Former state GOP Treasurer Kelly Ruh criticized the party’s leadership and approach in a letter announcing her resignation from the post.
The WisGOP website currently lists the treasurer position as vacant. Fifth Congressional District Vice Chair Brett Galaszewski, a member of the executive committee who has frequently criticized party leaders, shared on X a letter signed by Ruh and dated Sunday announcing her resignation.
In the letter, Ruh states she “can no longer meaningfully contribute to our Party’s executive leadership team under the current circumstances,” pointing to a lack of strategic plan, defined objectives and measureable outcomes, as well as budgetary issues.
“As the saying goes ‘what gets measured gets done.’ Unfortunately, without metrics or accountability, it is unclear what we are working toward or what our capacity is to achieve our objective,” she wrote.
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Ruh also criticized “dysfunctional leadership” and said the “lack of transparency, direction, and respect for differing perspectives – or even basic board oversight – has fostered a culture that is not only ineffective but also absurd.”
“Recent election results in Wisconsin are clear–if RPW does not drastically change its approach to everything (leadership, fundraising, messaging, organizing, addressing issues that Wisconsinites care about), then it will play no role in deciding our state’s future,” Ruh wrote. “As a conservative, this greatly disappoints me, but it is clear the required change is not likely to come from RPW’s current leadership.”
Ruh’s departure comes as the state GOP has struggled to keep pace with its Dem counterpart’s fundraising in recent years and following tough losses in spring elections.
State GOP Chair Brian Schimming in a statement did not address the resignation letter.
“We thank Kelly for her service on the Republican Party of Wisconsin’s Executive Committee and wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors,” Schimming said.
