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Shae Sortwell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 7, 2019
Preceded byAndré Jacque
Personal details
Born (1985-08-03) August 3, 1985 (age 39)
Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Krista R. Van Haren
​
(m. 2007)​
Children6
ResidenceGibson, Wisconsin
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin–Green Bay (BA)
United States Army CBRN School (Cert.)
Website
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
U.S. Army Reserve
Years of service2009–2018
RankSergeant
UnitChemical 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

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Shae Sortwell was born in Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1985.[1] 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 in college, Sortwell was a member of student government and founded a pro-life student organization.[3]

Political career

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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

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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] During the campaign, he was endorsed by state senator Alan Lasee and Manitowoc County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer.[9] He defeated Dean Raasch in an August primary for the Republican nomination and won the November election over Democrat Mark Grams, garnering 55 percent of the vote.[10][11]

After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election and Donald Trump refused to concede, Sortwell raised concerns of fraud in the election and urged Congress to delay certification of the election results.[12]

In 2020, Sortwell and another Republican legislator, Paul Tittl, erected a Christmas tree in the capitol rotunda, which had been previously prohibited by governor Tony Evers due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[13] The two legislators were joined by representatives Dave Murphy and Chuck Wichgers in decorating the tree.[13] Sortwell and Tittl applied for an application to display the tree in the capitol rotunda, but were denied due to a longstanding rule against having such displays on the ground floor, because the capitol was closed to the public due to the pandemic, and because they had not followed the proper procedure for applying for a permit.[14] This stood in contrast with a fellow Republican legislator, Amy Loudenbeck, who was granted permission to place a Christmas tree on the capitol rotunda's first floor.[15]

In 2021 Sortwell garnered controversy due to comparisons he made between Central Wisconsin Children's Museum, based out of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and Nazi Germany due to a requirement from the museum for unvaccinated people to wear masks, with Sortwell saying "The Gestapo wants to see your papers, please".[16] Due to his comments, the museum received harassment from all across the country. Stevens Point residents asked Sortwell to apologize for his statement, but he stood by his statement about the museum.[17][18]

In 2025 Sortwell was assigned as vice chair to the Government Oversight Accountability and Transparency (GOAT) Committee, which was modeled off of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).[19] Using the committee, he sent out requests to numerous cities asking for information regarding Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Sortwell was criticized by Democratic members of the committee for making these information requests without consulting other members of the committee and due to the lack of a task for the committee to undertake.[19]

Personal life

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

In 2007, Sortwell married Krista Van Haren.[20] They have six children together.[3]

A controversy emerged in 2021 around an alleged incident from 2013 that Sortwell had 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 as per department guidelines which almost always will make a referral and let the DA's office decide on the case.[21] 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.[22]

Electoral history

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Wisconsin Assembly, 90th district (2014)

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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)

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Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2018 Primary[23] Aug. 14 Shae Sortwell Republican 2,708 54.88% Dean Raasch Rep. 2,221 45.01% 4,934 487
General[24] 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[25] Nov. 3 Shae Sortwell (inc) Republican 22,244 63.11% Mark Kiley Dem. 12,970 36.80% 35,248 9,274
2022 General[26] Nov. 8 Shae Sortwell (inc) Republican 16,112 59.18% Renee Gasch Dem. 11,093 40.74% 27,226 5,019
2024 General[27] Nov. 5 Shae Sortwell (inc) Republican 23,198 63.22% Alicia Saunders Dem. 13,474 36.72% 36,693 9,724

References

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  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. ^ Schafer, Alisa M. (November 1, 2018). "Wisconsin election: District 2 state assembly race features four candidates". Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Election Results". www.wisconsinvote.org. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ a b Conklin, Melanie (December 9, 2020). "Battle of government branches over boughs". Wisconsin Examiner. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  14. ^ Richmond, Todd (December 7, 2020). "Two northeastern Wisconsin Republicans defy Evers, put Christmas tree in closed Capitol". Associated Press – via Green Bay Press Gazette.
  15. ^ Richmond, Todd (December 7, 2020). "Republicans defy Evers, put Christmas tree in closed Capitol". Associated Press. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  16. ^ Mentzer, Rob (June 8, 2021). "Assembly Representative Attacks Nonprofit Children's Museum With Nazi Analogy". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  17. ^ Bauer, Scott (June 9, 2021). "Wisconsin legislator compares Stevens Point children's museum mask policy to Nazis". Associated Press. Retrieved April 21, 2025 – via Stevens Point Journal.
  18. ^ Langfellow, Tony (June 8, 2021). "Children's museum responds to Wisconsin lawmaker's Nazi comparison". WSAW-TV. Retrieved April 21, 2025. I stand by my statement, that you have a right to your medical privacy. No government, no business has a right to your medical information and I stand by it and yes it's exactly what the gestapo did...
  19. ^ a b Kelly, Jack (February 26, 2025). "Republican uses GOAT Committee authority to investigate local government diversity efforts". Wisconsin Watch. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  20. ^ "Marriage Licenses". Green Bay Press-Gazette. January 5, 2008. p. 4. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Green Bay police referred Rep. Shae Sortwell for child abuse in 2013". Green Bay Press Gazette. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ Canvass Results for 2018 Partisan Primary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. August 14, 2018. p. 31. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  24. ^ Canvass Results for 2018 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 6, 2018. p. 10. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  25. ^ Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 18, 2020. p. 8. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  26. ^ Canvass Results for 2022 General Election - 11/8/2022 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 30, 2022. p. 9. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  27. ^ County by County Report - 2024 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 27, 2024. p. 24. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
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Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 2nd district
January 7, 2019 – present 		Incumbent
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shae_Sortwell&oldid=1289597440"