Rebecca Kleefisch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rebecca Kleefisch
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![]() Kleefisch in 2013
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44th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin | |
In office January 3, 2011 – January 7, 2019 |
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Governor | Scott Walker |
Preceded by | Barbara Lawton |
Succeeded by | Mandela Barnes |
Personal details | |
Born |
Rebecca Ann Reed
August 7, 1975 Pontiac, Michigan, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Joel Kleefisch |
Children | 2 |
Education | University of Wisconsin, Madison (BA) |
Rebecca Ann Kleefisch (born August 7, 1975) is an American politician and former television reporter. She served as the 44th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 2011 to 2019. She is a member of the Republican Party.
Kleefisch was elected Lieutenant Governor on November 2, 2010, alongside Governor Scott Walker. They worked together for eight years. In 2018, they ran for a third term but did not win. Kleefisch also ran for Governor of Wisconsin in 2022 but lost in the primary election.
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Early Life and Career
Rebecca Ann Reed was born in Pontiac, Michigan. Her family later moved to Ohio. In 1994, she won the title of Miss Ohio Teen USA. She then competed in the national Miss Teen USA 1994 pageant.
Kleefisch studied at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. After college, she worked as a reporter for TV stations in Rockford, Illinois, and Milwaukee. She later started her own company and contributed to a radio program.
Political Views and Beliefs
Views on Important Issues
Rebecca Kleefisch has shared her thoughts on various topics. She supports Wisconsin's law from 1849 that limits certain health care procedures. She believes these procedures should be illegal in most situations.
Kleefisch's views on same-sex marriage have changed over time. In 2010, she made comments that she later called a "poor choice of words." By 2022, she stated that her opinion had changed and that she believed same-sex marriage would remain legal if she became governor.
She has also spoken about health care laws, saying she does not support the Affordable Care Act.
Other Political Stances
Kleefisch has discussed changing Wisconsin's tax system. She suggested removing taxes on retirement income. She is also open to the idea of paid family leave, which would allow parents time off to be with their new babies.
In 2009, Kleefisch said there was "no agreement that people have caused climate change."
She has also talked about the recall election process. In 2012, when she faced a recall election, she said it should only be used for serious wrongdoing, not for policy disagreements. However, in 2021, she supported a recall election for school board members over policy issues.
Kleefisch praised Donald Trump's trade policies and how he handled the COVID-19 pandemic. After the 2020 United States presidential election, she defended Trump's claims about the election results. In 2021, she called for a ban on sanctuary cities and on teaching critical race theory in public schools.
Time as Lieutenant Governor
Rebecca Kleefisch's political career began when she ran for Lieutenant Governor in 2010. Her husband, Joel Kleefisch, was already a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. In the Republican primary election, she won against four other candidates. She then won the general election alongside Scott Walker.
Kleefisch served as Lieutenant Governor for eight years with Governor Walker. They both supported a large financial package for a company called Foxconn to build a technology park in Wisconsin.
In 2018, Kleefisch made a claim about her opponent, Mandela Barnes, regarding protests during the national anthem. She later apologized for her statement.
2012 Recall Election
In 2011, after a disagreement about collective bargaining, an effort began to recall Governor Walker and Lieutenant Governor Kleefisch. A recall election was held on June 5, 2012. Both Walker and Kleefisch remained in office. Kleefisch is the only lieutenant governor in U.S. history to face a recall election and keep her position.
After Lieutenant Governorship
After leaving office in January 2019, Kleefisch was appointed to lead the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission. This group celebrated 100 years of women having the right to vote in the United States. In November 2019, she became a Jobs Ambassador for Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin. In this role, she helps promote careers in skilled construction jobs.
2022 Campaign for Governor
In September 2021, Kleefisch announced she would run for Governor of Wisconsin. She criticized the leadership of the current Democratic Governor, Tony Evers. She also spoke about the 2020 Kenosha unrest.
During her campaign, Kleefisch initially said that Joe Biden won the 2020 election. However, by early 2022, she changed her stance and said the election was "rigged." She also said that changing the results of the 2020 election in Wisconsin was "not constitutionally possible."
Former Governor Walker supported Kleefisch in her campaign. However, she was defeated in the primary election by Tim Michels. Michels then lost the general election to Governor Evers.
Personal Life
Rebecca Kleefisch is married to Joel Kleefisch, who was also a reporter and a state representative. They have two daughters. The family used to live in Oconomowoc and were members of a church there. After she lost her re-election, Kleefisch and her family moved to Concord, Wisconsin.
In August 2010, Kleefisch was diagnosed with colon cancer. She had surgery and finished chemotherapy treatment by April 2011.