Shae Sortwell

Shae Sortwell was born in Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1985. At age 15, he moved with his family to the town of Gibson, Wisconsin. After graduating from high school, he went on to attend the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, graduating in 2006 with degrees in public administration and political science.^[2] While at university, Sortwell was a member of student government and founded a pro-life student organization.^[3]

After earning his bachelor's degree, he enlisted in the United States Army Reserve and served nine years with the Chemical Corps, rising to the rank of sergeant before his honorable discharge in 2018.^[4] During those years, he also became active in local politics, winning election to the Green Bay city council, and then going to work as a legislative aide to state representative Chad Weininger.^[3]

In 2014, Sortwell made his first bid for state office, running as an independent candidate for Wisconsin State Assembly in the 90th Assembly district. Sortwell came in a distant third, behind Republican Eric Wimberger and Democratic incumbent Eric Genrich, who won the election.^[5][6]

In 2016, Sortwell pushed an online petition asking Green Bay mayor Jim Schmitt to resign over criminal campaign finance violations.^[7] By that time, however, Sortwell had moved back to the town of Gibson. He was elected to the board of supervisors of Gibson in 2017.^[4]

In 2018, after incumbent Andre Jacque announced he would not run for reelection, Sortwell declared his candidacy for Assembly in the 2nd Assembly district.^[8] He defeated Dean Raasch in an August primary for the Republican nomination^[9] and won the November election over Democrat Mark Grams, garnering 55 percent of the vote.^[10]

After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election and Donald Trump refused to concede, Sortwell raised concerns of fraud in the election and urged Congress to delay certification of the election results.^[11]

In 2021, he compared a children's museum in central Wisconsin to Nazi Germany because it continued to require unvaccinated people to wear masks by writing "The Gestapo wants to see your papers, please" on Facebook regarding the museum's decision, drawing ire.^[12]

During Sortwell's childhood, his father was a submariner in the United States Navy.^[3]

In 2007, Sortwell married Krista Van Haren.^[13] They have six children together.^[3]

In autumn of 2021, controversy emerged around allegations that Sortwell abused one of his children after the child was found to have bruises. The investigation conducted by "four police officers, two social workers, a child forensic officer—a trained agent who interviews child victims of physical and sexual abuse—a child advocacy staff member and a nurse practitioner," resulted in law enforcement referring the incident to the district attorney as per department guidelines which almost always will make a referral and let the DA's office decide on the case.^[14] However, Deputy District Attorney Dana J. Johnson decided not to pursue charges, citing "the defense of the parent using reasonable force to discipline the child." Sortwell told officers he and his wife disciplined their child with an object when he was being "defiant" because they are commanded to in the Bible.^[15]

• Profile at Vote Smart
• Shae Sortwell at Ballotpedia