Following a national search for a new DPW executive director, Chair Ben Wikler has decided to promote from within and elevate Devin Remiker to the position.
Remiker has been serving as interim executive director of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin since shortly after Nellie Sires left the post last summer to take a job with a Washington, D.C.-based group.
A Two Rivers native, he has served in a variety of roles for the party in recent years. That includes serving as deputy director of Wisconsin Victory, Dems’ coordinated campaign to help the party’s candidates across the ballot.
He previously managed western Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Ron Kind’s 2016 reelection campaign.
Wikler told WisPolitics.com after the national search process, he realized Remiker “has this unparalleled level of expertise and accomplishment.”
“We are already at a full sprint,” Wikler said. “By convincing him to take on the permanent ED role, we’re able to just keep picking up momentum, rather than having a challenging transition to someone who frankly wouldn’t have been as well positioned to drive this enormous operation forward.”‘
Wikler’s predecessor, Martha Laning, split the executive director’s job into two roles – one in charge of political affairs and the other party operations. Remiker served in the political affairs role before Wikler again made it one position with his hire of Sires in 2019.
Remiker will now be in a key role heading into the 2022 elections that feature two top national races – for U.S. Senate and governor. Gov. Tony Evers’ campaign manager Cassi Fenili called him a “tremendous partner” whose “experience will help us secure Gov. Evers’ reelection in November.”
