JANESVILLE Janesville City Council member Shane Seeman was turned away from the Rock County Republicans Save Saturdays event Oct. 3. Republicans Tom Tiffany and Bryan Steil held the rally in Janesville over the weekend and organizers denied him entry because they said Seeman is a known leftist operative.
On Saturday, the Rock County Republicans hosted an event with Tiffany, the Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate, and Steil, who is the U.S. Congressional District 1 incumbent.
Seeman said he did not go there in his capacity as a council member. Seeman is an active volunteer with the Rock County Democrats.
When Seeman tried to enter the Rock County Republican headquarters on West Wall Street in downtown Janesville, he said a man stopped him and said, I dont know where you think you are going, and, You know who you are. Turn around and leave.
Seeman said he did not argue; he simply turned around and left, but then stayed outside the building and chatted with some protesters.
Outside the event on Saturday, protesters held signs, chanting Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Bryan Steil has got to go! and banging drums.
Seeman said he wasnt a part of the protest, and he didnt know theyd planned it.
He said he tried to get in the event Saturday to hear what the Republican message was so he could make an informed opinion.
I wanted to try and understand what the other side was, he said.
Seeman said if event organizers had researched him enough to learn he is connected to the Democratic party, they also should have known he is an elected official on the Janesville City Council.
As an elected local leader, I will potentially have to work with these guys after November, he said. In that capacity, I really do want to hear what they have to say.
Seeman said he was not sure whether it was Steils camp or Tiffanys or just the county party officials who didnt want him at the event.
The Rock County Republican Chair, Leslie Hubert, said Seeman is a known leftist operative who works for a Democratic legislator. She said Seeman uses his status as a nonpartisan elected official as cover to excuse his cowardly behavior.
She said they didnt know if he would behave civilly, and had every reason to doubt that he would.
She said in 2025, Seeman and other people blocked the entrance at the front of the Republicans tent at the 4-H fair. Hubert said the people screamed about rape, and called volunteers and Republicans in general pedophiles in front of families and children.
They would not leave, which necessitated Republican party volunteers contacting fair security and leadership, she said. In our opinion, that is disgraceful behavior.
Seeman said he doesnt remember being an agitator. Rather, he said, he remembers trying to get a person away from the Republicans tent.
Hubert said Seeman is close with high-ranking Democratic state lawmakers. She said that demonstrates to her how far Democrats are willing to go to appease their radical base. She said voters on both sides should not be interested in that.
We should strive to return to a political environment where people feel safe asking candidates tough questions and engaging in open dialogue, she said. That is the foundation of a true democracy.
She did not explain how denying entry on the basis of viewpoint encourages open dialogue.
She said that they hold every person who comes through their office doors to the same standard of civility regardless of whether they are elected officials.
Hubert said people have a right to meet at the Republican office without being followed in by agitators. She said they denied Seeman entry, then had a safe event, where they heard about Tiffanys plans on affordability and economic growth.
Seeman said he doesnt believe Huberts characterization of him is true. He said they can choose to believe what they want, but at an intimate setting like the Republican event on Saturday, he would never dream of being disruptive.
He said after the event, he spoke to two people. And although they probably dont align politically, Seeman said, the conversation was civil.
Seeman said he wanted to have a conversation about the states shared-revenue formula, and Tiffanys plans to cut the property tax, because he said it could affect Janesville.
He said his intention was never to be an agitator; he simply sought to learn more about Republican plans.
I wasnt carrying a sign, I didnt have a noisemaker, I wasnt there to protest, he said. I was not there in my capacity as a city council member. I was there to see what theyre up to.
He said when the Democratic party hosts events, they dont prevent people from attending. They may ask people to leave if they are disruptive, but Seeman said they have not stopped anyone accessing their events.
He said he knocks on doors of all kinds of people and has never been disrespectful to anyone. He said disagreements happen, but people remain cordial.
If we are going to get out of this political mess, we have to be a little more open and a little more conversational about these things, he said. I cant have a conversation with somebody if I lock the door.