

Scott Walker celebrating his 2014 re-election.

Scott Walker was reelected again in 2014—his third successful gubernatorial election in four years—with over 52 percent of the vote, defeating liberal Mary Burke.[18][19]

### Reforms[edit]

When Scott Walker took office, Wisconsin had a budget deficit of $3.6 billion.[20] Instead of raising taxes, the governor has set out on a mission to reduce costs across the board, make Wisconsin a business-friendly state, and give local governments the ability to make their own spending decisions.[20] The state's labor unions were in an uproar and protested Walker's decision to end union collective bargaining and weaken the tight grip they had on the state and its people.

Due to Walker's reforms, Wisconsin taxpayers have saved over $5.24 billion as of 2016, or $2,291 per household.[20][21] In addition, the state has saved over $3.36 billion and has increased its revenue by $404.8 million.[20] Despite leftist claims that Wisconsin's economy has stagnated under Walker, the evidence is overwhelming that the opposite is the case.[2]

Walker has been a strong advocate for the unborn. In 2011, he signed the Wisconsin state budget into law, which defunded Planned Parenthood, making Wisconsin the fourth state to defund the illegal program.[22] In addition, Walker has signed other pro-life bills into law,[23] including one to ban abortion after the 20th week of pregnancy.[24] He has criticized the notion that abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother in certain cases, calling it a "false choice."[25] On April 3, 2018, Walker signed a bill into law that excluded abortion coverage from state health insurance plans.[26]

On March 9, 2015, Walker signed into law a bill making Wisconsin a right to work state.[27] Once again, the unions went wild in opposition due to the loss of their massive power and filed a lawsuit against the law. As of May 2016, the law is still in effect but in a vulnerable position.[28]

Walker also has greatly expanded gun rights for Wisconsin residents. In 2011, he signed concealed carry[29] and the Castle Doctrine[30] into law. Walker's support for gun rights did not end there. On June 24, 2015, Walker signed two bills into law that removed Wisconsin's 48-hour waiting period for buying guns and gave retired or off-duty law enforcement officials the legal right to carry concealed guns into public schools.[31] He has earned an "A+" rating from the National Rifle Association.[32]

Walker has supported Israel, and in October 2017, he signed an executive order to ban state agencies from doing business with firms with ties to the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.[33]

During his governorship, Walker labeled Wisconsin's state Christmas tree as a "Christmas Tree," rejecting the term "Holiday tree" used to describe it both before and after him.[34]

### 2016 presidential primaries[edit]

Walker announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election on July 13, 2015.[35] Despite his popularity, strong position, and early lead in the polls, Walker dropped out on September 21 after the rise of Donald Trump.[36][37] He endorsed Texas Senator Ted Cruz for the GOP nomination,[38] but he put his full support behind Trump after he won the primary.[39][40] Walker helped conservative Indiana governor and GOP vice presidential nominee Mike Pence prepare for the vice presidential debate against Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, which Pence decisively won.[41]

### Trump carries state[edit]

Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election in a historic and massive upset.[42][43] In addition, Trump won Wisconsin in an equally surprising upset, becoming the first Republican to do so since 1984.[43][44] Also, the state GOP won historic victories in the state legislature, building their largest majorities since 1957,[43][45] and conservative Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson defeated liberal Russ Feingold a second time for a second term.[43][46] This put Walker and the Wisconsin Republican Party in a very strong position,[47] and it coincided with major electoral gains for the GOP.[48]

### 2018 election and legacy[edit]

Walker faced a tough re-election campaign in 2018.[49][50] Walker ultimately lost the election by a narrow margin.[51][52] Voting irregularities and mishandling of ballots in Milwaukee county occurred.[53]

In April 2019, conservative Brian Hagedorn, a judge and former advisor to Walker, won election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, helping ensure Walker's legacy.[54] Notably, after his term ended, Walker warned conservatives of left-wing attempts to use the courts to advance their political agenda.[55] The state legislature remained Republican-controlled.[56]

## Personal life[edit]

Walker married his wife, Tonette, in 1993, and together they have two sons.[57] Walker is a born-again Christian.[58] Despite his strong Christian and conservative stances, Walker's wife and sons disagree with him both on certain political and religious issues.[57]

## External links[edit]

* Governor of Wisconsin Official Site
* Scott Walker 2016 campaign website
* Profile on Ballotpedia

## References[edit]

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Stein, Kate (July 19, 2015). Timeline: The life and career of Scott Walker. Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Puzder, Andy (May 3, 2015). A Closer Look at Scott Walker’s Record on Jobs. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
3. ↑ https://www.governing.com/topics/finance/tns-scott-walker-constitutional-convention-balanced-budget.html
4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 Scott Walker. Biography.com. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Barbour, Clay (October 24, 2010). From preacher’s kid to front-runner: Scott Walker’s small-town roots led to reputation as fiscal hawk. Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ben-Meir, Ilan (August 25, 2015). Scott Walker’s Remarkably Consistent, Two Decade Fight Against Abortion. BuzzFeed News. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
7. ↑ Viser, Matt (February 11, 2015). Scott Walker’s political ambitions fostered at Marquette. The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Isenstadt, Alex (March 29, 2015). The crushing defeat that shaped Scott Walker. Politico. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
9. ↑ Government Accountability Canvas Reporting System, 2010 Election Results. State of Wisconsin. Pg. 1. December 8, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
10. ↑ Wisconsin: GOP wins Senate, House, gov. seats, ousting Feingold. USA Today (from AP). November 3, 2010. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
11. ↑ Stein, Jason & Johnson, Annysa (November 3, 2010). Republicans take over state Senate, Assembly. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
12. ↑ Lieb, David & Ramde, Dinesh (March 1, 2011). Wis. Gov. to Outline Ultimate Intentions in Budget. ABC News (from AP, archived at archive.org). Retrieved October 21, 2016.
13. ↑ Marley, Patrick & Lee Bergquist, Lee (March 9, 2011). With Democrats absent, Republicans advance collective bargaining changes. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
14. ↑ Marley, Patrick & Lee Bergquist, Lee (June 14, 2011). Supreme Court reinstates collective bargaining law. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
15. ↑ Wisconsin's Walker survives recall by wide margin. Fox News. June 6, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
16. ↑ Joseph, Cameron & Bogardus, Kevin (May 25, 2012). Unions angry with Democrats over lack of help in Wisconsin governor's recall. The Hill. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
17. ↑ Montopoli, Brian (June 6, 2012). Scott Walker wins Wisconsin recall election. CBS News. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
18. ↑ Higgins, Sean (November 5, 2014). Gov. Scott Walker wins re-election in Wisconsin. Washington Examiner. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
19. ↑ Rocha, Polo (November 6, 2014). How Scott Walker won his third governor’s race in four years. The Badger Herald. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Szafir, CJ (April 22, 2016). Walker’s Union Reforms Have Helped, Not Hurt, Wisconsinites. National Review. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
21. ↑ Act 10 Saves Wisconsin Taxpayers More Than $5 Billion Over 5 Years, MacIver Analysis Finds. MacIver Institute. February 25, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
22. ↑ Zagorski, Sarah (August 24, 2015). Scott Walker Pushes Bill to De-Fund Planned Parenthood After It Sells Aborted Baby Parts. LifeNews.com. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
23. ↑ Scott Walker outlines abortion, gay marriage positions in letter. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (from AP). October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
24. ↑ Stein, Jason (July 20, 2015). Scott Walker signs 20-week abortion ban, trooper pay raise. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
25. ↑ Spicuzza, Mary (August 8, 2015). Scott Walker calls abortion to save a woman's life a 'false choice'. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
26. ↑ Freiburger, Calvin (April 3, 2018). Wisconsin governor signs bill banning abortion insurance coverage for state employees. LifeSiteNews. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
27. ↑ Gov. Walker signs bill making Wisconsin right-to-work state. Fox News (from AP). March 9, 2015. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
28. ↑ Court puts ruling striking down Wisconsin's right-to-work law on hold. Chicago Tribune. May 24, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
29. ↑ Stein, Jason (July 8, 2011). Walker signs concealed-carry measure into law. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
30. ↑ Stein, Jason (December 7, 2011). Walker signs 'castle doctrine' bill, other measures. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
31. ↑ Strauss, Daniel (June 24, 2015). Scott Walker signs two pro-gun bills. Politico. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
32. ↑ NRA Endorses Scott Walker for Governor in Wisconsin. NRA-PVF. September 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
33. ↑ Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker Signs Bill Barring Israel Boycotts. Breitbart News. October 31, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
34. ↑ Richmond, Todd (November 8, 2019). Wisconsin governor returns ‘holiday tree’ name to evergreen. Associated Press. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
See also:
* Mainwaring, Doug (November 19, 2019). ‘It’s a Christmas tree, not a holiday tree’: Scott Walker enlightens liberal Democrat governor. LifeSiteNews. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
35. ↑ Walker announces 2016 White House bid, vows to 'fight for America'. Fox News. July 13, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
36. ↑ Lowry, Rich & Johnson, Eliana (September 8, 2015). Scott Walker: What Went Wrong?. National Review. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
37. ↑ Eric Bradner, John King, Dana Bash and Jeff Zeleny (September 21, 2015). Scott Walker drops out of 2016 presidential race. CNN. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
38. ↑ Glueck, Katie & Gass, Nick (March 29, 2016). Scott Walker endorses Ted Cruz. Politico. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
39. ↑ Gass, Nick (July 20, 2016). Walker 'absolutely' endorses Trump. Politico. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
40. ↑ Gilbert, Craig (July 21, 2016). Scott Walker joins backlash over Cruz refusal to endorse Trump. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
41. ↑ Shih, Adrienne (October 5, 2016). Gov. Scott Walker: Mike Pence didn't 'take the bait' at debate. CNN. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
42. ↑ Trump wins presidency, defeats Clinton in historic election upset. Fox News. November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 Bauer, Scott (November 9, 2016). Republicans build majorities in Legislature. The Charlotte Observer (from AP). Retrieved November 9, 2016.
44. ↑ Kueppers, Courtney (November 8, 2016). Trump Becomes First Republican Presidential Candidate Since 1984 To Win Wisconsin. Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
45. ↑ Marley, Patrick & Stein, Jason (November 9, 2016). GOP strengthens hold on Legislature. Sheboygan Press. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
46. ↑ Schleifer, Theodore (November 8, 2016). Ron Johnson earns surprise GOP win in Wisconsin Senate race. CNN. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
47. ↑ Litke, Eric (November 10, 2016). 5 Wisconsin winners in Trump tidal wave. Post-Crescent. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
48. ↑ Bosman, Julie & Davey, Monica (November 11, 2016). Republicans Expand Control in a Deeply Divided Nation. The New York Times. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
49. ↑ Lucas, Fred (October 11, 2018). Is Scott Walker's winning streak nearing an end? Wisconsin race poses challenge. Fox News. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
50. ↑ Finley, Allysia (October 26, 2018). Scott Walker’s Toughest Campaign. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
51. ↑ Darrah, Nicole (November 7, 2018). Scott Walker concedes to Democrat Tony Evers in Wisconsin gubernatorial race. Fox News. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
52. ↑ Wilson, Reid (November 7, 2018). Dem defeats Scott Walker in Wisconsin governor’s race. The Hill. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
53. ↑ https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/07/scott-walker-eyes-damaged-absentee-ballots-recount-decision/1918944002/
54. ↑ Multiple references:
* Barrett, Joe; Ailworth, Erin (April 3, 2019). Wisconsin Republicans Cheered by Showing in Supreme Court Race. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
* Wilson, Reid (April 4, 2019). GOP base wakes up in Wisconsin. The Hill. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
* Freiburger, Calvin (April 4, 2019). Pro-life judge upsets Planned Parenthood-backed feminist for WI Supreme Court seat. LifeSiteNews. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
See also:
* Patrick, William (April 6, 2019). Eric Holder Loses Big in Wisconsin Battleground Election. The Epoch Times. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
55. ↑ Kaplan, Tal (May 7, 2019). Scott Walker accuses left of judicial ‘power grab’: ‘We’ve got to fight back'. Fox News. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
56. ↑ Richmond, Todd (November 12, 2019). Wisconsin Assembly votes to recognize tree, Bible week. Associated Press. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 Jordan, Mary (July 5, 2015). Scott Walker’s wife, toughened by life, is ready for fires of a campaign. The Washington Post. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
58. ↑ Erickson, Doug (January 3, 2011). Inauguration day starts with prayer breakfast. Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2016.