Wisconsin Green Party Candidate Arrested After Mequon Confrontation

A Wisconsin congressional candidate was arrested Thursday, October 8, after a confrontation in Mequon involving aggressive driving and profane remarks about Israel. Matthew Arndt, 54, the Green Party candidate for Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District, was taken into custody on suspicion of disorderly conduct with a hate crime enhancer, according to the Mequon Police Department.

Police said officers responded at approximately 8:50 a.m. to a reported road rage incident involving Arndt and another Mequon resident, a 40-year-old man. The encounter allegedly included obscene gestures and dangerous driving before both men entered a Mobil gas station parking lot near Mequon and Wauwatosa roads.

According to police, Arndt used profane language and made antisemitic statements at the location. Video recorded by the other driver captured part of the confrontation and circulated on social media. Investigative reports are expected to go to the Ozaukee County District Attorney's Office for review to determine whether charges will be filed.

The other driver, an Israeli man who asked local media to withhold his identity for safety reasons, said he was taking his son to school when the confrontation began. He alleged that Arndt tailgated his vehicle, pulled alongside it, and shouted remarks about Israel and Jews after seeing a bumper sticker opposing Hamas.

The driver said he followed Arndt into the gas station parking lot and began recording the exchange. He acknowledged following the candidate but maintained that Arndt had initiated the aggressive behavior on the road.

In an interview with TMJ4, the driver described the experience as distressing, particularly because his son was present. He also said the bumper sticker expressed opposition to Hamas rather than hostility toward Palestinians.

Arndt defended his political position while acknowledging that his behavior during the encounter was inappropriate. Speaking to local media, he said his remarks targeted Israel and its government rather than Jewish people, and he apologized for losing his composure.

In a statement reported by TMJ4, Arndt said, "My delivery in this video was not my finest moment. I'll own that. What the video doesn't show is the full context of the encounter.

I was followed, harassed, and repeatedly provoked until I finally lost my patience." He maintained that the recording did not capture the entire interaction.

Arndt also argued that his criticism concerned US foreign policy, military cooperation with Israel, and American spending abroad. He said he would continue advocating for Palestinian rights and opposing the Israeli government's actions, while insisting that his political views should not be confused with hostility toward an entire religious community.

The Wisconsin Green Party condemned the conduct shown in the video while reaffirming its support for Palestinian human rights and an end to US support for the war in Gaza.

In a statement, the party's Coordinating Council said, "Shouting obscenities at someone in a parking lot doesn't advance that cause." The organization said it had spoken with Arndt and would wait for the police report before making further comments about the incident.

Brad Smith, the Democratic candidate competing for the same congressional seat, also criticized Arndt's behavior. Smith said the profanity was particularly unacceptable because a child was present and argued that candidates for public office should demonstrate respect and emotional restraint.

Republican US Rep. Glenn Grothman, the incumbent representing Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District, also expressed concern. Speaking to TMJ4, Grothman called the incident embarrassing for Wisconsin and said he hoped the behavior would be recognized as abnormal.

The Milwaukee Jewish Federation condemned the conduct captured in the video and emphasized the distinction between political criticism and harassment directed at members of the Jewish community. The organization said it supports freedom of expression, including criticism of Israeli government policies, while stressing that constitutional protections do not excuse unlawful threats or harassment.

Arndt is one of four challengers seeking the district's seat in the November 3, 2026, general election, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The other candidates are Democrat Brad Smith and independents Mike Thurow and Elizabeth Fitzgibbon.

Police have not announced formal criminal charges. The Ozaukee County District Attorney's Office will review the investigative findings before deciding whether to proceed with prosecution.