Glenn Sholes Grothman Bio
Glenn Sholes Grothman (born July 3, 1955) is an American attorney and Republican politician currently serving as the United States representative for Wisconsin’s 6th congressional district. First elected to Congress in 2014, he has built a long career in Wisconsin state government, including more than two decades in the state legislature before moving to the U.S. House. He is known for his conservative positions on social, economic, and cultural issues.
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Wisconsin Law School, Grothman practiced law in West Bend before entering public service. He lives in unincorporated Greenbush in Sheboygan County and practices the Lutheran faith.
Early Life and Background
Glenn Sholes Grothman was born on July 3, 1955, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He grew up in the Milwaukee area and attended Homestead High School in Mequon, where he graduated in 1973. His early years in southeastern Wisconsin shaped his interest in local issues and politics.
After high school, Grothman continued his education in state, enrolling at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He then pursued legal studies at the University of Wisconsin Law School, earning his Juris Doctor in 1983. Following his admission to the bar, he began working as an attorney at a firm in West Bend, Wisconsin, where he built a professional foundation that would later support his transition into public office.
Path to US Politics
Grothman’s entry into elective politics came in 1993, when he won a special election to the Wisconsin State Assembly’s 58th district. He succeeded Mary Panzer, who had moved on to the state senate, and he was then reelected five times between 1994 and 2002. From 1999 to 2004, he served as vice chair of the Assembly Republican caucus, helping to shape the chamber’s policy agenda.
In 2004, Grothman sought the Republican nomination for the 20th district state senate seat, challenging Panzer, who by then had risen to state senate majority leader. Running well to her right, Grothman won the primary with 79 percent of the vote. He was unopposed in the general election in the heavily Republican district and was reelected in 2008 and 2012. During his time in the senate, he served as assistant majority leader from 2011 to 2015 and earlier as Senate Minority Caucus Chair from 2007 to 2008.
Glenn Sholes Grothman Career
Early Career (1993–2004)
Glenn Sholes Grothman’s political career began in December 1993, when he won a special election for the Wisconsin State Assembly’s 58th district. He won five consecutive reelections between 1994 and 2002, building a reputation as a reliable conservative voice in the legislature. His growing influence within the state Republican Party led to his selection as vice chair of the Assembly Republican caucus in 1999.
During his early years in office, Grothman focused on fiscal restraint, local control, and traditional social values. His long tenure in the Assembly gave him deep familiarity with state-level policymaking and budget debates. By the time he decided to run for the state senate in 2004, he had become one of the more established figures in Wisconsin’s conservative movement.
Wisconsin Senate Breakthrough (2004–2014)
Grothman’s move to the Wisconsin Senate in 2004 marked a major step forward in his career. He won the Republican primary with 79 percent of the vote and faced no general-election opposition in the strongly Republican 20th district. Reelected in 2008 and 2012, he represented a district that included West Bend, parts of Washington County, and portions of Fond du Lac, Dodge, Sheboygan, and Ozaukee Counties.
During his senate tenure, Grothman held several leadership positions. He was Senate Minority Caucus Chair from 2007 to 2008, assistant minority leader from 2009 to 2010, and assistant majority leader from 2011 to 2015. He also served as a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council. He gained statewide attention as a vocal supporter of Governor Scott Walker’s 2011 budget repair bill, drawing large crowds of protesters to the Capitol and surviving a recall effort that year.
U.S. House of Representatives Era (2014–Present)
In April 2014, Grothman announced his candidacy for Wisconsin’s 6th congressional district, challenging seventeen-term incumbent Tom Petri. He positioned himself well to Petri’s right, criticizing the incumbent for lacking a sense of urgency about limiting federal power. Shortly after Grothman entered the race, Petri dropped out. To solidify his residency in the district, Grothman moved to Campellsport, near Fond du Lac, during the summer of 2014.
He won the general election against Democratic nominee Mark Harris with 57 percent of the vote. He was subsequently reelected in 2016 against Sarah Lloyd, in 2018 against Dan Kohl, in 2020 against Jessica King, and in 2022 against Douglas Mullenix, with margins that consistently demonstrated his strength in the district. In October 2020, Axios reported that Grothman had the highest “Trump Loyalty Index” of any member of Congress, and he has continued to align himself with the priorities of the Trump administration.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Grothman’s signature legislative achievements was his co-introduction of 2011 SB 93, which made Wisconsin the 49th state to legalize concealed carry. He has been a longtime advocate of concealed-carry rights while opposing the carrying of weapons in taverns. He also co-sponsored Senate Bill 19 in 2011, which removed mandatory groundwater chlorination requirements for municipal water systems, and he has been a vocal supporter of decriminalizing raw milk sales.
Glenn Sholes Grothman Career Wins
Glenn Sholes Grothman has won every election he has contested since entering the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1993. His unbroken record of victories reflects sustained voter support across more than three decades of public service at both the state and federal levels.
U.S. House Highlights
Grothman was first elected to the U.S. House in 2014, defeating Mark Harris with 57 percent of the vote. He was reelected in 2016 with 57 percent, in 2018 with 55.5 percent, and in 2020 with 59.23 percent. In 2022, he ran unopposed in the general election, further cementing his hold on Wisconsin’s 6th congressional district.
Other Wins and Achievements
At the state level, Grothman won five consecutive Assembly elections between 1994 and 2002, a Republican primary for the state senate in 2004 with 79 percent of the vote, and two senate general elections. He also survived a recall effort in 2011, when organizers collected only 75 percent of the required signatures. He is a recipient of the highest “Trump Loyalty Index” rating of any member of Congress, as reported by Axios in October 2020.
Glenn Sholes Grothman Family
Family Background and Religious Life
Public information about Glenn Sholes Grothman’s family background is limited. He practices the Lutheran faith, a fact that has been part of his public profile during his years in elected office. His residence in unincorporated Greenbush, west of Plymouth in Sheboygan County, has been his home for many years.
Personal Life
Grothman continues to live in Greenbush, Wisconsin, where he has built a life outside the public spotlight. His professional background as an attorney and his long career in public service remain the most prominent features of his personal profile.