Dan Kapanke

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Signatures for the recall petition against Kapanke being collected on March 11, 2011 Recall Kapanke petition (5518880786).jpg
Signatures for the recall petition against Kapanke being collected on March 11, 2011
Opponents of Kapanke demonstrating their support for his recall Recall KAPANKE (5562506308).jpg
Opponents of Kapanke demonstrating their support for his recall

Kapanke was subject to an active recall effort to remove him from his seat in the Wisconsin Senate, as part of the 2011 Wisconsin protests. On March 2, 2011, the "Committee to Recall Kapanke" officially registered with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. [8] 15,588 valid signatures of electors residing within the 32nd District had to be collected by May 2, 2011 to generate a recall election.

A March 9, 2011 poll by Survey USA indicated that 57% voters in Kapanke's district would vote for recall. [9]

Kapanke indicated his strong support for Governor Scott Walker, explaining it by asking, "How can you go wrong following a leader that obviously gets his mission on this earth?", referring to their strong religious beliefs. [10] At a separate occasion, he indicated that he did not believe that Walker's plans went far enough, and stated that public safety unions (police, firemen, and state patrol unions) should be included in the collective bargaining ban (under Walker's plan, they are exempt.) [11]

On April 1, 2011, Wisconsin Democrats announced that they had enough signatures to recall Kapanke and filed petitions that day, with 22,561 signatures, [12] [13] 45% more than the 15,588 verifiable signatures required by the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB). [14]

On April 9, 2011, State Rep. Jennifer Shilling (D - La Crosse) announced her candidacy against Kapanke in a possible recall election. [15]

At a LaCrosse County Republican Party meeting held in late May 2011, party officials discussed the possibility of running an additional Democratic Party candidate against Rep. Shilling, with the intent being to force a primary election against a token opponent, delaying the date of the recall election. [16] According to election clerks, this would cost the state $101,000. [17] At the same meeting, Kapanke expressed concern over his re-election bid due to the large number of public workers in his district, saying that he hoped they would sleep through the election. [18]

Kapanke challenges the petition

On April 15, 2011, Kapanke filed a challenge with the Government Accountability Board stating that the recall petitions should be thrown out as organizers neglected to file a required registration statement. According to Kapanke's challenge, a specific organizer, Patrick Scheller, is the Recall Petitioner, as he was the one delivering the 22,561 petitions, and thus should have filed the registration himself (which was instead filed by the Recall Committee.) [19] Kapanke also challenged approximately 900 of the 22,561 signatures (15,588 valid signatures are required to force a recall election.) [20]

Pro-recall organizers filed a rebuttal in response, arguing that Kapanke's argument "proceeds from a false factual premise", noting that Scheller was simply a representative of the recall committee, as "a committee can neither be an elector or hold a pen." [21] [22]

GAB rules against Kapanke

In late May, the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB) approved the recall petition against Senator Kapanke, rejecting his challenge. The date for the recall election was set for August 9, 2011, following a Democratic primary on July 12, 2011. [23]

Recall results

Kapanke lost the recall effort to Shilling on August 9, 2011, earning 45% of the vote (26,724) to Shilling's 55% (33,192). [24]

Political campaigns

2010 U.S. congressional campaign

In the summer 2009, Kapanke announced his intention to run for the United States House of Representatives in Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district. [25] His state senate district was largely coextensive with the central portion of the congressional district, including its second-largest city, La Crosse.

In October 2009, Kapanke was added to the National Republican Congressional Committee's Young Guns Program as an "On the Radar" candidate. [26] This designation was only given to ten Republican Congressional candidates in the Midwest. During the same month, Congressional Quarterly readjusted the 3rd Congressional District political status from a "Safe Democratic" to a "Likely Democratic" district.

In September 2010, Kapanke defeated Bruce Evers in the 3rd congressional district Republican Primary election. Kapanke won with approximately 78% of the vote. [27] Kapanke then lost the general election to incumbent Congressman Ron Kind, taking 46 percent of the vote to Kind's 50 percent. [28] It was easily the closest race in Kind's career up to that point, and the 2nd closest race of his entire career (Kind announced his retirement from Congress in 2021. [29] ), after the Republican nominee in 2020, Derrick Van Orden, was defeated by Kind in 2020 by just 3 points.

Electoral history

Dan Kapanke
Sen. Kapanke (3522410985) (1).jpg
Kapanke in 2009
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 32nd district
In office
January 3, 2005 –August 9, 2011
Wisconsin State Senate District 32 Election 2004 [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Dan Kapanke46,41652.46%
Democratic Brad Pfaff41,92847.39%
Scattering139.15%
Wisconsin State Senate District 32 Election 2008 [31]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Dan Kapanke45,15451.38%
Democratic Tara Johnson42,64748.53%
Scattering80.09%
Wisconsin Congressional District 3 Election 2010 [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Ron Kind126,38050.28%
Republican Dan Kapanke116,83846.49%
IndependentMichael Krsiean8,0013.18%
Scattering121.05%

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References

  1. ↑ "Biographies: Senator Kapanke". Wisconsin Blue Book 2009 – 2010. p. 82. Archived from the original (SWF) on August 11, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Dan Kapanke: 2011 - 2012 Committee Assignments". Wisconsin State Legislature . Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  3. ↑ Lindquist, Eric (August 27, 2010). "Kapanke says payment by charity was a 'mistake'". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  4. ↑ Marley, Patrick (September 11, 2009). "Taxpayers to cover $38,000 in legal bills for Kapanke violation". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel .
  5. ↑ Marcus, Samantha (August 26, 2010). "Kapanke admits ethics breach". La Crosse Tribune .
  6. ↑ Vanegaren, Jessica (April 5, 2011). "Capitol Report: Stray rock, not protesters, damaged Kapanke's windshield". The Cap Times . Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  7. ↑ "PolitiFact Wisconsin | Wisconsin Sen. Dan Kapanke says protesters at the Capitol damaged the windshield of his car". Politifact.com. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  8. ↑ "Committee to Recall Kapanke". Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. March 9, 2011. Archived from the original on April 12, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  9. ↑ Sargent, Greg (March 10, 2011). "Poll: Majorities support recall of two Wisconsin GOP senators". The Plum Line. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 12, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  10. ↑ Knutson, Kari (March 27, 2011). "Kapanke speaks to supporters at GOP office opening; protesters show up across street". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  11. ↑ Hubbuch, Chris (February 23, 2011). "Kapanke defends Walker plan; supports taking bargaining rights from police and fire". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  12. ↑ Sargent, Greg (April 4, 2011). "Wisconsin recall drive already making history". The Plum Line. The Washington Post. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  13. ↑ Hubbuch, Chris (April 1, 2011). "Update: Kapanke recall petition filed". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Recall Election Information". Wisconsin Government Accountability. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  15. ↑ Glauber, Bill (April 9, 2011). "Shilling announces candidacy against Kapanke". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  16. ↑ Hubbuch, Chris (2011-06-02). "Tape: County GOP wanted a spoiler Democrat to run against Shilling in recall". Lacrossetribune.com. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  17. ↑ "Expense of fake Democrats in primaries will top $400,000". JSOnline. 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  18. ↑ "Kapanke talk may halt election-day snoozers". JSOnline. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  19. ↑ "Sen Kapanke Challenges to Recall Petition" (PDF). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. April 15, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  20. ↑ Hubbuch, Chris (April 16, 2011). "Kapanke challenges recall petition". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  21. ↑ Friebert, Finerty; St. John, S.C. (April 19, 2011). "2011_04_19 JPL to Kennedy (GAB) encl Pet Rebuttal.pdf" (PDF). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  22. ↑ Hubbuch, Chris (April 20, 2011). "Dems: Kapanke recall challenge is just 'insubstantial potshots'". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  23. ↑ "GAB Finalizes List Of Candidates For GOP Recalls - Politics News Story - WISC Madison". Channel3000.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  24. ↑ "August 9 recall election results". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  25. ↑ Mial, Richard (August 6, 2009). "Kapanke announces run for Kind seat". Coulee News. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  26. ↑ Blake, Aaron (October 27, 2009). "NRCC adds 32 to Young Guns program". The Hill . Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  27. ↑ Marcus, Samantha (September 15, 2010). "Kapanke cruises to easy win in primary". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  28. ↑ Marcus, Samantha (November 3, 2010). "Kind slips past Kapanke to retain seat". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  29. ↑ 2021https://www.weau.com/2021/08/10/media-reports-ron-kind-announce-retirement-congress/
  30. ↑ "Fall General Election – 11/02/2004; State Senate, District No. 32". Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
  31. ↑ "Fall General Election – 11/04/2008; State Senate, District No. 32". Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 24, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 20, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  32. ↑ "2010 Fall General Election Results Summary - Post-Recount" (PDF). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 1, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 21, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
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