Shae Sortwell

Shae A. Sortwell (born August 3, 1985) is an American truck driver and Republican politician from Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 2nd Assembly district since 2019. He previously served on the Green Bay city council and the town board of Gibson, Wisconsin.

Early life and education 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 in northern Manitowoc County. 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. While in college, Sortwell was a member of student government and founded a pro-life student organization.

Political career

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.

In 2016, Sortwell pushed an online petition asking Green Bay mayor Jim Schmitt to resign over criminal campaign finance violations. 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.

Wisconsin State Assembly In 2018, after incumbent Andre Jacque announced he would not run for reelection, Sortwell declared his candidacy for Assembly in the 2nd Assembly district. During the campaign, he was endorsed by state senator Alan Lasee and Manitowoc County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer. He defeated Dean Raasch in an August primary for the Republican nomination and won the November election over Democrat Mark Grams, garnering 55 percent of the vote.

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.

In 2020, Sortwell and another Republican legislator, Paul Tittl, erected a Christmas tree in the capitol rotunda, which had been previously prohibited by governor Tony Evers due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The two legislators were joined by representatives Dave Murphy and Chuck Wichgers in decorating the tree. This stood in contrast with a fellow Republican legislator, Amy Loudenbeck, who was granted permission to place a Christmas tree on the capitol rotunda's first floor.

In 2021 Sortwell garnered controversy due to comparisons he made between Central Wisconsin Children's Museum, based out of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and Nazi Germany due to a requirement from the museum for unvaccinated people to wear masks, with Sortwell saying "The Gestapo wants to see your papers, please". Due to his comments, the museum received harassment from all across the country. Stevens Point residents asked Sortwell to apologize for his statement, but he stood by his statement about the museum.

In 2025 Sortwell was assigned as vice chair to the Government Oversight Accountability and Transparency (GOAT) Committee, which was modeled off of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Using the committee, he sent out requests to numerous cities asking for information regarding Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Sortwell was criticized by Democratic members of the committee for making these information requests without consulting other members of the committee and due to the lack of a task for the committee to undertake. They have six children together. 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.

Electoral history Wisconsin Assembly, 90th district (2014)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 2014 General Democratic 7,953 54.94% Rep. 5,342 36.90% 14,477 2,611 Ind. 1,164 8.04%

Wisconsin Assembly, 2nd district (2018–present)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 2018 Primary Republican 2,708 54.88% Rep. 2,221 45.01% 4,934 487 General Republican 15,014 54.82% Dem. 10,118 36.94% 27,389 4,896 Ind. 1,494 5.45% Lib. 745 2.72% 2020 General Republican 22,244 63.11% Dem. 12,970 36.80% 35,248 9,274 2022 General Republican 16,112 59.18% Dem. 11,093 40.74% 27,226 5,019 2024 General Republican 23,198 63.22% Dem. 13,474 36.72% 36,693 9,724