The Republican Party’s District 8 Caucus concluded with a dramatic shake-up in leadership, as Ken Sikora emerged victorious in a hotly contested race for District Chair. Sikora, alongside Vice Chair Dean Neubert, Secretary Dixon Wolfe, and Treasurer Myra Chand, now leads the district’s first MAGA-aligned leadership team.

Pre-caucus tensions

The road to the March 15 caucus was fraught with controversy. Leading up to the event, the Credentials Committee recommended barring three county delegations from participating, which sparked a fierce backlash. The affected counties argued the decision lacked due process and would unfairly disenfranchise nearly half of the district’s total delegates.

Upon review, the District Executive Committee determined that the Credentials Committee had failed to properly convene with the required quorum, invalidating its report. However, conflicting rules between the district and state Republican Party constitutions further complicated the situation. While district rules suggested potential flexibility, Wisconsin state law and the state party’s constitution mandated that all eligible delegates be submitted five days before the caucus.

In response, three counties and two delegates — including two county sheriffs — sought legal intervention. A Wisconsin court granted a temporary restraining order, instructing the district to adhere to state law and party rules, ensuring all valid delegates could participate.

Caucus Day: Heated debate and a decisive vote

The tension carried over into the caucus itself. Some counties attempted to adjourn the event before voting could take place, despite hundreds of delegates making the trip to participate. After an hour of heated debate, the county parties voted to move forward, allowing the caucus to proceed as planned.

The results were decisive: Ken Sikora – 623 votes, Stephanie Soucek – 373 votes.

Sikora’s victory, along with the election of his leadership team, marks a significant shift in the district’s political direction.

Uniting for Republican success

Despite the turmoil, District 8 Republicans are now focused on the upcoming April 1 election. The new leadership aims to strengthen the district’s impact by leveraging technology, grassroots efforts, and strategic resources to maximize Republican turnout.

In a statement following the caucus, the Waupaca County GOP acknowledged the disruption and pledged to foster greater transparency in future party processes. “We sincerely apologize to our delegates for the turmoil they endured,” the statement read. “While this process was marked by unnecessary conflict, the rules and the law ultimately prevailed.”