Robert W. Wirch (born November 16, 1943) is an American Democratic politician from Kenosha County, Wisconsin. He is a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing Wisconsin's 22nd Senate district since 1997. He previously served two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, from 1993 to 1997, and served on the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors before that.

Wirch was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and has lived his entire life in the Kenosha area. He graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School and went to work at the American Brass Company plant in Kenosha, following in the steps of his father and grandfather. While working at the plant, Wirch also enlisted in the United States Army Reserve, serving from 1965 to 1971. He attended night courses at the University of Wisconsin–Parkside and obtained his bachelor's degree in 1970.^[1][2]

While working at American Brass, Wirch was a union employee and became a member of the United Steelworkers Local 9322. He rose within the union, eventually become president of the local and a member of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO executive board. His work in the union led him into politics, as he worked with the growing number of dislocated workers from de-industrialization in southeast Wisconsin. Wirch's own employer, American Brass, was shedding jobs through a series of ownership changes.

In 1985, Wirch announced his first run for public office, running for a seat on the Kenosha County board of supervisors.^[3] He won that election, in April 1986, and served eight years on the county board.^[2] He became chairman of the county board's health and human services committee; one of his major initiatives in that capacity was the establishment of the Shalom Center shelter and food pantry.^[1]

In 1992, incumbent state representative John Antaramian was elected mayor of Kenosha and announced he would not run for re-election to the Assembly later that year. Wirch declared his candidacy to succeed Antaramian in the Wisconsin State Assembly. He faced Kenosha city councilmembers Wanda Lynn Bellow and Stephen Casey in the September 1992 Democratic Party primary election.^[4] Wirch prevailed with 45% of the vote and went on to win 74% of the general election vote in the heavily Democratic district.^[5] He won re-election in 1994 with 70% of the vote.^[6]

In 1996, state senator Joseph F. Andrea announced he would retire after 20 years in the legislature. Two days later, Andrea stood with Wirch as he announced his campaign to succeed Andrea in the Wisconsin Senate. Also attending and endorsing Wirch were state representative James Kreuser, mayor John Antaramian, and sheriff Allan Kehl.^[7] With such unified support from Kenosha County Democrats, Wirch faced no opponent in the primary.^[8] Wirch faced Kenosha lawyer Bruno Rizzo in the general election, prevailing with 56% of the vote.

Wirch's district, the 22nd Senate district, was considered one of the more competitive seats in the Senate under the legislative district plans prior to 2010, comprising most of Kenosha County. Wirch faced an opponent in every election; his closest race was in 2004, when he won just 52% of the vote against Reince Priebus, who would later become chairman of the Republican National Committee and White House chief of staff.^[9][10]

Wirch resides in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Mary, his wife of 47 years, died on February 23, 2020, from complications related to gall bladder cancer. They have two adult children, David and Julia.^[25]

Wirch is a member of the Danish Brotherhood in America, the Polish Legion of American Veterans, and was previously a member of the board of directors of the Kenosha Boys & Girls Club.^[2]

• Senator Robert Wirch at the Wisconsin State Legislature
• Bob Wirch for State Senate official campaign site
• Wisconsin Historical Society-Robert W. Wirch
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Campaign 2008 campaign contributions at Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
• 22nd Senate District, Senator Wirch in the Wisconsin Blue Book (2005–2006)