Robert Cowles

Robert Lewis Cowles III (born July 31, 1950) is a retired American Republican politician from Green Bay, Wisconsin. He served 38 years as a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing Wisconsin's 2nd Senate district from 1987 to 2025. Before being elected to the Senate, he served four years in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1983–1987).

Early life and education Robert Cowles was born and raised and lived most of his life in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, earning his bachelor's degree in math and science in 1975. After graduating, he briefly pursued his master's in public administration at University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, but did not complete that degree.

He was formerly a director of an alternative energy division for a communications construction company.

Early political career Despite his parents being prominent local Republicans, Cowles became active in politics with the Democratic Party during his college years. During the 1976 Democratic Party presidential primaries he was an organizer in Wisconsin for Arizona U.S. representative Mo Udall's presidential campaign. He was also active in the United States Junior Chamber, and was president of the group in 1977.

In 1978, Cowles made his first bid for state elected office. Cowles prevailed in the primary, receiving 57% of the vote, but was defeated in the general election by Republican Gary T. Dilweg.

After losing the 1978 election, Cowles reduced his political activity and re-emerged in 1982 as a Republican. On his party-change, he explained that he found the Republican Party better fit his conservative political philosophy.

That year, he ran for Assembly again in what was then the 75th Assembly district under the 1982 court-ordered redistricting plan. He faced two opponents in the Republican primary, but prevailed with 50% of the vote. He went on to defeat Democrat Joel Edler in the general election, receiving 56% of the vote. Another redistricting act was passed in 1983, Cowles ran for his second term in 1984 in what was then the 6th Assembly district. He prevailed in another contested primary, and went on to defeat Democrat Gregory Kirschling in the general election.

Wisconsin Senate While Cowles was being re-elected to the assembly in 1986, his district's state senator, Don Hanaway, was being elected Attorney General of Wisconsin. Hanaway still had two years remaining on his term in the Wisconsin Senate, and therefore a special election was called for the spring of 1987 to fill the vacancy in the 2nd Senate district. Cowles was one of four Republicans who entered the special primary to succeed Hanaway, he went on to win the primary with 41% of the vote over state representative Cathy Zeuske and former representative William J. Rogers. In the general election, he defeated Democrat Rosemary Hinkfuss. He also previously served as co-chair of the Joint Committee on Audit, and he sits on the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government; he has sat on the committee responsible for transportation issues since 2013. On April 28, roughly 26,000 signatures to recall Cowles were filed with the Government Accountability Board. In late May 2011, the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board verified petitions against Cowles. The recall election was held on August 9, 2011, with Cowles defeating the Democratic challenger, Nancy Nusbaum, 60 percent to 40 percent.

Retirement The 2024 redistricting act substantially redrew the maps in the Green Bay area. Cowles was drawn out of his 2nd Senate district seat and into the 30th Senate district with two other incumbent Republican state senators. Cowles initially announced he would relocate to the new 2nd Senate district, but later announced that he would retire and end his 42-year legislative career.

Just before the 2024 election, Cowles announced that he would vote for the Democratic Party presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, and stated that Donald Trump "has to be defeated". In announcing his decision, Cowles said, "I really think this is one of the most important things I've done... Cowles made this announcement in an episode of the Civic Media show, “Rational Revolution,” hosted by Mark Becker on October 24, 2024, Just before the Presidential Election, hoping to move the Needle. Cowles Said I believe this guy Trump is a Totalitarian and very much a Fascist,” said Cowles. The big picture that really came to me in recent days, in the last week, is thinking about thinking about fascism in World War II, and members of my own family that fought the fascists both in Japan and Germany, and all the guys that are buried all over the place of this country, in Arlington, he said. During the Radio show, Becker played a clip from Liz Cheney’s recent speech in Ripon, Wisconsin, endorsing Harris, and Cowles talked about agreeing with all of what she had to say. Hopefully, people will accept that and listen to me, those that have trusted me and believed in me will think about that, and if they're undecided, that we have to make a change here... Trump has to be defeated, and we have to protect the Constitution. And the country will go on, even with some liberal things that Harris might do, or might not do... You have to have the foundation of the Constitution, to protect democracy. If you don't have that, we will disappear."

Personal life and family Robert Cowles III is the eldest of three sons born to Robert Cowles Jr. and his wife Margaret ( Lindstrom). Robert Cowles Jr. was a mechanical engineer and a co-founder of Marathon Engineering; he was also an original shareholder in the Green Bay Packers. His father, Robert Cowles Sr., was a prominent physician and civic leader in Green Bay.

Through his paternal grandmother, Emily Cone Harris ( Murphy) Cowles, Cowles was an heir to a portion of the ownership of Horseshoe Bay Farms, Door County Wisconsin, Penobscot Mines Minnesota, The Pacific Lumber Company California, The Morley-Murphy Company, founded by her father, Frank Emery Murphy. Her uncle, William Herbert Murphy, was also a prominent businessman, and was one of the founders of the Lincoln Motor Company.

Electoral history Wisconsin Assembly, 4th district (1978) Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 1978 Primary Republican 37,028 59.35% Dem. 25,361 40.65% 62,389 11,667 1992 General Republican 40,570 58.05% Dem. 29,324 41.95% 69,894 11,246 1996 General Republican 40,467 62.92% Dem. 23,849 37.08% 64,316 16,618 2000 General Republican 55,223 99.62% --unopposed-- 55,434 55,012 2004 General Republican 60,546 89.13% Lib. 7,288 10.73% 67,929 53,258 2008 General Republican 60,507 99.35% --unopposed-- 60,900 60,114 2011 Recall Republican 27,037 57.44% Dem. 19,974 42.43% 47,073 7,063 2012 General Republican 64,192 98.54% --unopposed-- 65,143 63,241 2016 General Republican 57,269 65.00% Dem. 30,796 34.95% 88,109 26,473 2020 General Republican 80,602 98.33% --unopposed-- 81,968 79,236