KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Congressman Bryan Steil surprised some conservatives this week when he endorsed Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner for reelection, despite Zoerner’s history of Democratic politics, soft stances on immigration enforcement, and controversial personnel decisions that have angered many Republican voters. While David Zoerner will be on the ballot for the Republican primary and bears the (R) after his name officially, he is a Democrat.

Steil praised Zoerner’s law-enforcement career and said the sheriff has “served our country and community with distinction.” But many conservatives in Kenosha County have questioned whether Steil is fully aware of Zoerner’s political background and policy positions, especially since Zoerner now runs with an “R” after his name despite previously running as a Democrat.

Zoerner’s past has become a recurring issue in local politics. Before running for sheriff as a Republican, Zoerner ran as a Democrat and was photographed attending liberal marches while wearing a pink “pussyhat,” a symbol associated with the 2017 Women’s March movement and progressive politics. He has also been photographed with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who remains unpopular with many conservatives in Kenosha County. Critics have long argued that Zoerner’s switch to the Republican Party was more about electability than ideology.

One of the biggest sources of conservative frustration has been Zoerner’s handling of immigration enforcement. In 2025, Zoerner refused to join the federal 287(g) program, which would have allowed deputies to work directly with ICE to identify and remove criminal illegal immigrants in the jail. Critics said Zoerner campaigned like a conservative on border issues, but once in office refused to follow through. At the time, Kenosha County District Attorney Xavier Solis publicly supported entering into the agreement, but Zoerner declined and instead said participation was not in the county’s best interest. Five other Wisconsin sheriffs moved forward with the program while Zoerner did not.

Zoerner’s critics also point to his decision to hire a twice-convicted felon and former gang member as a deputy sheriff after the man was pardoned by Evers. Zoerner personally backed the hire despite skepticism within the department. The move generated controversy among rank-and-file deputies and conservative residents, especially after the deputy later resigned only months into the job.

The sheriff has also been accused of going easy on politically connected individuals. In early 2025, Kenosha County Eye published an opinion piece alleging that Zoerner protected attorney and former politician Ted Kmiec after marijuana and other drugs were found at Kmiec’s home. Critics argued that Zoerner’s office failed to treat the case as aggressively as it would have for an ordinary citizen, further fueling accusations that the sheriff is soft on marijuana and willing to shield well-connected allies.

Some local Republicans believe Steil may have been told that Zoerner is simply a Republican sheriff seeking reelection, without being fully briefed on the sheriff’s political history and controversial record. Others believe Steil’s endorsement reflects a desire to avoid a public feud with an incumbent sheriff who still has strong name recognition.

Still, for many conservative voters, the endorsement creates an awkward political picture: a Republican congressman backing a sheriff who once ran as a Democrat, marched with liberals, posed with Tony Evers, declined to fully cooperate with ICE, hired a pardoned felon as a deputy, and has been accused of shielding politically connected allies.