Scott Walker (politician)

Scott Walker (politician)
Name	Scott Walker
Caption	Walker in 2015
Office	45th Governor of Wisconsin
Term start	January 3, 2011
Term end	January 7, 2019
Predecessor	Jim Doyle
Successor	Tony Evers
Office1	Chair of the Republican Governors Association
Term start1	November 2013
Term end1	November 2014
Birth name	Scott Kevin Walker
Birth date	November 2, 1967
Birth place	Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
Party	Republican Party
Spouse	Tonette Tarantino Walker
Education	Marquette University (B.A.)

Scott Walker (politician) is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and as Milwaukee County Executive. Walker rose to national prominence for policies on public-sector unions and fiscal reform, and he was a candidate for the 2016 United States presidential election.

Early life and education

Walker was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is the son of a firefighter and a homemaker and attended Messmer High School and Marquette University High School before graduating from Marquette University with a degree in political science. During college he interned with the Republican National Committee and worked on campaigns associated with figures such as Bob Kasten and Tommy Thompson. His early affiliations included local chapters of Young Republicans and civic organizations in Milwaukee County.

Early political career

Walker was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1993, representing a district in Milwaukee County. In the Assembly he served on committees related to local government and finance and cultivated ties to statewide leaders like Scott Jensen and LeRoy Butler. In 2002 he was elected Milwaukee County Executive, succeeding Janet Protasiewicz as county chief executive, where he managed budgets, county services, and initiatives involving the Milwaukee County Transit System and Froedtert Hospital partners. His management style brought him into contact with national politicians and groups including the American Legislative Exchange Council and the National Governors Association network.

Wisconsin governorship

Walker ran for governor in 2010 against incumbent Jim Doyle and won, taking office in January 2011. Early in his tenure he introduced the 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, targeting collective bargaining rights for most public employees and opposing unions represented by organizations such as the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Service Employees International Union. The legislation prompted mass protests at the Wisconsin State Capitol and drew intervention from figures like Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in national discourse. Walker survived a 2012 recall election, defeating Tom Barrett, and pursued policies including tax cuts, regulatory reform, and welfare work requirements touching programs administered by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Department of Workforce Development. He also advanced initiatives on school choice and voucher programs involving the Milwaukee Public Schools and charter organizations. Walker served as Chair of the Republican Governors Association and took stances on issues involving Medicaid expansion debates and infrastructure financing with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

2016 presidential campaign and national politics

Walker announced a candidacy for the Republican Party presidential primaries in 2015, joining a field that included Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, and Chris Christie. His campaign emphasized fiscal conservatism, union reform, and opposition to Affordable Care Act provisions. He suspended his campaign after poor showings in early contests such as the Iowa Republican caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. After withdrawing, Walker remained active in national politics, endorsing candidates like various Republican nominees and engaging with think tanks including the Heritage Foundation and advocacy groups nationwide.

Political positions and controversies

Walker advocated for limited government spending, tax reductions, and regulatory relief, aligning with organizations such as the Club for Growth and Americans for Prosperity. His tenure generated controversies beyond Act 10, including criticism over prosecutorial decisions involving the John Doe investigation targeting gubernatorial campaign activities, disputes over labor rights with unions like the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association, and debates about campaign finance tied to groups such as Wisconsin Club for Growth. He faced scrutiny for interactions with conservative media outlets like Fox News and policy groups such as the Koch brothers-affiliated networks. Environmental and energy positions drew comment regarding the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant and state stewardship of the Great Lakes, while education policy reforms affected institutions including University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Milwaukee Area Technical College. Walker's approach to criminal justice, sentencing, and law enforcement involved coordination with the Wisconsin Department of Justice and local sheriffs' departments.

Personal life and legacy

Walker is married to Tonette Tarantino Walker, and they have two children. His personal biography highlights roots in Milwaukee and involvement with Catholic institutions such as St. Robert's Church and alumni networks at Marquette University. Political analysts and historians compare his governorship to other contemporary Republican governors including Chris Christie and John Kasich for emphasis on fiscal reform and confrontation with public-sector unions. His legacy includes lasting changes to collective bargaining in Wisconsin, influence on national Republican debates about labor and fiscal policy, and ongoing discussion in legal and academic circles at institutions like University of Wisconsin Law School and public policy centers assessing governance models.

Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:Governors of Wisconsin Category:Republican Party (United States) politicians