Eric Wimberger

Eric Wimberger (born April 2, 1979) is an American attorney and Republican politician. He is a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 30th Senate district since 2021. The 30th district comprises the cities of Green Bay and De Pere in Brown County, and several municipalities and towns along the west coast of the Green Bay in eastern Oconto and Marinette counties, up to the city of Marinette.

Eric Wimberger
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 30th district
Assumed office
January 4, 2021
Preceded byDave Hansen
Personal details
Born (1979-04-02) April 2, 1979
Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Residence(s)De Pere, Wisconsin
Alma mater
Occupationpolitician, attorney
Website
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service2006–2010
RankCaptain
UnitJudge Advocate Division

Early life and career

Eric Wimberger was born in 1979 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and raised in neighboring De Pere.[1] After graduating from high school, he attended St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota, earning his bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 2001.[2] Following his undergraduate education, Wimberger spent a year employed as a truck driver for Schneider National, a long-haul trucking company, logging more than 120,000 miles.[2] He entered Marquette University Law School in 2002. After earning his J.D. in 2005, Wimberger received a commission with the United States Marine Corps. He spent four years in the Marine Corps, working in the Judge Advocate Division in Japan and Washington, D.C. He was honorably discharged in 2010 as a captain.[2]

Wimberger returned to the Green Bay area and started his own law firm.

Political career

Wimberger made his first attempt at elected office in 2014, when he ran for Wisconsin State Assembly, challenging first-term Democratic incumbent Eric Genrich in the Green Bay-based 90th Assembly district. Despite a strong performance statewide by the Republican Party, Genrich prevailed in the general election with nearly 55% of the vote.[3]

Two years later Wimberger made another attempt, this time challenging 16-year incumbent state senator Dave Hansen in the 30th State Senate district.[4] Wimberger again fell short in the general election, but made a strong showing with nearly 49% of the vote.[5][6]

In January 2020, Senator Hansen announced he would not seek re-election to a sixth term in 2020.[7] Wimberger announced in April that he would make another run for the now-open state senate seat.[8][9] Wimberger was unopposed in the Republican primary[10] and faced Hansen's nephew, De Pere alderman Jonathon Hansen, in the general election.[11] The 30th senate was one of the most heavily contested elections in the state, with outside political action committees spending nearly $1,000,000 on both sides of the race.[12] In one example, Wimberger's legal career came under fire from the Democratic PAC A Better Wisconsin, Together. One advertisement attacked Wimberger for his defense of a man accused of 213 counts of possessing child pornography.[13] Another ad attacked him for his treatment of a teenage victim while he was defense counsel for a group of American Marines accused of raping her.[14] Wimberger asserted that he was only doing his job—providing a vigorous defense for the accused.[15][16]

Wimberger prevailed with 54% of the vote, one of two state senate pickups for the Republicans in the 2020 election.[17][18]

Personal life and family

Eric Wimberger lives in De Pere, Wisconsin. In addition to his legal work, he is a board member of the philanthropic Cloud Family Foundation.[2] His mother, Wendy Wimberger, owns the Sweet Memories Candy Shoppe in Lakewood, Wisconsin.[2]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (2014)
Wisconsin Assembly, 90th District Election, 2014[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 4, 2014
Democratic Eric Genrich (incumbent) 7,953 54.94% -5.27%
Republican Eric Wimberger 5,342 36.90% -2.51%
Independent Shae Sortwell 1,164 8.04%
Scattering 18 0.12%
Plurality 2,611 18.04% -2.76%
Total votes 14,477 100.0% -23.22%
Democratic hold

Wisconsin Senate (2016)
Wisconsin Senate, 30th District Election, 2016[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 8, 2016
Democratic Dave Hansen (incumbent) 40,214 51.27% -5.27%
Republican Eric Wimberger 38,175 48.67% -2.51%
Scattering 47 0.06%
Plurality 2,039 2.60% -5.95%
Total votes 78,436 100.0% -0.97%
Democratic hold

Wisconsin Senate (2020)
Wisconsin Senate, 30th District Election, 2020[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 3, 2020
Republican Eric Wimberger 47,948 54.65% +5.98%
Democratic Jonathon Hansen 39,711 45.26% -6.01%
Scattering 74 0.08%
Plurality 8,237 9.39% +6.79%
Total votes 87,733 100.0% +11.85%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing 11.99%

References
  1. "State Legislature" (PDF). Wisconsin Blue Book 2021-2022 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. 2021. pp. 115–116. ISBN 978-1-7333817-1-0. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  2. "About Eric". Wimberger for State Senate. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
  3. Canvass Results for 2014 General Election - 11/4/2014 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. November 26, 2014. p. 29. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  4. Marley, Patrick (June 1, 2016). "Hundreds file for state and federal races". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  5. Schneider, Doug; Ryman, Richard (November 9, 2016). "Veteran Dave Hansen narrowly beats Wimberger". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  6. Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 22, 2016. p. 8. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  7. Schmidt, Mitchell (January 10, 2020). "Democratic Sen. Dave Hansen, GOP Rep. Bob Kulp, announce plans to retire at end of year". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  8. "Wimberger campaign: Announces candidacy for Senate District 30". Wimberger for State Senate (Press release). Green Bay, Wisconsin. April 16, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020 – via Wispolitics.com.
  9. Bollier, Jeff (April 16, 2020). "Eric Wimberger will run as Republican for 30th Senate District seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Dave Hansen". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  10. Canvass Results for 2020 Partisan Primary - 8/11/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. August 26, 2020. p. 11. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  11. BeMiller, Haley (September 21, 2020). "Jonathon Hansen, Eric Wimberger compete for 30th Senate District seat vacated by Sen. Dave Hansen". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  12. "Outside Groups Spent $10 Million on Legislative Races". Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. November 16, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020 – via Urban Milwaukee.
  13. "Eric Wimberger - Unfit". A Better Wisconsin, Together Political Fund. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  14. "Eric Wimberger - Dangerous". A Better Wisconsin, Together Political Fund. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  15. BeMiller, Haley (September 23, 2020). "Democrats blast attorney, 30th Senate District candidate Eric Wimberger for comments he made as a defense lawyer in sex crime cases". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  16. Tritten, Travis J. (May 9, 2008). "Woman testifies she initially lied about gang rape". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  17. Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 18, 2020. p. 7. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  18. BeMiller, Haley (November 3, 2020). "Election roundup: Republican Eric Wimberger wins 30th Senate District in blow to Democrats; Shelton joins Assembly in 90th District". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
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