Assembly Republicans Re-Elect Jim Steineke As Majority Leader

Wisconsin Assembly Republicans have elected Kaukauna Rep. Jim Steineke as their Majority Leader.

Steineke was until recently an outspoken critic of President-elect Donald Trump.

Earlier this year, Steineke called Trump a “morally bankrupt con man” who put the conservative movement “in danger of being redefined in ways that would validate that worst fears of our founding fathers.”

But Steineke praised Trump after he was re-elected Majority Leader by his peers Monday.

“If you guys thought we were busy in the last three sessions or last session, you haven’t seen anything yet, because there’s bigger, bolder reforms coming because of the cooperation we’ll have from President-elect Trump and Speaker (Paul) Ryan,” Steineke said. “Boy, I’m telling you, you new guys came along at the right time because this is going to be something great.”

Steineke was challenged for Majority Leader by Rep. Kevin Petersen, a Republican from Waupaca.

Steineke has been a staunch ally of Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who was uncontested in his bid to continue as Speaker and re-elected Monday afternoon.