Hitt to step down as chairman of state Republican Party
A little more than two years ago, Andrew Hitt signed up for one of the tougher volunteer jobs in state politics, serving as chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.
“As my wife has said to me, ‘you sure picked one heck of a time to be chairman,’” Hitt said in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
On Wednesday, Hitt announced that he’ll be stepping down as party chairman, declaring that it was time to “pass the baton.”
From rebuilding the party after statewide losses to politicking during the pandemic and navigating the fractious 2020 presidential election and its aftermath, Hitt was on the political front lines.
“I was always seen as a guy who can bring people together, a guy who collaborates who wasn’t in one camp of the Republican Party,” Hitt said. “Nobody had objection to me. I don’t play those games. For the same reason I was chosen for this job originally I think it helped me navigate all the different viewpoints and personalities in this last 2020 cycle.”
Hitt said it was the right time to leave. He said both his family and his employer made sacrifices while he devoted large chunks of time to the volunteer position.
“I really feel like I accomplished a lot, but I do feel my skill set is sort of a fixer skill set,” Hitt said. “I do think there are people who are steeped in political campaigns and who have been involved in political campaigns for years and can be great people for a cycle like this.”
A successor could be named later this summer. The party’s executive committee is scheduled to meet Sept. 11 but a special meeting could be held sooner to select the new party chair.
The chairman of the Republican Party is involved in fundraising, media and traveling the state to public events and meeting with the grassroots. The party’s executive director, Mark Jefferson, runs the day-to-day operation.
Hitt, 43, an Appleton attorney, is senior counsel at Michael Best and Friedrich law firm, and also partner at the firm’s lobbying arm, Michael Best
Strategies. He previously worked in several roles in the administration of former Gov. Scott Walker, including as assistant deputy secretary in the Department of Health and the Department of Administration.
When Hitt became party chair in April 2019, Republicans were rebuilding.
The previous year, Democrats defeated Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and Attorney General Brad Schimel. House Speaker Paul Ryan announced his retirement. The only statewide Republican officeholder left was U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson.
“Andrew has worked hard to help conservatives move Wisconsin forward and build our movement,” Walker said in a statement. “From his days of fighting for bold reform as part of our administration to his tenure as party chairman growing the party’s presence in Milwaukee, winning local elections against the odds and defending our legislative majorities, he’s been a steady leader who knows how to bring conservatives together and ready the Republican Party for the fights to come.”
Hitt and others were able to refill the party’s coffers, but in recent years the Democratic Party of Wisconsin has become dominant in raising cash. In the first half of 2021, state Democrats raised more than $4.4 million, compared to $835,000 for Republicans, according to Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
Late in the 2020 race, cyber-attackers stole $2.3 million from the Republican Party of Wisconsin. The party recovered nearly $1 million earlier this year, and Hitt said, “the FBI has recovered additional money.”
Hitt listed among his significant accomplishments as opening a Republican office on Milwaukee’s north side with plans underway to open another office on the south side.
“I will continue to play a role in the outreach to Milwaukee, being a surrogate for the party and being a continued voice and face for conservative and public thought,” Hitt said.
Other party accomplishments during his tenure included recruiting candidates for local offices, defending legislative majorities and winning lawsuits that would have loosened voting rules during the pandemic, Hitt said.