1. Rebecca Ann Kleefisch is an American politician and former television reporter who served as the 44th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 2011 to 2019.
19 Facts About Rebecca Kleefisch
1. 2.
Rebecca Kleefisch was a reporter for WIFR-TV in Rockford, Illinois, and then was a reporter and later morning anchor for WISN-TV in Milwaukee, before leaving in 2004.
3.
Kleefisch formed her own company, Rebecca Kleefisch Enterprises and was a contributor to Charlie Sykes' program on WTMJ Radio in Milwaukee.
4.
Rebecca Kleefisch opposes the Affordable Care Act and has supported efforts to repeal the legislation.
5.
Rebecca Kleefisch criticized Wisconsin's progressive income tax system and has promised "transformational income tax reform" if she were to become governor.
6.
In 2012, when she faced a recall election, Rebecca Kleefisch criticized the recall process, arguing that it has become a "spectacle" and were designed only to recall officials guilty of grave wrongdoing, rather than used as a way to resolve policy disputes.
7.
In 2021 Rebecca Kleefisch championed the recall election of four Mequon-Thiensville School District over policy disputes.
8.
In 2018, Rebecca Kleefisch claimed that her campaign opponent Mandela Barnes was kneeling during the US national anthem protests at the Wisconsin State Fair.
9.
Rebecca Kleefisch is the only lieutenant governor in the history of any state in the United States to face recall election and ultimately survive a recall.
10.
In January 2019, Rebecca Kleefisch was appointed to serve as the executive director of the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission.
11.
Rebecca Kleefisch served in that position until becoming a Jobs Ambassador for Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin in November 2019.
12.
In September 2021, Rebecca Kleefisch announced that she would seek the Republican nomination for Governor of Wisconsin in the following year's election.
13.
Rebecca Kleefisch began her campaign by criticizing the leadership of incumbent Democratic Governor Tony Evers and attacking his response to the 2020 Kenosha unrest.
14.
Rebecca Kleefisch recently sued the Wisconsin Elections Commission, alleging that they broke the law during the 2020 election.
15.
Rebecca Kleefisch received the endorsement of former governor Walker months ahead of the primary, and was long regarded as the front-runner in the race.
16.
Rebecca Kleefisch was defeated in the primary by Michels, who himself went on to lose the general election to incumbent Evers.
17.
Rebecca Kleefisch is married to former State Representative Joel Rebecca Kleefisch, who was a reporter for WISN-TV.
18.
In late August 2010, Rebecca Kleefisch was diagnosed with colon cancer.
19.
Rebecca Kleefisch had a tumor removed in early September 2010, and finished chemotherapy treatment by April 2011.