Wisconsin Democrats elected Devin Remiker as the chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
Remiker, who formerly served as the party’s executive director, won the endorsement of outgoing Chair Ben Wikler ahead of Sunday’s election.
Remiker defeated 3rd CD Chair William Garcia and Milwaukee-based operative Joe Zepecki.
In a speech following the results, Remiker said he was “honored” to win the support of the Democratic Party and is excited to get to work fighting for 2026.
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“I am looking forward to serving with you over the next two years to make sure that we are building the strongest party possible and supporting our candidates, volunteers and party leaders across the state,” Remiker said.
Remiker said there’s still a lot of work to do, and he plans to work with Democrats across the state to stand up against the policies of President Donald Trump.
“The Democratic Party of Wisconsin works,” Remiker said. “We take on the big fights, and we win. And at this moment, every second counts. We got to get back to work.”
In winning the position, Remiker defeated Garcia and Zepecki with 485 votes in the second round of tabulation, 437 were first-choice votes and 48 were second-choice votes. Garcia received 139 total and was eliminated after the first round of tallying. Joe Zepecki received 415 votes: 330 first choice-votes and 85 second-choice votes.
The party reported 857 people were registered to attend this weekend’s convention in Wisconsin Dells, including 704 delegates, nine alternates and 144 guests.
Remiker told press following his acceptance speech Democrats need to work on messaging that connects with voters and winning back the union organizers and working class.
“I think we have to show up everywhere year round,” Remiker said. “I think for some folks there’s trust we have to rebuild to show that Democrats are the party that’s going to fight for the working class.”
He said he would focus on a smooth transition by connecting with grassroots party members and then starting work on capturing energy for next year’s elections.
Remiker did not say how much he spent on his campaign to lead the state party, just that he “spent enough to win,” and that it was “certainly not” more than $100,000.
Speakers at this weekend’s convention praised Wikler for his efforts that led to a string of statewide wins and record-breaking fundraising in his time as chair since 2019.
Dem and liberal candidates have won 15 of the past 19 contested statewide races, topped by a 10-point victory in this spring’s state Supreme Court election.
Ahead of the results being announced, outgoing 1st Vice Chair Felesia Martin presented Wikler with a red gavel.
She said he came on at a time when Wisconsin needed a “rebel leader,” calling him the party’s Obi-Wan Kenobi and Captain America “all rolled into one.”
“This is a great honor,” Wikler said in response. “I love to bang a gavel.”
Wikler also thanked Martin and 2nd Vice Chair Tricia Zunker and other past Dem party officers for working with him in the last six years, and he invited his family onto the stage, thanking each of them.
“This has been a family project,” Wikler said. “This has taken so much from everyone on this stage.”
See explanation of the election process here.
See coverage of all candidates’ speeches Sarturday night here.
