Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 17, 2026

Paul Farrow

Paul Farrow was an American businessman and Republican politician from Pewaukee, Wisconsin. He served 11 years as the county executive of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, from 2015 until his death in 2026. Farrow previously served two years each in the Wisconsin Senate (2012–2015) and State Assembly (2011–2012), and was chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin from August 2021 through December 2022.

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Paul Farrow
County Executive of Waukesha County
In office
April 21, 2015 – July 7, 2026
Preceded byDaniel P. Vrakas
Succeeded byThomas Farley (interim)
Chair of the Wisconsin Republican Party
In office
August 22, 2021 – December 10, 2022
Preceded byAndrew Hitt
Succeeded byBrian Schimming
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 33rd district
In office
December 14, 2012 – July 17, 2015
Preceded byRich Zipperer
Succeeded byChris Kapenga
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 98th district
In office
January 3, 2011 – December 14, 20121
Preceded byRich Zipperer
Succeeded byAdam Neylon
Personal details
Born(1964-07-17)July 17, 1964
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedJuly 7, 2026(2026-07-07) (aged 61)
PartyRepublican
Spouse
Amy A. Vaitl
​
(m. 1987)​
Children2
Parents
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin, Waukesha
Waukesha County Technical College
Carroll University (BA)
WebsiteCampaign website

Paul Farrow (July 17, 1964 – July 7, 2026) was an American businessman and Republican politician from Pewaukee, Wisconsin. He served 11 years as the county executive of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, from 2015 until his death in 2026. Farrow previously served two years each in the Wisconsin Senate (2012–2015) and State Assembly (2011–2012), and was chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin from August 2021 through December 2022.

His mother, Margaret Farrow, was the first female lieutenant governor of Wisconsin.

Early life and career

Paul Farrow was born with a twin brother in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 17, 1964.2 He was raised and educated in Milwaukee, graduating from Milwaukee's Marquette University High School in 1982. After attending the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee at Waukesha, Farrow transferred to Waukesha County Technical College and earned his associate's degree in 1987. He continued his education at Carroll University, and earned his bachelor's degree in 1991.34

He worked as a private home inspector for several years, before becoming a partner in a radon mitigation company.4

Political career

Farrow also became active in the Republican Party of Wisconsin in the late 1990s. He was a supporter of Republican Scott Newcomer in his unsuccessful bid for state State in a 2001 special election, and then served as treasurer for Newcomer's successful campaign for state Assembly in a 2005 special election.5

Paul Farrow first entered public office in 2002 as a member of the Richland School Board—a small suburban public school district serving several communities in northern Waukesha County. He resigned his seat in April 2005.6 In 2009, he sought appointment to a vacant seat on the board of trustees of the village of Pewaukee, but was not selected.7

In 2010, Farrow announced that he would run for Wisconsin State Assembly in the 98th Assembly district seat being vacated by Rich Zipperer.8 At the time, the 98th district comprised the village of Pewaukee, the town of Brookfield, most of the cities of Pewaukee and Brookfield, and part of the town of Lisbon, in central Waukesha County. Farrow faced a competitive Republican primary against Thomas Schellinger, a Waukesha County supervisor and former Brookfield city councilmember.9 Farrow won the primary with 60% of the vote and won a landslide victory in the general election in the heavily Republican district.1011

In the fall of 2012, Rich Zipperer, by then state Senator, announced he would resign his seat to accept a role in the administration of Governor Scott Walker, necessitating a special election in the 33rd Senate district. Farrow was then already in the midst of his Assembly re-election campaign, but announced he would run in the special election for Wisconsin Senate. The special primary was held on the same ballot as the 2012 general election, and Farrow faced another competitive primary, this time against fellow state representative Chris Kapenga. Farrow prevailed by about 2800 votes and was unopposed in the special election in December. He resigned his Assembly seat and was sworn in as a state Senator on December 14, 2012.11213 He was re-elected by a wide margin in the 2014 general election.14

Farrow was elected to Senate leadership in his second term serving as the Assistant Majority Leader.151617

Farrow greeting President Donald Trump in 2019 source ↗

A week after winning re-election to the state Senate in 2014, Farrow announced that he would run for county executive of Waukesha County in 2015.18 Three other candidates ran in the nonpartisan primary, including his 2010 primary opponent, Thomas Schellinger.19 Farrow received a clear majority of the vote in the primary; he and Schellinger advanced to the general election, and Farrow again prevailed by a large margin.2021 He was re-elected in 2019 and 2023.

In September 2024, Farrow announced that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 mucinous adenocarcinoma, a rare kind of cancer. Farrow used the announcement of his condition to encourage others to take their health seriously, pointing out that he had ignored earlier symptoms that could have allowed him to catch the cancer at an earlier stage.22 He died on July 7, 2026, at the age of 61.2324

Personal life and family

Paul Farrow was one of five sons born to John and Margaret Farrow. Margaret Farrow served 12 years in the Wisconsin Senate before being selected to serve as lieutenant governor in 2001. She was the first female lieutenant governor of Wisconsin.25 Paul Farrow has a fraternal twin brother.2

Farrow married Amy Vaitl in 1987.26 They have two adult children and still resided in Pewaukee.25

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (2010, 2012)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2010 Primary10 Sep. 14 Paul Farrow Republican 7,394 60.09% Thomas Schellinger Rep. 4,901 39.83% 12,304 2,493
General11 Nov. 2 Paul Farrow Republican 22,236 76.57% Victor Weers Dem. 6,788 23.37% 29,040 15,448
2012 General12 Nov. 6 Paul Farrow (inc) Republican 22,665 70.42% Eric Prudent Dem. 9,503 29.52% 32,187 13,162

Wisconsin Senate (2012, 2014)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2012
(special) 		Special
Primary12 		Nov. 6 Paul Farrow Republican 31,927 52.32% Chris Kapenga Rep. 29,027 47.57% 61,023 2,900
Special13 Dec. 4 Paul Farrow Republican 6,909 98.07% --unopposed-- 7,045 6,773
2014 General14 Nov. 4 Paul Farrow (inc) Republican 59,199 73.86% Sherryll Shaddock Dem. 20,899 26.07% 80,151 38,300
References

References

  1. "Communications". State of Wisconsin Assembly Journal. 100th Regular Session (Thursday, December 27, 2012). Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  2. "Birth Announcements". Kenosha News. July 21, 1964. p. 7. Retrieved October 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Senator Paul F. Farrow". Wisconsin Legislature. 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  4. Pohlman, Julie; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2013). "Biographies" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 2013–2014 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-9752820-6-9. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  5. Brooks, Erik (February 11, 2006). "Newcomer raises more than $14,000 in 10 days". Waukesha Freeman. p. 3. Retrieved July 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Richmond". Living Oconomowoc Focus. December 6, 2005. p. 5. Retrieved July 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Pewaukee Village Board selects new trustee". Waukesha Freeman. June 4, 2009. p. 3. Retrieved July 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Petrie, Joe (February 2, 2010). "Former Lt. Governor's son seeks Zipperer's seat". Waukesha Freeman. p. 3. Retrieved July 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Stevens, Jim (August 17, 2010). "Farrow, Schellinger vie for state seat". Living Oconomowoc Focus. p. A16. Retrieved July 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Canvass Results for 2010 Partisan Primary - 9/14/2010 (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. September 27, 2010. p. 69. Retrieved October 12, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  11. Canvass Results for 2010 General Election - 11/2/2010 (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 1, 2010. p. 33. Retrieved October 12, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  12. Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election - 11/6/2012 (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 26, 2012. pp. 32, 46. Retrieved October 12, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  13. Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2013). "Elections" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 2013–2014 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 892, 894, 907, 910. ISBN 978-0-9752820-6-9. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  14. "Canvass Results for 2014 General Election - 11/4/2014" (PDF). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. November 26, 2014. p. 9. Retrieved October 12, 2024 – via Wisconsin Elections Commission.
  15. "legis.wisconsin.gov" (PDF).
  16. "Wisconsin State Legislature Home Page". legis.wisconsin.gov.
  17. "farrowforassembly.com - farrowforassembly Resources and Information".
  18. Masterson, Matt (November 14, 2014). "Paul Farrow declares candidacy for county executive". Waukesha Freeman. p. A1. Retrieved July 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "Waukesha County executive primary candidates". Waukesha Freeman. February 7, 2015. p. A8. Retrieved July 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Farrow, Schellinger advance". Living Oconomowoc Focus. February 19, 2015. p. 3. Retrieved July 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. Minske, Rachel (April 9, 2015). "Farrow wins county executive race". Living Oconomowoc Focus. p. 2. Retrieved July 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. "Waukesha County Executive opens up about cancer diagnosis and treatment journey". Ascension. January 30, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  23. Smith, Matt; La Roche, Mariana (July 8, 2026). "Paul Farrow, Waukesha County executive, dies at 61 after rare cancer". WISN. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  24. "Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow dies at 61 following cancer battle". WITI (TV). July 8, 2026. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  25. "About Paul Farrow". Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  26. "Waukesha County Freeman". August 15, 1987. p. 22. Retrieved October 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.