Scott Walker (politician)

Scott Kevin Walker (born November 2, 1967) 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 as Milwaukee County executive from 2002 to 2010. He is the most recent Republican to have served as governor of Wisconsin.

Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Walker was raised in Plainfield, Iowa, and Delavan, Wisconsin. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1992, representing a district in western Milwaukee County. In 2002, Walker was elected Milwaukee County executive in a special election following the resignation of Tom Ament. He was elected to a full term in 2004 and reelected in 2008. Walker ran for governor in 2006 but withdrew before the primary election. He ran again in 2010 and won, defeating Democrat Tom Barrett.

Shortly after taking office in 2011, Walker gained national attention by introducing the Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill, which significantly limited collective bargaining rights for most Wisconsin public employees. The proposal prompted large protests at the Wisconsin State Capitol, and Democratic state senators temporarily left the state to prevent the bill from being passed. The bill was enacted in March 2011. Opposition to the law led to a recall election in 2012, which Walker won, making him the first incumbent U.S. governor to defeat a recall election; California governor Gavin Newsom later did so in 2021.

Walker was reelected in 2014, defeating Democratic challenger Mary Burke. In 2015, he launched a campaign for the Republican nomination for president but withdrew after two months amid declining poll support. Walker sought a third term as governor in 2018 but was narrowly defeated by Democrat Tony Evers. Since 2021, he has served as president of Young America's Foundation.