RACINE COUNTY, WI — The Democratic Party of Racine County is calling on Republican candidate for Sheriff and current Sheriff’s Office Captain Cary Madrigal to provide documentation demonstrating that political campaign activities were not conducted while she was on duty or using taxpayer-funded resources.

A review of Madrigal’s campaign Facebook page identified 36 posts published during regular weekday business hours, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., from February 23 through October 4, 2026. Those posts represent 19.25% of the campaign’s 187 posts reviewed during that period.

The posts included political endorsements, direct appeals for votes, campaign videos, promotional messaging, and advertisements for campaign events and fundraisers.

Among the documented activity:

  • June 8, 9:12 a.m.: A post thanking Sheriff Christopher Schmaling, District Attorney Tricia Hanson, and other elected officials for their endorsements.
  • June 9, 4:17 p.m.: A campaign message highlighting Madrigal’s qualifications for sheriff.
  • June 29, 1:31 p.m.: A post promoting political endorsements, including Schmaling’s.
  • July 9, 9:22 a.m.: A request encouraging supporters to display Madrigal campaign yard signs.
  • August 10: Two campaign posts at 1:23 p.m. and 2:41 p.m. promoting an election-night event.
  • September 18, 1:53 p.m.: A video highlighting Sheriff Schmaling’s endorsement.
  • September 21, 8:00 a.m.: A direct appeal encouraging absentee voters to vote for Madrigal.
  • September 25: Three separate posts between 11:17 a.m. and 2:36 p.m., including a campaign video, a law enforcement policy statement, and an endorsement.
  • October 2: Three political endorsement graphics posted at precisely 8 a.m., noon, and 4 p.m.

These were not isolated posts. Campaign-related messages appeared repeatedly during normal working hours over several months.

County Rules Explicitly Prohibit On-Duty Political Activity

Racine County Ordinance § 17-81 prohibits deputy sheriffs from engaging in political activity designed to benefit a candidate or political party while on duty. The county’s employee policies also prohibit political activities during normal working hours or involving county equipment and property.

Violations of applicable employment rules may result in disciplinary action, potentially including suspension or termination, subject to the required procedures.

In more serious circumstances, misuse of official authority or public resources for political advantage may implicate Wisconsin Statute § 946.12, Misconduct in Public Office, a Class I felony carrying a maximum penalty of three years and six months of imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, or both. Criminal liability would require proof of the statute’s specific elements; a workday campaign post alone does not establish a felony.

“Taxpayers are entitled to know that the public employees they pay are performing public duties on public time—not advancing a political campaign,” said Kelly Gallaher, Chair of the Democratic Party of Racine County.

Who Can Independently Investigate When Both the Sheriff and District Attorney Are Politically Involved?

Ordinarily, concerns about a Sheriff’s Office employee’s conduct could be referred to the department for review. But Sheriff Christopher Schmaling has publicly supported Madrigal’s campaign to succeed him.

District Attorney Tricia Hanson presents an even more direct concern. Hanson has publicly described herself as a co-manager of Madrigal’s campaign, in addition to supporting her candidacy.

Both officials therefore have political relationships with the candidate whose conduct would be examined.

The Sheriff’s Office has already acknowledged a comparable conflict in another politically sensitive case. According to reporting published October 20, Schmaling declined to have his department investigate allegations involving Democratic state Senate candidate Trevor Jung because Schmaling supports Jung’s Republican opponent. The department reported notifying the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation.

If the Sheriff’s Office recognizes that a sheriff’s political endorsement can compromise the independence of an investigation involving an opposing candidate, the same concern must be addressed when the subject is the sheriff’s preferred successor.

The Democratic Party does not believe the public should be asked to rely solely on an investigation controlled by the candidate’s political supporters.

Madrigal Should Release the Records and Answer the Questions

The Democratic Party of Racine County calls on Madrigal to:

  1. Release or authorize disclosure of her duty schedules, time records, and leave records corresponding to the dates and times identified in the campaign posting review.
  2. Disclose whether she personally created, managed, scheduled, approved, or published campaign posts while on duty.
  3. Identify whether campaign staff or volunteers were responsible for publishing the posts.
  4. Confirm whether any county-owned equipment, facilities, personnel, or other publicly funded resources were used for campaign purposes.
  5. Support a review by an appropriate independent authority free from the political relationships surrounding her campaign.

The Party acknowledges that Facebook publication timestamps do not, by themselves, prove that Madrigal personally posted the material or campaigned while on duty. Posts can be scheduled in advance or published by campaign staff.

But those possibilities can be addressed through documentation and a credible, independent review.

“The rules should apply equally to everyone—especially those sworn to enforce them,” said Gallaher. “Captain Madrigal has an opportunity to put these questions to rest by releasing her records and explaining who was managing her campaign during working hours. But with Sheriff Schmaling endorsing her candidacy and District Attorney Hanson helping run her campaign, neither should be responsible for determining whether she violated the rules. That responsibility belongs with an independent, impartial authority.”

The Democratic Party of Racine County is calling for transparency, consistent application of county rules, and an independent process that does not leave politically connected officials investigating their own preferred candidate.