Ryan Sorenson defeats John Belanger for Sheboygan Mayor
Socialist Mayor Ryan Sorenson will serve a second term
SHEBOYGAN — Socialist Mayor Ryan Sorenson has been re-elected to a second term as Mayor of Sheboygan, defeating Alderperson John Belanger.
According to the Sheboygan County Clerk, Mayor Sorenson received 8,843 votes while Belanger received 6,332 votes.1 The Democratic Party of Wisconsin and a dark money group from Washington, DC spent nearly $60,000 to support Sorenson’s bid for a second term.2 The 32-year-old ran his re-election campaign out of the Sheboygan County Democratic Party office on Erie Avenue in Downtown Sheboygan.
First elected mayor in April 2021 at the age of 27, Sorenson received 4,417 votes compared to incumbent Mayor Mike Vandersteen's 3,113 votes. Prior to being elected mayor, he served four years as District 8 Alderperson and Common Council President.
Mayor Sorenson will begin his second term on Tuesday, April 15th. He will receive a 26% increase in his salary this year and will receive an additional 3.5% annual increase every year thereafter. He will earn over $300,000 during his second term.
Scandal-ridden first term
Sorenson’s first four years as Mayor of Sheboygan saw lawsuits, ethics complaints, misplaced priorities and questions about his commitment to serving as mayor. In his first year, 28 city employees resigned3 because of concerns over Sorenson.
Under Sorenson, the city lost nearly $400,000 in settled lawsuits.4
Four years as Alderperson
Sorenson was elected District 8 Alderperson in April 2017 when he received 654 votes to incumbent Alderperson Joe Heidemann’s 229 votes. Three years later, he won re-election unopposed. Sorenson served as Common Council President.
Sources
Sheboygan County 2025 Spring General Election Results
sheboygancounty.com