STEPHAN THOMPSON, FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

Stephan Thompson founded Battleground Strategies, Inc. in 2015 after more than a decade of serving as a key strategist to high-profile political and issue campaigns.  His success has earned him national recognition by the American Association of Political Consultants, winning the Republican Statewide Campaign Manager of the year award in 2020 and a spot on their 40 under 40 list in 2018.  

Most recently, Stephan served as general consultant to the successful campaigns of Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-7) and Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Brian Hagedorn.  Hagedorn’s win flipped a state supreme court seat held by liberals for 43 years.  Justice Hagedorn was outspent by a margin of 4-1 and was written off by nearly all pundits, leading the National Review to declare his victory a “stunning upset.”

Notably, Stephan was Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s campaign manager during his successful 2014 re-election campaign, dubbed one of the country’s “most consequential races.”   It was during that campaign that Stephan oversaw the development of nationally recognized in-house digital advertising and analytics departments, a first for a Wisconsin Governor’s race. 

When 100,000 union protesters occupied the Wisconsin State Capitol, Stephan served as executive director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, where he led the party through nationally publicized protests and fifteen recall elections. During his tenure, Stephan managed the largest field program in state party history, shattered fundraising records, and helped make Scott Walker the only Governor in American history to win a recall election. 

Stephan has been a trusted advisor for local, statewide and national campaigns, as well as party committees, Super PAC’s, non-profits, issue advocacy groups, trade associations and government affairs firms. He has a complete view of the modern political battlefield, with experience on every side of the legal firewall. 

Additionally, Stephan has extensive media experience. He has been interviewed by local and national media outlets such as the New York Times, Associated Press, Washington Post, Fox News and Politico. He’s been a regular contributor on Milwaukee’s NBC affiliate WTMJ-4, where he provided on-air analysis throughout the 2016 election cycle.

Stephan is a graduate of Carroll College and resides in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin with his high school sweet heart wife and two amazing daughters.