Robert Cowles

American politician

Robert Cowles

Cowles in 2011

Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 2nd district

Incumbent

Assumed office
April 21, 1987
Preceded by| Don Hanaway
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
January 7, 1985 – April 21, 1987
Preceded by| Gus Menos
Succeeded by| James R. Charneski
Constituency| 6th Assembly district
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1985
Preceded by| Patricia Spafford Smith
Succeeded by| Mary Hubler
Constituency| 75th Assembly district
Personal details
Born|

Robert Lewis Cowles III

(1950-07-31) July 31, 1950 (age 74)
Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political party|

* Republican
* Democratic (before 1980)

Spouse|

Rebecca St. Clair

(div. 2003)​

Residence(s)| Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
Alma mater| University of Wisconsin–Green Bay (BS)
Website| https://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/02/cowles/

Robert Lewis Cowles III (born July 31, 1950) is an American Republican politician from Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing Wisconsin's 2nd Senate district since 1987. He is the longest currently-serving member of the Wisconsin Senate, having served for 37 years. He previously served four years in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1983-1987).

## Early life and education

[edit]

Robert Cowles was born and raised and lived most of his life in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, earning his bachelor's degree in math and science in 1975. After graduating, he briefly pursued his master's in public administration at University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, but did not complete that degree.[1][2][3][4]

He was formerly a director of an alternative energy division for a communications construction company.[5]

## Early political career

[edit]

Despite his parents being prominent local Republicans, Cowles became active in politics with the Democratic Party during his college years.[1] In 1974, he was a campaign co-chairman for unsuccessful Democratic Wisconsin State Assembly candidate Jon A. LeDuc.[6] During the 1976 Democratic Party presidential primaries he was an organizer in Wisconsin for Arizona U.S. representative Mo Udall's presidential campaign. He was also active in the United States Junior Chamber, and was president of the group in 1977.[7]

In 1978, Cowles made his first bid for state elected office.[1] He ran for Wisconsin State Assembly in what was then the 4th Assembly district; in the Democratic primary, he faced the candidate he had previously worked for, Jon A. LeDuc, who was then making his third bid for election to the Assembly. Cowles and LeDuc ran on nearly identical policy platforms, both arguing for cuts to state bureaucracy and both proposing a plan for indexing the state income tax to inflation. For Wisconsin's then-surplus, they also both advocated sending the money to municipalities in shared revenue as part of a program for municipalities to cut property taxes.[8][9] Cowles prevailed in the primary, receiving 57% of the vote, but was defeated in the general election by Republican Gary T. Dilweg.[10]

After losing the 1978 election, Cowles reduced his political activity and re-emerged in 1982 as a Republican. On his party-change, he explained that he found the Republican Party better fit his conservative political philosophy.[11]

That year, he ran for Assembly again in what was then the 75th Assembly district under the 1982 court-ordered redistricting plan. He faced two opponents in the Republican primary, but prevailed with 50% of the vote. He went on to defeat Democrat Joel Edler in the general election, receiving 56% of the vote.[12] Another redistricting act was passed in 1983, Cowles ran for his second term in 1984 in what was then the 6th Assembly district. He prevailed in another contested primary, and went on to defeat Democrat Gregory Kirschling in the general election.[13][14]

## Wisconsin Senate

[edit]

While Cowles was being re-elected to the assembly in 1986, his district's state senator, Don Hanaway, was being elected Attorney General of Wisconsin. Hanaway still had two years remaining on his term in the Wisconsin Senate, and therefore a special election was called for the spring of 1987 to fill the vacancy in the 2nd Senate district. Cowles was one of four Republicans who entered the special primary to succeed Hanaway, he went on to win the primary with 41% of the vote over state representative Cathy Zeuske and former representative William J. Rogers. In the general election, he defeated Democrat Rosemary Hinkfuss.[14] Since the 1987 special election, Cowles has been re-elected nine times and survived one recall election.

In the 106th Wisconsin Legislature, Cowles chairs the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy; he has been chair of the Senate committee dealing with energy legislation since 2011, and also held the chair multiple times when Republicans held the majority between 1993 and 2006.[note 1] He also previously served as co-chair of the Joint Committee on Audit, and he sits on the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government; he has sat on the committee responsible for transportation issues since 2013.[2][3]

### Recall effort

[edit]

See also: Wisconsin Senate recall elections, 2011

At the start of the 100th Wisconsin Legislature, Cowles supported Governor Scott Walker's controversial "budget repair bill," which passed into law as 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 after months of intense partisan controversy and protest. Much of the controversy was caused by a provision of the law which removed the rights of public employee unions to engage in collective bargaining with state and municipal governments. The law's passage launched a state-wide effort to recall state elected officials who had supported the bill, and Cowles was one of the state senators targeted in that recall effort.

March 2, 2011, the "Committee to Recall Cowles" registered with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.[15] On April 28, roughly 26,000 signatures to recall Cowles were filed with the Government Accountability Board. In late May 2011, the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board verified petitions against Cowles.[16] The recall election was held on August 9, 2011, with Cowles defeating the Democratic challenger, Nancy Nusbaum, 60 percent to 40 percent.[17]

### Retirement

[edit]

The 2024 redistricting act substantially redrew the maps in the Green Bay area. Cowles was drawn out of his 2nd Senate district seat and into the 30th Senate district with two other incumbent Republican state senators. Cowles initially announced he would relocate to the new 2nd Senate district, but later announced that he would retire and end his 42 year legislative career.[18]

Just before the 2024 election, Cowles announced that he would vote for the Democratic Party presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, and stated that Donald Trump "has to be defeated". In announcing his decision, Cowles said, "I really think this is one of the most important things I've done... Hopefully, people will accept that and listen to me, those that have trusted me and believed in me will think about that, and if they're undecided, that we have to make a change here... Trump has to be defeated, and we have to protect the Constitution. And the country will go on, even with some liberal things that Harris might do, or might not do... You have to have the foundation of the Constitution, to protect democracy. If you don't have that, we will disappear."[19]

## Personal life and family

[edit]

Robert Cowles III is the eldest of three sons born to Robert Cowles Jr. and his wife Margaret (née Lindstrom). Robert Cowles Jr. was a mechanical engineer and a co-founder of Marathon Engineering; he was also an original shareholder in the Green Bay Packers.[20] His father, Robert Cowles Sr., was a prominent physician and civic leader in Green Bay.[21]

Through his paternal grandmother, Emily Cone Harris (née Murphy) Cowles, Cowles was an heir to a portion of the ownership of Horseshoe Bay Farms, Door County Wisconsin, Penobscot Mines Minnesota,The Pacific Lumber Company California, The Morley-Murphy Company, founded by her father, Frank Emery Murphy. Her uncle, William Herbert Murphy, was also a prominent businessman, and was one of the founders of the Lincoln Motor Company.[22]

## Electoral history

[edit]

### Wisconsin Assembly, 4th district (1978)

[edit]

Year  | Election  | Date  | Elected  | Defeated  | Total  | Plurality

|
|
|
|
|
|

1978  | Primary[10] | Sep. 12 | Robert L. Cowles III | Democratic | 1,908  | 57.37%  | Jon A. LeDuc | Dem. | 1,418  | 42.63%  | 3,326  | 490
General[10] | Nov. 7 | Gary T. Dilweg | Republican | 9,963  | 57.48%  | Robert L. Cowles III | Dem. | 7,369  | 42.52%  | 17,332  | 2,594

### Wisconsin Assembly, 75th district (1982)

[edit]

Year  | Election  | Date  | Elected  | Defeated  | Total  | Plurality

|
|
|
|
|
|

1982  | Primary[12] | Sep. 14 | Robert L. Cowles III | Republican | 1,960  | 50.20%  | J. Roger Dernbach | Rep. | 1,368  | 35.04%  | 3,904  | 592
Phyllis J. Kates | Rep. | 576  | 14.75%
General[12] | Nov. 2 | Robert L. Cowles III | Republican | 9,235  | 56.71%  | Joel Edler | Dem. | 7,049  | 43.29%  | 16,284  | 2,186

### Wisconsin Assembly, 6th district (1984, 1986)

[edit]

Year  | Election  | Date  | Elected  | Defeated  | Total  | Plurality

|
|
|
|
|
|

1984  | Primary[13] | Sep. 11 | Robert L. Cowles III | Republican | 3,492  | 71.51%  | Dudley D. Birder Jr. | Rep. | 1,391  | 28.49%  | 4,883  | 2,101
General[13] | Nov. 6 | Robert L. Cowles III | Republican | 13,876  | 64.93%  | Gregory J. Kirschling | Dem. | 7,495  | 35.07%  | 21,371  | 6,381
1986  | General[14] | Nov. 4 | Robert L. Cowles III (inc) | Republican | 11,398  | 67.30%  | Daniel L. Olejniczak | Dem. | 5,539  | 32.70%  | 16,937  | 5,859

### Wisconsin Senate (1987-2020)

[edit]

Year  | Election  | Date  | Elected  | Defeated  | Total  | Plurality

|
|
|
|
|
|

1987
(special) | Primary[14] | Feb. 17 | Robert L. Cowles III | Republican | 7,545  | 41.45%  | Cathy Zeuske | Rep. | 6,899  | 37.90%  | 18,203  | 646
Herbert Sandmire | Rep. | 2,046  | 11.24%
William J. Rogers | Rep. | 1,713  | 9.41%
Special[14] | Apr. 7 | Robert L. Cowles III | Republican | 23,297  | 55.46%  | Rosemary Hinkfuss | Dem. | 18,713  | 44.54%  | 42,010  | 4,584
1988 | General[23] | Nov. 8 | Robert L. Cowles III (inc) | Republican | 37,028  | 59.35%  | Frederick C. Thurston | Dem. | 25,361  | 40.65%  | 62,389  | 11,667
1992 | General[24] | Nov. 3 | Robert L. Cowles III (inc) | Republican | 40,570  | 58.05%  | Patricia J. Buss | Dem. | 29,324  | 41.95%  | 69,894  | 11,246
1996 | General[25] | Nov. 5 | Robert L. Cowles III (inc) | Republican | 40,467  | 62.92%  | Patricia J. Buss | Dem. | 23,849  | 37.08%  | 64,316  | 16,618
2000 | General[26] | Nov. 7 | Robert L. Cowles III (inc) | Republican | 55,223  | 99.62%  | \--unopposed-- | 55,434  | 55,012
2004 | General[27] | Nov. 2 | Robert L. Cowles III (inc) | Republican | 60,546  | 89.13%  | Roy Leyendecker | Lib. | 7,288  | 10.73%  | 67,929  | 53,258
2008 | General[28] | Nov. 4 | Robert L. Cowles III (inc) | Republican | 60,507  | 99.35%  | \--unopposed-- | 60,900  | 60,114
2011 | Recall[29] | Aug. 9 | Robert L. Cowles III (inc) | Republican | 27,037  | 57.44%  | Nancy J. Nusbaum | Dem. | 19,974  | 42.43%  | 47,073  | 7,063
2012 | General[30] | Nov. 6 | Robert L. Cowles III (inc) | Republican | 64,192  | 98.54%  | \--unopposed-- | 65,143  | 63,241
2016 | General[31] | Nov. 8 | Robert L. Cowles III (inc) | Republican | 57,269  | 65.00%  | John N. Powers | Dem. | 30,796  | 34.95%  | 88,109  | 26,473
2020 | General[32] | Nov. 3 | Robert L. Cowles III (inc) | Republican | 80,602  | 98.33%  | \--unopposed-- | 81,968  | 79,236

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Previous iterations of committees dealing with energy where Cowles served included the "Senate Committee on Energy, Consumer Protection, and Government Reform" (2013), "Senate Committee on Energy, Biotechnology, and Consumer Protection" (2011), "Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Information Technology" (2005), "Senate Committee on Energy and Utilities" (2003), "Senate Committee on Environment and Energy" (1995)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Olszewski, Mary (October 30, 1978). "Cowles: Curb Bureaucracy". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 45. Retrieved December 16, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ a b Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2011). "Biographies" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 2011-2012 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 22\. ISBN 978-0-9752820-1-4. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
3. ^ a b "Senator Robert L. Cowles (2023)". Wisconsin Legislature. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
4. ^ "Cowles, Robert L. 1950". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
5. ^ Julie Pohlman (ed.) State of Wisconsin 2015-2016 Blue Book. Madison: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, 2015, p. 22.
6. ^ "LeDuc Group Formed Here". Green Bay Press-Gazette. September 27, 1974. p. 21. Retrieved December 16, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "Cowles". Green Bay Press-Gazette. September 6, 1978. p. A8. Retrieved December 16, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ Olszewski, Mary. "Robert Cowles". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. A7. Retrieved December 16, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ Olszewski, Mary. "Jon Le Duc". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. A7. Retrieved December 16, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ a b c Theobald, Rupert H.; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1979). "Elections in Wisconsin". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1979-1980 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 905, 924. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
11. ^ Zipperer, Joanne (July 12, 1982). "Dernbach, Cowles seek GOP nod in new Assembly district". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 2. Retrieved December 16, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ a b c Theobald, Rupert H.; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1983). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1983-1984 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. [1], 912. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
13. ^ a b c Theobald, Rupert H.; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1985). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1985-1986 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 906, 925. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
14. ^ a b c d e Theobald, Rupert H.; Barish, Lawrence S., eds. (1987). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1987-1988 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 885, 888, 904, 907. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
15. ^ "Committee to Recall Cowles". Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. March 9, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
16. ^ "GAB certifies recalls for Cowles, Darling and Harsdorf | Ballotnews". Ballotnews.org. 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
17. ^ Barbour, Clay and Mary Spicuzza. "Republicans hold off Dems in recalls, win enough seats to keep majority in Senate", Wisconsin State Journal, August 10, 2011.
18. ^ "Cowles, Wisconsin Senate's longest-serving member, will not seek reelection". WLUK-TV. April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
19. ^ Shafer, Dan (October 24, 2024). "EXCLUSIVE: Republican State Sen. Rob Cowles: 'I plan on voting for Harris'". Civic Media. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
20. ^ "Cowles, Robert L., Jr. "Bob"". The Post-Crescent. October 1, 2011. p. 17. Retrieved December 16, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
21. ^ "Dr. Robert L. Cowles Dies After Long Illness". Green Bay Press-Gazette. February 23, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved December 16, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
22. ^ "Frank E. Murphy Dies Sunday After a Lengthy Illness". Green Bay Press-Gazette. August 19, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved December 16, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
23. ^ Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1989). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1989-1990 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 907, 922. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
24. ^ Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1993). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1993-1994 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 900, 919. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
25. ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1997). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 888, 889. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
26. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2000 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. May 10, 2001. p. 5. Retrieved December 16, 2023 - via Wisconsin Historical Society.
27. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2004. p. 6. Retrieved December 16, 2023 - via Wisconsin Historical Society.
28. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/04/2008 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2008. p. 5. Retrieved December 16, 2023 - via Wisconsin Historical Society.
29. ^ Canvass Results for 2011 Recall Election State Senate 2 - 8/9/2011 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. August 11, 2011. p. 1\. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 14, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2023 - via Wayback Machine.
30. ^ Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election - 11/6/2012 (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 26, 2012. p. 4. Retrieved December 16, 2023 - via Wisconsin Historical Society.
31. ^ Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 22, 2016. p. 4. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
32. ^ Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 18, 2020. p. 4. Retrieved December 16, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Official legislative website
* Voting record and bills authored website

Wisconsin State Assembly

Preceded by

Patricia Spafford Smith

|  Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 75th district
January 3, 1983 - January 7, 1985  | Succeeded by

Mary Hubler

Preceded by

Gus Menos

|  Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 6th district
January 7, 1985 - April 21, 1987  | Succeeded by

James R. Charneski

Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by

Don Hanaway

|  Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 2nd district
April 21, 1987 - present  | Incumbent

* v
* t
* e

Members of the Wisconsin Senate

106th Wisconsin Legislature (2023–2024)

* President of the Senate: Chris Kapenga (R)
* President pro tempore: Patrick Testin (R)
* Majority Leader: Devin LeMahieu (R)
* Minority Leader: Dianne Hesselbein (D)

1. ▌André Jacque (R)
2. ▌Robert Cowles (R)
3. ▌Tim Carpenter (D)
4. \--Vacant--
5. ▌Rob Hutton (R)
6. ▌La Tonya Johnson (D)
7. ▌Chris Larson (D)
8. ▌Dan Knodl (R)
9. ▌Devin LeMahieu (R)
10. ▌Rob Stafsholt (R)
11. ▌Stephen Nass (R)
12. ▌Mary Felzkowski (R)
13. ▌John Jagler (R)
14. ▌Joan Ballweg (R)
15. ▌Mark Spreitzer (D)
16. ▌Melissa Agard (D)
17. ▌Howard Marklein (R)
18. ▌Dan Feyen (R)
19. ▌Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R)
20. ▌Duey Stroebel (R)
21. ▌Van Wanggaard (R)
22. ▌Robert Wirch (D)
23. ▌Jesse James (R)
24. ▌Patrick Testin (R)
25. ▌Romaine Quinn (R)
26. ▌Kelda Roys (D)
27. ▌Dianne Hesselbein (D)
28. ▌Julian Bradley (R)
29. ▌Cory Tomczyk (R)
30. ▌Eric Wimberger (R)
31. ▌Jeff Smith (D)
32. ▌Brad Pfaff (D)
33. ▌Chris Kapenga (R)

* ▌Republican (22)
* ▌Democratic (10)
* Vacant (1)

* Wisconsin Legislature
* Wisconsin State Assembly
* Wisconsin Senate

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