What to know about former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker ahead of the RNC

Scott Walker is the former 45th governor of Wisconsin, a position he held from 2011 to 2019. During his tenure, he evoked massive protests over his Act 10 legislation, survived a recall election and had a short-lived run for President.

The Republican politician is one of Wisconsin’s delegates set to attend the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week.

Here’s what to know.

When did Scott Walker hold office?

Walker became governor in 2011 when he defeated Democratic nominee Tom Barrett, the mayor of Milwaukee. Opposition over his Act 12 law prompted a recall campaign that drew enough signatures to force Walker to run in a recall election in 2012. He won, making him the first of two incumbent governors in the history of the United States to survive a recall election. He easily won a second term in 2014 over his Democratic opponent, Madison School Board member Mary Burke.

In 2019, Walker lost his bid for a third term to former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers, a Democrat.

Before serving as governor, Walker got his start in politics in 1993, when he was elected to the state assembly with a platform that focused on fiscal conservatism. He was elected County Executive of Milwaukee County in 2002, a position he held until 2010. He first entered the governor’s race in 2006 but withdrew due to a lack of funding; he was successful four years later.

What is Scott Walker’s background?

Walker, 56, was born in 1967 in Colorado Springs. His mother Patricia was a bookkeeper and his father Llewellyn Scott was a Baptist minister. He is one of two sons. The family lived in cities including Plainfield, Iowa, and Delavan, Wisconsin.

Walker attended Marquette University for four years, but left in 1990 after he was 34 credits short of completing his undergraduate degree. He maintained ties with the University and attended his 20-year reunion in 2010. 

Before entering politics, Walker worked for the American Red Cross. He married his wife Tonette Tarantino in 1993. They have two children, who attended Marquette and the University of Wisconsin.

What is Scott Walker’s legacy in Wisconsin? 

Walker cemented his role as one of Wisconsin’s most influential governors, notably through his support for Act 10, which ended collective bargaining for most public sector workers and required unions to hold annual elections to maintain their ability to negotiate for raises. 

Thousands of protestors flooded the Wisconsin state Capitol in opposition to the Budget Repair Bill and Senate Democrats left the state to thwart the bill’s passing. The resulting legislation diminished the influence of unions and reshaped Wisconsin’s political climate, thrusting Walker and Wisconsin into national spotlight in an unprecedented way. 

Two former Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporters, Jason Stein and Patrick Marley, chronicled the events in their book “More than They Bargained For: Scott Walker, Unions, and the Fight for Wisconsin.”

A Dane County judge on July 3 ruled provisions of Act 10 law are unconstitutional and denied a motion to dismiss a case challenging the law.

In 2011, Walker and the Republican-controlled Legislature also notably passed partisan gerrymanders drawn up in secret. The maps ensured a Republican legislative dominance that maintained for years until Evers signed into law new maps in February.

During his tenure, Walker focused on conservative fiscal policies. He enacted large tax cuts, expanded private school vouchers and froze tuition at University of Wisconsin campuses.

Did Scott Walker run for president?

Yes. After heavy speculation and anticipation, Walker launched a campaign in 2015 and was considered one of the frontrunners for the nomination following strong performances and polling at the start of the race. But Trump’s unprecedented rise in popularity, Walker’s uninspiring performance in the first Republican debate and his shifting stances on issues resulted in declining poll support. He withdrew from the race after just two months.

What are Scott Walker’s views on Trump?

Walker has been supportive of the former President since dropping out of the race in 2015.

He spoke at Trump’s June 18 rally in Racine, where the former Gov. criticized Joe Biden on rising prices, border security and public safety. 

“We can’t afford four more years of Joe Biden. We need President Donald Trump to make Wisconsin and America affordable,” Walker said during the event. He called on supporters to knock on doors, make phone calls, join their local parties to garner support for Trump beyond rallies.

“We win Wisconsin, we win America,” Walker said.

In May of last year, Walker said it would be a mistake for Trump to “blow off Wisconsin” and decline to participate in the first Republican presidential debate in August, noting that “Hillary Clinton made that mistake in 2016 and it cost her the election.”

Trump did skip the debate in the end, opting to partake in an online interview with Tucker Carlson instead.

What is Scott Walker doing now?

Walker has served as president of the Young America’s Foundation since 2019, when he accepted a full-time position running the northern-Virginia based national conservative youth organization.

He hosted a political podcast “Freedom Fighters with Governor Scott Walker” from 2019 until 2022.

In 2023 he ruled out challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, telling the Journal Sentinel he would be “bored as a senator.” Walker hasn’t ruled out a future run for president.

What role will Scott Walker play during the RNC?

Delegates will formally nominate Trump as the party’s candidate to take on Biden at the RNC from July 15-18. Walker is one of 41 Wisconsin’s delegates; there are 2,429 total delegates from across the country. Wisconsin’s delegation also includes former Gov. Tommy Thompson and 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels. Walker and Thompson are also serving as honorary co-chairs of the Milwaukee 2024 Host Committee.