Candidate for Waukesha County Executive. Conservative representing the 33rd Senate District, including most of Waukesha County. Business owner and former CPA.
Delafield, WI
Joined November 2009
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First, I want to thank the people who supported me in my Senate campaign. I work hard at standing up for Republican values even when it isn't popular in Madison, and it feels good to have the people I work for acknowledge that.
But the win of my Senate district is far overshadowed by the sadness I have over what took place last night in our state elections. I am not upset with We the People, as they simply responded to what was given to them by their elected officials. I am upset with the "Republican" legislative leadership who failed We the People over and over again, and had the arrogance to think that their bosses were too ignorant to see what was going on. This was epitomized by one legislative leader literally saying that We the People are too stupid to understand why "we have to do what we do." And to that arrogance, I simply point out that you were wrong.
Now, to be fair, a part of the loss last night was due to national politics. I concede that, but the shalacking the Republicans in Wisconsin took went far beyond the implications of that.
So this is to the "leaders" in our state who were put in charge of the Republican legislature. I can't call them Republican leaders because I don't believe their actions over the past couple of years represent what Republican values are. Let me be specific.
When you choose to unfreeze property taxes and author the largest local tax increase in the state's history, this is what you get.
When you choose to unfreeze tuition on students who are already struggling financially so that an over-bloated bureaucracy can continue to over-bloat, this is what you get.
When you choose to put in place the largest spending increase in state budget history, this is what you get.
When you then ignore your Constitutionally authorized authority, responsibility, and power of impeachment to protect the separation of powers within that Constitution that would have properly disciplined a Supreme Court Justice who clearly acted against judicial ethics, this is what you get.
When you choose to accept illegal voting maps put together by a group of unelected political hacks instead of following the Constitutionally prescribed process that We the People put in place, this is what you get.
When you choose to give the leaders of our largest city the ability to increase the tax burden on the poorest people of our state, this is what you get.
Bottom line - when you choose to abandon the principles that we as Republicans know to be the best chance of success for the people who hired us, and buy the lie that you need to vote like Democrats in order to win elections, this is what you get.
We the People are much more intelligent than you gave them credit for, and they see that the threat of what may be is more acceptable than the reality of what is.
The good news in all of this is that I believe this victory by democrat socialists will be very short-lived, because We the People still believe in a limited government of, by, and for We the People.
There are three constitutional amendments on the November 3 ballot, and I'll be voting "yes" on all three. One protects the separation of powers and prevents one branch of government from accumulating too much authority. One protects religious liberty by preventing places of worship from being shut down during government-declared emergencies. And one ensures government cannot discriminate or provide preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Different topics, same principle: limiting government power and protecting individual liberty.
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One of the things I've always loved about this country is that you get to decide what's best for your family. Not me. Not some bureaucrat. Not a government agency. You. That idea sounds pretty basic, but it's become one of the biggest differences in politics today. I still believe people make better decisions for themselves than government does, which is why I've spent years supporting policies that protect individual freedom, limit government power, and keep more decisions where they belong: with the people who have to live with them. And yes, I'd also like to keep Thanksgiving a holiday in Wisconsin (wow, the other side is getting crazy).
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Good jobs, growing businesses, and economic opportunity don't happen by accident. They happen when government understands its role and gets out of the way of people willing to work, invest, and build something.
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce today presented me with its Working for Wisconsin Award, which is based on legislators' voting records during the 2025-26 legislative session. As @WisconsinMC Executive Vice President of Government Relations Scott Manley said, "Sen. Kapenga is committed to making Wisconsin competitive; we are fortunate for his leadership in growing our economy and improving the business climate."
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Most of us don't have the luxury of spending money we don't have. Families don't. Businesses don't. Eventually, the math wins.
Government is different. In government, it's OPM: Other People's Money. When someone else is paying the bill, there's always another program or another reason taxpayers supposedly need to pay more. But I've spent my career asking a different question: Is there a better way? It's a question that annoys special interests and people who benefit from the status quo, but it's one taxpayers deserve to have answered.
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You can see the GOP momentum growing. After a clear debate victory this week, @TomTiffanyWI was back on the road Saturday for a bus tour alongside fellow GOP leaders. And let’s go Brewers! ⚾️
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Teen Challenge annual gala last night, supporting God's work in redeeming people suffering from addiction.
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One of the biggest compliments I've ever received related to my public service came from a lobbyist who told someone, "At some point Kapenga is going to have to give up his principles." Nope.
I'm still operating the same way: based on principle, not pressure. Whether that pressure comes from special interests, political leadership, lobbyists, the establishment, or even people in my own party, my responsibility is to the people I work for. That's never changed.
I'd appreciate your support on November 3.
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As a numbers guy and former CPA, I've spent decades finding ways to get better results without spending more money. I've always believed government should do the same. Government doesn't have its own money. It has your money. That's one reason I've built a reputation for supporting smaller, more efficient government and putting those principles ahead of politics.
Chris Kapenga retweeted
🚨Constitutional Amendment on November 3 Ballot
DEI has no place in state government, and no Wisconsinite should be given preferential treatment because of the color of their skin. Article I of our State Constitution says all people are created equal, so Government should treat people equally under the law and not give anyone an advantage or disadvantage based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. One of the constitutional amendments on the upcoming November ballot would clarify that principle into the Wisconsin Constitution. Common sense doesn't exist in our State Supreme Court right now, so the People should have the final say.
Chris Kapenga retweeted
Government has no place telling people they can't gather to worship, even during an emergency. I can make my own decisions, thank you very much. One of the constitutional amendments on the November 3 ballot would protect religious gatherings from being ordered closed by state or local government during a state of emergency, including a public health emergency. Emergencies do not give government a blank check to take away constitutional freedoms, which unfortunately is what happened several years back. The freedom to worship and gather should not depend on whether state bureaucrats declare the circumstances convenient.
Tonight Governor Walker laid out what @TomTiffanyWI needs to win this race: messaging, manpower, and money. Republicans are out-raising the Democrats, and Tom's campaign has the people and resources to get the message out. I love Tom's plan to make Madison accountable to taxpayers, something I've been fighting for for years, including auditing every state agency and repealing Evers' 400-year property tax increase. David Crowley would keep raising taxes on Wisconsin residents. We need a governor who will not keep reaching into our bank accounts to make government bigger.
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Reducing wasteful and inefficient government lowers the cost of living. That’s the idea behind zero-based budgeting: government should budget based on costs, need and results, not what was spent last year. Glad to be invited to today’s Liberty Summit to speak as a leading legislative expert on zero-based budgeting. Thanks to Kelly and Cindy, a fellow CPA, for their hard work.
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Our grassroots volunteers continue gathering signatures, and today I turned in another batch thanks to all their hard work. Nearly 1,000 signatures collected for the County Executive ballot so far!
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Chris Kapenga retweeted
Remember when you opened your latest property tax bill and saw it jump to a new high? Or got the latest rent increase from your landlord?
Now imagine getting that increase annually, on top of the last one, every year you're alive.
That's what Governor Evers set in motion when he used his line-item veto to raise property taxes every year for the next 400 years and then told taxpayers, "Deal with it."
If elected officials want to raise taxes, the people who pay those taxes deserve a say. That's true whether it's at the federal, state or local level. And that's why I authored legislation to put a constitutional amendment before Wisconsin voters November 3rd. It would prevent future governors, from either party, from using the line-item veto to raise taxes.
I appreciate the opportunity to talk about my "why" with @wisconsin_now, including my private-sector experience, CPA background, and willingness to stand up for Republican values.
We Asked Chris Kapenga 4 Questions in the #Waukesha County Executive Race... I hope you read this story because his answers were really interesting.
Both Chris and Adam Neylon really embraced this assignment, and I feel like I know both of them better from reading their candid answers. Thank you to both for the thoughtfulness they put into these responses.
#breaking #breakingnews
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Out at Fall Fest in Oconomowoc this weekend. So many people visiting with neighbors and enjoying the community. Fun running into the Campbells and their church friends.
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