Wimmer made his first attempt at elected office in 1980, running on the Republican ticket to challenge incumbent state senator Lynn Adelman.

The 1981–1982 redistricting process had failed to produce a map that could pass the Legislature and win the signature of the Governor.

[4] Southeast Waukesha, where Wimmer lived, had previously been part of the 83rd Assembly district, which also included the neighboring municipalities of New Berlin, Genesee, and Vernon.

[5] The 1983–1984 session passed a redistricting law to replace the court-imposed map, and Wimmer went on to win election four more times in the redrawn 32nd Assembly district.

In April 1992, Judge Wimmer won election to a full six-year term, and he was reelected in 1998.