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Shae Sortwell
Sortwell at the 2022 Hazlitt Summit hosted by Young Americans for Liberty Foundation
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 2nd district
Assumed office
January 7, 2019
Preceded by André Jacque
Personal details
Born (1985-08-03) August 3, 1985 (age 38) [1]
Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse
Krista R. Van Haren
​
( m. 2007)​
Children6
Residence Gibson, Wisconsin
Education University of Wisconsin–Green Bay ( BA)
United States Army CBRN School ( Cert.)
Website
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/service United States Army
U.S. Army Reserve
Years of service2009–2018
Rank Sergeant
Unit Chemical Corps

Shae A. Sortwell (born August 3, 1985) is an American truck driver and Republican politician from Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 2nd Assembly district since 2019. He previously served on the Green Bay city council and the town board of Gibson, Wisconsin.

Early life and education

Shae Sortwell was born in Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1985. At age 15, he moved with his family to the town of Gibson, Wisconsin. After graduating from high school, he went on to attend the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, graduating in 2006 with degrees in public administration and political science. [2] While at university, Sortwell was a member of student government and founded a pro-life student organization. [3]

Political career

After earning his bachelor's degree, he enlisted in the United States Army Reserve and served nine years with the Chemical Corps, rising to the rank of sergeant before his honorable discharge in 2018. [4] During those years, he also became active in local politics, winning election to the Green Bay city council, and then going to work as a legislative aide to state representative Chad Weininger. [3]

In 2014, Sortwell made his first bid for state office, running as an independent candidate for Wisconsin State Assembly in the 90th Assembly district. Sortwell came in a distant third, behind Republican Eric Wimberger and Democratic incumbent Eric Genrich, who won the election. [5] [6]

In 2016, Sortwell pushed an online petition asking Green Bay mayor Jim Schmitt to resign over criminal campaign finance violations. [7] By that time, however, Sortwell had moved back to the town of Gibson. He was elected to the board of supervisors of Gibson in 2017. [4]

Wisconsin State Assembly

In 2018, after incumbent Andre Jacque announced he would not run for reelection, Sortwell declared his candidacy for Assembly in the 2nd Assembly district. [8] He defeated Dean Raasch in an August primary for the Republican nomination [9] and won the November election over Democrat Mark Grams, garnering 55 percent of the vote. [10]

After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election and Donald Trump refused to concede, Sortwell made false claims of fraud in the election and urged Congress not to certify the election results. [11]

In 2021, he compared a children's museum in central Wisconsin to Nazi Germany because it continued to require unvaccinated people to wear masks by writing "The Gestapo wants to see your papers, please" on Facebook regarding the museum's decision, drawing ire. [12]

Personal life

During Sortwell's childhood, his father was a submariner in the United States Navy. [3]

In 2007, Sortwell married Krista Van Haren. [13] They have six children together. [3]

In autumn of 2021, controversy emerged around allegations that Sortwell abused one of his children after the child was found to have bruises. The investigation conducted by "four police officers, two social workers, a child forensic officer—a trained agent who interviews child victims of physical and sexual abuse—a child advocacy staff member and a nurse practitioner," resulted in law enforcement referring the incident to the district attorney. [14] However, Deputy District Attorney Dana J. Johnson decided not to pursue charges, citing "the defense of the parent using reasonable force to discipline the child." Sortwell told officers he and his wife disciplined their child with an object when he was being "defiant" because they are commanded to in the Bible. [15]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly, 90th district (2014)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2014 General [5] Nov. 4 Eric Genrich (inc) Democratic 7,953 54.94% Eric Wimberger Rep. 5,342 36.90% 14,477 2,611
Shae Sortwell Ind. 1,164 8.04%

Wisconsin Assembly, 2nd district (2018–present)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2018 Primary [16] Aug. 14 Shae Sortwell Republican 2,708 54.88% Dean Raasch Rep. 2,221 45.01% 4,934 487
General [17] Nov. 6 Shae Sortwell Republican 15,014 54.82% Mark Grams Dem. 10,118 36.94% 27,389 4,896
Jeff Dahlke Ind. 1,494 5.45%
Kevin A. Bauer Lib. 745 2.72%
2020 General [18] Nov. 3 Shae Sortwell (inc) Republican 22,244 63.11% Mark Kiley Dem. 12,970 36.80% 35,248 9,274
2022 General [19] Nov. 8 Shae Sortwell (inc) Republican 16,112 59.18% Renee Gasch Dem. 11,093 40.74% 27,226 5,019

References

  1. ^ "Representative Shae A. Sortwell". Wisconsin State Legislature. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  2. ^ "UW-Green Bay alumnus is candidate in the District 2 state assembly race". University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "About Shae". Rep. Shae Sortwell. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "2nd Assembly District: Q&A with Republican Shae Sortwell of Two Rivers". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  5. ^ a b Canvass Results for 2014 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. November 4, 2014. p. 29. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  6. ^ WisconsinEye (10 September 2014). "Shae Sortwell (I) for 90th Assembly District" – via YouTube.
  7. ^ Krumholz, Ben. "Online petition forms calling for Mayor Schmitt to resign". WLUK-TV. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  8. ^ Schafer, Alisa M. "Wisconsin election: District 2 state assembly race features four candidates". The Herald Times Reporter. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  9. ^ Anderson, Jonathan. "Wisconsin primary: Shae Sortwell prevails in the Republican race in the state's 2nd Assembly District". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Election Results". www.wisconsinvote.org. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  11. ^ Epstein, Reid J. (2021-06-29). "Wisconsin G.O.P. Wrestles With Just How Much to Indulge Trump". The New York Times. ISSN  0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  12. ^ "Twitter: A letter from a Wisconsinite to State Rep. Shae Sortwell after he compared a children's museum to Nazi Germany because it still is requiring masks be worn by those over age 5 who aren't vaccinated against COVID-19". Twitter. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Marriage Licenses". Green Bay Press-Gazette. January 5, 2008. p. 4. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Green Bay police referred Rep. Shae Sortwell for child abuse in 2013". Green Bay Press Gazette. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Before he was a Wisconsin lawmaker, Shae Sortwell was investigated for child abuse. Here's what we know about it". Green Bay Press Gazette. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  16. ^ Canvass Results for 2018 Partisan Primary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. August 14, 2018. p. 31. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  17. ^ Canvass Results for 2018 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 6, 2018. p. 10. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  18. ^ Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 18, 2020. p. 8. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  19. ^ Canvass Results for 2022 General Election - 11/8/2022 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 30, 2022. p. 9. Retrieved March 16, 2024.

External links

Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 2nd district
January 7, 2019 – present 		Incumbent
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