KENOSHA, Wis. — Republican state Senate candidate Ellen Schutt announced this week that she has received the endorsement of Turning Point Action in Wisconsin’s 11th Senate District race, drawing a sharp response from fellow Republican candidate Sandy Wiedmeyer.
In a campaign statement released Wednesday, Schutt said she was “honored” to receive the endorsement from the conservative grassroots organization founded by activist Charlie Kirk.
“Turning Point has been instrumental in organizing young conservatives and turning them out to vote,” Schutt said. “Inspiring my generation, and the next, to become involved and fight for what they believe in is so important to me.”
Schutt also said Turning Point Action recognized her as “the only candidate with a proven conservative record” and said she would “take that fight” to Madison if elected.
Following the endorsement announcement, Kenosha County Eye reached out to Schutt’s Republican opponents for comment.
Wiedmeyer said she had communicated with Turning Point Action prior to the endorsement but was never formally vetted.
“I did reach out to and communicate with Turning Point, but I was never given the opportunity to interview, answer questions, or participate in any meaningful vetting process before the endorsement was announced,” Wiedmeyer said.
Wiedmeyer also disputed Schutt’s characterization of the race and defended her own conservative credentials.
“I also strongly disagree with the claim that there is only one ‘proven conservative’ in this race,” Wiedmeyer said. “My conservative record did not begin when I decided to run for office.”
Wiedmeyer pointed to her role in helping found Wisconsin’s first Moms for Liberty chapter, serving nearly four years as chair of the Republican Party of Kenosha County, and acting as a Trump-endorsed Republican National Convention delegate.
“For years, I have been doing the grassroots work — building coalitions, organizing locally, and fighting for conservative values in our communities,” Wiedmeyer said.
She also contrasted herself with Schutt, describing the race as “a choice between a grassroots conservative leader with deep community ties and someone whose background has largely been built within the Madison political system.”
“I’m not running to build a political career,” Wiedmeyer added. “I’m running to serve the people of Senate District 11 and deliver results for the communities I’ve called home for decades.”
Wiedmeyer concluded by saying voters, not endorsements, will ultimately decide the race.
“At the end of the day, endorsements do not vote — people do,” she said. “I trust the voters of District 11 to evaluate each candidate based on their record, leadership, and commitment to the district.”
The Republican primary for the 11th Senate District is expected to draw significant attention in southeastern Wisconsin as candidates compete for support from conservative voters and organizations ahead of the 2026 election.
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44 Responses
Why would anyone from Kenosha or Racine vote for someone who lives an hour away? The boundaries are ridiculous. Anyone voting for her in Kenosha or Racine will probably never see her. I’m not sure she’s done any events around here yet, and if she has, it hasn’t been many. If she does hold one, you might want to go meet her because that could be the last time you see her if elected, at least until the next election. I’m not telling anyone who to vote for, but the distance will weigh heavily on my decision.
What does the area of the district matter to the endorsement from Turning Point Action?
None of the candidates that are running can help where the district boundary lines are — it was Evers’ gerrymandered maps that created the boundaries of the district.
The district doesn’t represent Racine and only it only contains Kenosha that is west of the interstate so these candidates shouldn’t be campaigning outside the district. Ellen has been everywhere in the entire district, I know she has been to many events and meetings in Kenosha County, because I met her at a meeting in Paddock Lake and others have told me they saw her in Wheatland, Pleasant Prairie, and Twin Lakes.
The district isn’t ony west of the I, i live south of 116th along Lake Michigan and in District 11.
Pleasant Prairie isn’t west of I 94
You are being disingenuous when you say you are not trying to tell anyone how to vote. That’s exactly what you are trying to do. You just aren’t as clever as you think you are.
She knocked on my door (Silver Lake) and spent time talking to my wife for awhile. I’d rather have a strong candidate who lives an hour away, than a weak one on my block.
Sandy deserves a fair shot. She worked her butt off to build a viable party organization.
Sandy took over an organization that was built solidified by Erin Decker. Unfortunately Erin allowed her personal agenda to take away from the party and it cost her higher offices.
I really don’t see what Sandy has accomplished and besides being Amanda’s besty. If Amanda thought there was a shot to win the Senate seat she would have ran. Don’t be fooled.
Do you know how Sandy and Amanda met? They met while fighting for your freedoms at school board meetings, village board meetings, county board meetings, and city council meetings. They stood together against government overreach in our schools and pushed back against policies from former public health officials and elected leaders that they believed infringed on individual rights.
Sandy has been boots on the ground for years — long before she ever became chair of the county party. She has consistently shown up, spoken out, and worked tirelessly for the people in her community.
You can bet she’ll bring that same dedication, work ethic, and commitment to the people of Wisconsin in Madison.
Hahahahaha.
Aaahhhh…
Hahahahahahaha. HAHAHAHAHA.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAAAAHAAA.
Sandy worked her butt off… hahahahahaha.
*EVERYONE* hates Sam Kerkman. The conservatives know she’s a Democrat, but she’s not woke enough for the loony-left.
SANDY COULDN’T EVEN RECRUIT SOMEONE TO CHALLENGE SAM.
*SHE* could have challenged Sam… but she didn’t.
Sandy doesn’t deserve anything besides a closet office in the Rec Plex where she can spend her days until she retires to Lake Geneva with Amber.
yikes !
booooooooooooooooooo
“Booooooooo” as in you can do better? Prob not lol
LOL good luck with that.
Someone jealous 😉
More internal fighting, much like the Sheriff’s race, makes the idea of Republican unity seem laughable. It’s just one big barfaroni sandwich. No matter who gets in, it’s the same blood-sucking politicians doing the opposite of what they promised before being elected. Now, the Republican politicians in Kenosha County are backing Ellen over Sandy. What’s going on, folks? They’re all backstabbing losers. Vote out ALL incumbents-it’s your safest bet.
I will vote for anybody pretty much that runs against Samantha Kerkman
TPUSA is fighting the Republicans for control of conservatives. The battle has come here.
Go ahead and drink the Kool-Aid; you’re living in a fantasy. TPUSA seems to have lost sight of what a conservative really is. CK fit the bill, but this new crowd, not so much. And Sandy? Definitely a conservative. I’ll keep the bong water ready for you.
You’re lost
TPUSA is a mirror image of liberalism. No interest in governing or compromises to get things done.
TP doesnt have a great record when it comes to endorsed candidates winning elections, especially here in Wisconsin.
Sandy seems like we would be voting for another Samantha. No thanks. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Sandy is jealous because TP believes in Ellen instead of her. Ellen is a hard worker — not a career politician or political insider — and people are noticing the difference.
Ellen is a poli-science major from UW Madison, was an intern in Madison, staffer in Madison- husband? Staffer in Madison too.
We definitely do NOT need another Samantha Kerman!
I gave money to TPUSA until I found out that it was all going to other states. They aren’t really all that active in Wisconsin and though I agree with their values, I can’t consider them to be expert in who is good for our state. I’m surprised to see them endorsing anyone. How do they know them other than maybe a questionnaire that was filled out?
The previous chair left the party with only $1000 in the bank. The party had to be rebuilt. The board did that through hard work and under Sandy’s leadership. The party has grown and is more active in the community. She has worked tirelessly and is a volunteer.
Force a Republican primary for an incumbent’s seat!(Sam)??… not good strategy in a county like Kenosha.
Maybe not a good idea with a well loved or even somewhat accepted republican candidate.
However, Sam isn’t that.
Sam could have easily been defeated in primary by someone with traditional conservative values from a non-political background.
I live on the Racine side of KR but work at Brookside, so I am acutely aware of how badly Sam has screwed up Kenosha County. It’s bad from an employee’s perspective, and lately it seems like the only thing Kenosha has going for it over Racine County is that Kenosha (County)’s roads are in much better shape than Racine County’s. NOT THE CITY ROADS. Both city’s roads are horrible.
In Racine County, our exec passed away suddenly, and was replaced by a local businessman, who really seems to have a good head on his shoulders.
Sandy & RPKC should have been on top of recruiting someone along the lines of Ralph Malicki, a businessman and philanthropist who genuinely cares about the Racine County community.
All this talk about Sandy being a champion for children, and fighting for parents.
However, she’s not living the life. Ellen is a mother, married, and lives that life. What’s best for children? The best situation for children is a married mother & father.
Ellen is the candidate who best understands SE Wisconsin families— because she is part of one. She’s a mother, she’s a wife, and she can represent what a traditional family should look like. The best way to restore sanity in society is by building up children through traditional family values. Ellen best represents that.
Just my opinion, but there’s a lot to unpack here. Does being a mother automatically mean you’ve got your conservative values in check? I know plenty of mothers who seem on the verge of losing it, morally and ethically, and don’t represent any kind of conservative I’d support. That claim doesn’t hold much weight for me. The fact that she’s spent so much time in Madison is concerning, since I know many people educated there who are far from conservative. Is Ellen just another RINO? All that Madison influence would make me think twice about voting for her. And how can you fairly judge Ellen’s life compared to Sandy’s? That feels like a cheap shot without any factual basis.
Divorce is a good indicator of flawed morals and bad judgement.
Not all mothers have traditional, conservative values. However- if two conservative women are running for the same office, and one is divorced and the other is a wife & mother, I am going to make the natural assumption that the wife and mother is better qualified to make decisions that are best for the traditional, American family.
Restoring the traditional American family is restoring values and morals to our nation and sets future generations up for better success.
Yeah, with the divorce rate at 50-60% Ellen is young, who knows what the future holds, Silly argument.
That percentage is extremely inflated and simply false.
However, I stand by my statement that bringing sanity and civility back to our nation starts with restoring traditional family values- and we do that by electing individuals who live that life.
I’ll go for the one who spends the least hopefully none time telling us about how she’ll fight abortions in Wisconsin, because the Republican party just can’t accept the fact that being anti-abortion and otherwise conservative is called, “no chance of getting elected”. No one needs the Republicans to be their moral compass, we need them to be reliable supporters of businesses, taxpayers and honest citizens. Everyone can make their own mind up about abortions.
All this talk about their marital status reminds me of the rabid attacks at Vos by Adrianne M. (If you know, you know.) He is divorced and remarried and that didn’t make him less of a conservative. Lots of women stay married to cheaters, alcoholics, abusers etc. And you’re implying that would make a better candidate than one who was smart enough to get out? Get real. Not saying either has/had this. But this shouldn’t even be a metric. Vote based on platform, ideas, accomplishments and even personality and experience. Stop with stirring up arbitrary crap real voters don’t care about. This whole thread looks fabricated by a couple fanatics.
^^^People like this is why society is coming apart at the seams. Building a strong society through support of traditional family values is a platform, you walnut.
Vos isn’t conservative. Vos is a RINO. He’s also a trash individual and a fake Catholic.
Vote to restore family values.
Strong kids come from strong families. Strong families consist of a Mom & a Dad who are married.
Strong kids build a strong(er) community.
Strong communities build a strong society, rooted in solid morals and and good values.
Though I don’t dispute strong families are foundational they are not exclusionary for a good candidate. I know people who pretend they have a happy marriage but are miserable. People especially online are fake. You are why conservatives have a bad name. Unattainable religious standards that only a small select “elite” few could ever meet. And I can see you are one of those anti-Vos fanatics. Your radical view doesn’t help Ellen at ALL.
Ellen has been indoctrinated by Madison; those seeking a Republican in name only may choose her, while those wanting a true conservative should support Sandy. TP might have carried weight if CK were still present, but the current district leader opposes Sandy. This situation is less about what benefits Kenosha and more about divisive politics undermining the party. Don’t be fooled by the Rino’s
Sandy supports rinos Kerkman, Zoerner, gray, Poole…
No she doesn’t
All these comments about Ellen being married and having a kid, who is only a few years old mind you. Woopie!
None of you mention that Sandy raised 2 kids to adulthood, was a teacher, a teacher trainer, administers a sports complex, has shown extreme dedication and discipline as a fitness inspiration, is a business owner, and took the reins on a failing GOP to make it one of the highest rated County GOPs in the state.
There is no comparison. Sandy has a wealth of life experience, and Ellen only knows politics.
Sandy is a bold outspoken leader who has worked tirelessly for others, and Ellen is a meek budding career politician who gave up her run for a second term as a representative in her district to suddenly be endorsed as “a conservative leader” by a bunch of career politicians to be a senator.
It is clear to see who the people’s choice should be.
I am voting for Sandy because she is the grassroots hard working candidate that will represent the best interests of me and my family.
Sandy gave Kenosha County to Sam Kerkman.
When are these two going to debate? It’s time to set something up, Mr. Mathewson. You’re working with the Sheriff, so now it’s time to help choose our new Senate candidate.