Chris Kapenga

Candidate for Waukesha County Executive. Conservative representing the 33rd Senate District, including most of Waukesha County. Business owner and former CPA.

[Chris Kapenga @chriskapenga]

I appreciate @DanODonnellShow having me on this week. https://t.co/BPkLUgwPTE

[Chris Kapenga @chriskapenga]

To appear on the ballot for Waukesha County Executive, I need your help collecting signatures from friends, neighbors, and other county residents. Email [email protected] or message me to join the team. Thank you to those who have already volunteered to help!

[Chris Kapenga @chriskapenga]

Thank you Duey, that means a lot.

[Duey Stroebel @Duey_Stroebel]

Chris Kapenga would be an excellent choice to fill the shoes of the late Paul Farrow as Waukesha County Executive. He is extremely smart and level headed. He is not influenced by special interest that are detrimental to the taxpayers and good government.

[Chris Kapenga @chriskapenga]

While we grieve the passing of Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow, the business of government continues.

I'm running for Waukesha County Executive because I don't think you should have to accept bigger government and higher taxes as the way things have to be.

You've worked hard for your paycheck. You deserve a county government that treats every tax dollar with the same care you do. Instead of asking taxpayers for more, I believe we can make county government do more with what it already has. Your money belongs in your bank account—not sitting in another government budget.

That's how I've served Waukesha County in the State Legislature for the last 16 years, and it's how I'll lead as your County Executive. As a former CPA and business owner, I've spent my career finding better ways to manage budgets and make organizations more efficient. I'm not afraid to ask tough questions or make difficult decisions if it means protecting taxpayers. If there's waste, we'll find it. If there's fraud, we'll go after it. And if there's a way to deliver the same services for less, we'll do it.

If you're looking for someone who will hold the line on spending, stop tolerating the slow creep of higher taxes, and remember that every dollar government spends came from someone who earned it, I'd be honored to earn your vote. Together, we can keep Waukesha County one of the best places in Wisconsin to live, work, and raise a family, protect taxpayers from an extra county sales tax, keep government spending in check, and leave the next generation an even stronger county than the one we enjoy today.

[Chris Kapenga @chriskapenga]

Great to speak about the importance of voter turnout for @TomTiffanyWI at the Republican Party of Waukesha County’s Pints & Patriots gathering last night. Also good to connect with fellow legislators and GOP supporters about the work ahead.

[Sen. Chris Kapenga @SenatorKapenga]

This week's housing bill by Congress does too little too late. The Fed simply needs to lower interest rates, and housing markets will become affordable again. A rate decrease helps with more inventory and lower prices. https://t.co/8p8bku3azg

[Sen. Chris Kapenga @SenatorKapenga]

Several schools in the 33rd District received high school musical theatre awards for excellence in student performance, production, and musical theater education. Shout out to the following schools that received 2025-26 Jerry Awards from The Overture Center:

Arrowhead Union High School - Footloose the Musical

Hamilton High School - The Drowsy Chaperone

Hartford Union High School - The SpongeBob Musical

Kettle Moraine High School - The Wizard of Oz

Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School - Fiddler on the Roof

Kettle Moraine School for Arts and Performance - The Hello Girls

Lake Country Lutheran High School - Disney's The Little Mermaid

[Sen. Chris Kapenga @SenatorKapenga]

Seven in ten Wisconsin voters say we’re in a cost-of-living crisis, according to a recent poll from @ReformingGovt.

This alarming data confirms the financial pain most of us have been feeling for years.

It’s also why I’ve been pushing for smaller, more efficient government—lower spending, zero-based budgeting, and returning most of the state’s surplus to you so you can decide how to spend your money, not government bureaucrats.

When these voters were asked what would help their personal finances most, one of the top answers was lower taxes. This response crossed party lines.

And when asked which tax should go away entirely, the top choice was Wisconsin’s state income tax.

Polls are just snapshots, but this lines up closely with what I heard from you in my winter survey of 33rd District residents.

Nearly 60% said you support working toward eliminating the state income tax.

I have been fighting this session to lower your taxes and return the state surplus back to you, the taxpayer. It’s your money—not the government’s to sit on.

Though a bill last month between Gov. Evers and outgoing legislative leaders was a small step in that direction, it didn’t go nearly far enough. Worse, it hid long-term spending increases behind a one-time “rebate” that was more like a payday loan than real tax reform.

[Sen. Chris Kapenga @SenatorKapenga]

I'll never forget watching Saving Private Ryan for the first time and wanting to hide under my seat when watching the D-Day scene. Thankful that they pushed through it so we don't have to.

[Sen. Chris Kapenga @SenatorKapenga]

Had a chance to meet up with two former Senate Scholars (Mark and Will) and current intern (Pat) last week. It's always great to see these young men doing well in their college careers and planning for their futures. Wishing Will congratulations on his high school graduation.

[Sen. Chris Kapenga @SenatorKapenga]

This Week’s Failed Tax “Rebate”

Tax rebates. No taxes on tips or overtime. Property tax relief. More funding for schools.

You may have heard it all this week, as the governor and outgoing legislative leaders negotiated a behind-the-scenes deal to return a small portion of the state surplus to taxpayers and increase school funding.

I support nearly all of these efforts. In fact, I sponsored and signed on to bills earlier this session to send much more money back to Wisconsin taxpayers through a larger one-time tax rebate and long-term tax cuts. Of course, Governor Evers vetoed them all, telling us to just “deal with it.”

If ever we needed more tax relief, it’s now. The cost of living continues to rise, squeezing our household budgets. We’ve had seven years of reckless spending by the governor, pork-filled state budgets, and terrible economic policies from the Biden administration we’re all still recovering from.

So why did I vote “no” on this week’s bill? Why not take what we can get and call it a compromise?

It’s as simple as this: the bill was a terrible deal for taxpayers.

Waving some candy in the public’s face of a one-time $300 rebate is a classic bait and switch. The bill would have actually increased the base of annual school spending—on top of the record-high spending they’re already receiving despite declining results and enrollments. This bill was ultimately for the teachers’ unions. And that’s why all the Democrats voted no—they wanted to give them even more of your money.

Using a one-time budget surplus to justify indefinite annual increases in spending is the kind of math only the government can come up with. The bill also did nothing to address Gov. Evers’ 400-year property tax increase, nothing to reform the lack of transparency and accountability in the budget process, and nothing to address the government waste that continues to grow at an alarming rate.

But still… Wouldn’t $300 now have been better than nothing? It could cover this month’s utility bill or several tanks of gas, right? Not exactly.

This bill’s $300 “rebate” was really a payday loan advance to feed an addict’s next hit. The governor and Democrats are addicted to spending more and more of your money, and that’s what this bill would have locked in. The $300 today would have to be paid back many times over through higher future taxes to cover this additional annual spending.

Thankfully, enough legislators said “no” to the governor’s latest hit. And now voters have an opportunity this fall to decide if they want permanent relief or more gimmicks from state government.

[Chris Kapenga @chriskapenga]

I'm collecting signatures to get on the ballot for re-election, and I need your help. If you haven't signed yet, there's still time. Download a nomination paper and gather a few signatures—even if it's just the adults in your household. Every signature matters. Please download, sign, and return by May 18. The form and simple instructions: https://t.co/x7afq2zcxP
Thank you for your support!

[Chris Kapenga @chriskapenga]

I need your help to appear on the ballot­—the 2026 election cycle officially kicked off this week, and the first step is collecting signatures. Download the nomination form now and have friends, family, and neighbors sign and return by May 18th. Even just the adults in your household will make a difference. Link to form and instructions below ⬇️. I appreciate your support! https://t.co/x7afq2zcxP

[Sen. Chris Kapenga @SenatorKapenga]

The State Senate's last floor session had two major lowlights: tribal gaming and UW NIL bills. Thankfully, Republican legislative leadership will be changing, opening the door to rebuilding Republican consensus and refocusing on putting you, our bosses, first again. https://t.co/Wb4GyLx266

[Sen. Chris Kapenga @SenatorKapenga]

This fall, Wisconsin voters will decide on a Constitutional amendment to stop the Governor's partial veto from being used to raise your taxes. That's exactly what Gov. Evers is doing now—locking in property tax increases for the next 400 years. This was one of several bills I authored that passed the State Senate last week. https://t.co/eT37qrXRuD

[Sen. Chris Kapenga @SenatorKapenga]

My bill to eliminate sugary drinks and candy from food stamp eligibility passed the State Senate last week, and I'm looking forward to the Governor signing it. This isn't just about our national health crisis. New research suggests it could also affect teen mental health—showing a 34% higher risk of anxiety disorders among adolescents with higher sugary drink consumption. https://t.co/AlcTR0E3Ft

[Sen. Chris Kapenga @SenatorKapenga]

I enjoyed meeting with district residents in Hartford this week. These events are a great reminder that people can have different political views and still engage in civil discussion. Topics included eliminating the state income tax, stewardship funding for land conservation, protecting ratepayers from increased utility costs associated with data centers, the governor vetoing bills that would keep men out of women's locker rooms and sports, the death penalty as a deterrent in cases of horrific child sexual abuse, and the importance or running for office when you lose trust in elected officials. Join us at our next session and participate in the political process!

[Sen. Chris Kapenga @SenatorKapenga]

64% of Wisconsin voters oppose legalizing online sports betting in our state, according to last week's new Marquette poll. The opposition is bi-partisan. Makes you wonder why the Assembly would push this through. I'm a "no" vote if this comes to the Senate floor…https://t.co/tXBirsu4gK

[Sen. Chris Kapenga @SenatorKapenga]

My new legislation would empower prosecutors in Wisconsin to seek the death penalty for convicted child sex predators. “Those who target the youngest among us for the vilest crimes will soon be met with the harshest punishment under the law.” https://t.co/SxoOijs36i