Vandalism at Eau Claire County Republican Headquarters
Police are looking into an incident of vandalism at the Republican headquarters in Altoona, Wisconsin, which occurred Friday night. The building, which is owned by the Republican Party of Eau Claire County, was defaced with red spray paint, with messages including “Pedophile Guardian” appearing on its windows.
Fred Kaps, the group’s president, mentioned that an egg was also thrown at the building during the incident. He expressed concern, suggesting the act was politically motivated, stating, “We feel this is just an act of wanton vandalism perpetrated against the Republican Party by someone on the left. Apparently, judging by the slogans, they must be suffering from ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome.’
Photos taken at the scene indicated that besides the spray-painted messages, the egg’s yolk had hit the glass, with the shell visibly cracked. The UWEC College Republicans voiced their support for the headquarters staff on Saturday, denouncing the vandalism and emphasizing that such behavior is unacceptable in the community. Their statement reiterated support for their partner organization.
This incident is not isolated. In 2018, the Nebraska Republican Party’s office faced similar vandalism, with a broken window and graffiti reading “Abolish ICE” on the sidewalk. Later, the Metropolitan Republican Club in Manhattan was also targeted by vandals during a disruption of a conservative event.
In another notable case, the Republican headquarters in Lansing, Michigan, was marked with graffiti aimed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), coinciding with a law enforcement operation aimed at detaining individuals who had defied removal orders. Additionally, in March 2025, New Mexico’s Republican Party headquarters was reportedly the victim of an arson attack.
Kaps criticized the attack in Altoona, labeling it “despicable” and attributing it to political extremism. He stated, “We live in a time of great political division, but vandalism and violence should have no place in our communities.” To aid in identifying the perpetrator, the Eau Claire County Republican Party is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest, urging anyone with details to contact the Altoona Police Department.
