<ul class="summary-list"><li>Wisconsin state Rep. <keyword id="13216468" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="timothy-ramthun" source="Orion">Timothy Ramthun</keyword> wants to decertify the state's 2020 presidential results.</li><li>Ramthun, a conservative lawmaker, earlier this month jumped into the GOP gubernatorial primary.</li></ul><p>A Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial candidate is running on a platform to decertify the state's <keyword id="12175515" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="2020-presidential-election" source="Orion">2020 presidential election</keyword> results — an effort that isn't rooted in state or federal law — in a drive to oust now-President <keyword id="99719" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="joe-biden" source="Orion">Joe Biden</keyword> from the White House and reinstall former President <keyword id="11914386" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="donald-trump" source="Orion">Donald Trump</keyword> to the Oval Office.</p><p>State Rep. Timothy Ramthun shook up the Republican primary with his proposal after jumping into the gubernatorial contest earlier this month — and <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-wisconsin-eastman-election-decertification-1295191/">stands firmly</a> behind his questioning of the 2020 presidential results.</p><p>"This is a real issue," <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/19/us/politics/wisconsin-election-decertification.html">he told The New York Times</a> in a recent interview. "We don't wear tinfoil hats. We're not fringe."</p><p>Ramthun's efforts to overturn the state's election results <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-wisconsin-eastman-election-decertification-1295191/">earned him a phone call</a> and public praise from Trump, who last November <a href="https://twitter.com/reallizusa/status/1461347289205641228">applauded</a> the lawmaker for "putting forward a very powerful and very popular" resolution to decertify the Wisconsin results. And Ramthun's platform now puts pressure on the GOP gubernatorial frontrunner — former Lt. Gov. <keyword id="13216471" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rebecca-kleefisch" source="Orion">Rebecca Kleefisch</keyword> — to appeal more strongly to the former president's supporters.</p><p>Last week, Kleefisch — who previously attested to Biden's 2020 victory in the state — <a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wisconsin-donald-trump-elections-election-2020-3f8fa22c09c36481c5a4aa904500f068">declined</a> to say if the president won the election fairly.</p><p>In November 2020, Biden <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wisconsin-presidential-election-2020-live-vote-counts-results-2020">defeated</a> Trump in Wisconsin — one of the nation's premier swing states — by roughly 20,000 votes out of nearly 3.3 million ballots cast. The results were <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wisconsin-arizona-certify-biden-wins-in-presidential-vote-2020-11">certified</a> with no verifiable evidence of voter fraud.</p><p>However, base Republicans — who continue to be <a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/02/14/gop-governor-candidates-want-election-oversight-partisan-offices/6783557001/">animated</a> by Trump's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-campaign-lawsuits-election-results-2020-11">debunked claims</a> of a stolen election — have continued to tune into appeals from the former president and his allies regarding the 2020 election, despite the efforts of many party leaders to focus on the 2022 midterm elections and the upcoming 2024 presidential contest.</p><p><a href="https://law.marquette.edu/poll/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/MLSP67PressRelease.pdf">According to a Marquette University Law School poll</a> from October 2021, 64% of Republicans indicated that they weren't confident in the 2020 election results, while only 33% expressed confidence in the outcome. In comparison, 67% of independents and 99% of Democrats expressed confidence in the results.</p><p>Wisconsin Assembly Speaker <keyword id="13216470" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="robin-vos" source="Orion">Robin Vos</keyword> — who has been a top foil to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers — has struggled to rein in some of the most outspoken forces within the party and has increasingly attracted scorn from conservative activists.</p><p>The speaker has been <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/20/wisconsin-republicans-trump-00010378">asked to resign</a> from his post by multiple Republican county chapters over his handling of issues related to the 2020 election, a reversal of fortune for the conservative leader and a troubling sign of discontent for a party that is itching to retake the Governor's Mansion and reelect US Sen. Ron Johnson to a third term.</p><p>GOP state Rep. Rob Swearingen told The Times that the party wasn't well-served by engaging in such battles.</p><p>"This is just not what the Republican Party needs right now," he told the newspaper. "We shouldn't be fighting among ourselves about what happened, you know, a year and a half ago."</p><p>Over the past year, Wisconsin Republicans have passed a set of restrictive voting laws which were in turn <a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-wisconsin-voting-legislature-constitutions-a13f050096e978ba75aae198a799e4ad">vetoed</a> by Evers, while also moving to <a href="https://legis.wisconsin.gov/lab/media/3188/020821_jac_scope_elections-administration.pdf">conduct an audit</a> of the 2020 results, hiring retired police officers to conduct a probe looking into "potential irregularities" from the election, and <a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/02/18/wisconsin-republicans-michael-gableman-seeks-jail-officials-2020-presidential-election-review/6853176001/">threatening to jail public officials</a> who have so far refused to sit down for private interviews regarding the GOP-led election probe.</p><p>However, Trump <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-wisconsin-republicans-election-audits-primaries-2021-6">in the past</a> been less than impressed by the efforts on the part of the state's GOP legislative leaders to probe the 2020 results.</p><p>"Wisconsin Republican leaders Robin Vos, [Senate President] Chris Kapenga, and [Senate Majority Leader] Devin LeMahieu, are working hard to cover up election corruption, in Wisconsin," he said in a statement last June. "They are actively trying to prevent a Forensic Audit of the election results, especially those which took place in Milwaukee, one of the most corrupt election locales in the country. Don't fall for their lies!"</p><p>He added: "These REPUBLICAN 'leaders' need to step up and support the people who elected them by providing them a full forensic investigation. If they don't, I have little doubt that they will be primaried and quickly run out of office."</p>

A Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial candidate is running on a platform to decertify the 2020 statewide presidential results

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Trump and Pence are facing off in another proxy fight in a competitive governor's race.</li><li>The former president and VP are backing rival candidates in the Wisconsin GOP governor primary.</li></ul><p>Former VP Mike Pence is again breaking with former President Donald Trump in the Wisconsin governor's race, endorsing former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch over Trump's pick in the primary. </p><p>Pence announced his support for Kleefisch, who served as lieutenant governor under Gov. Scott Walker, on Wednesday. Trump is backing businessman and construction executive Tim Michels for the GOP nomination to challenge Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Rebecca Kleefisch  (@RebeccaforReal) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1552391585203200001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2022</a></blockquote><p>"Rebecca Kleefisch is the only candidate that will deliver a stronger and more prosperous Wisconsin, and I am proud to support her," <a href="https://rebeccaforgovernor.com/vice-president-mike-pence-endorses-rebecca-kleefisch-for-wisconsin-governor/">Pence said in his endorsement</a>. "Rebecca has a proven conservative track record and will draw on her experience to give parents more control of their children's education, grow the economy and get Wisconsin back to work, fight for traditional conservative values, and make Wisconsin streets safer."</p><p>Kleefisch has also been endorsed by other potential 2024 GOP presidential hopefuls <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cruz-breaks-with-trump-endorses-opponent-trump-pick-2022-7">including Sen. Ted Cruz</a>, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa. </p><p>The Wisconsin GOP gubernatorial primary on August 9 will be the third instance in the 2022 primaries where Trump and Pence have found themselves in a proxy fight over a swing state governor's race. In all three cases, Trump's lies that the 2020 election was stolen from him loomed large and heavily shaped the race. </p><p>Pence and Trump found themselves on the opposite sides of the Georgia governor's race in May, where Trump-backed primary challenger David Perdue, largely running on Trump's election grievances, lost handily to incumbent GOP Gov. Brian Kemp, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pence-brian-kemp-david-perdue-georgia-election-future-2022-5">who Pence endorsed and stumped for in the final days of the race. </a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/arizona-gop-governor-karrin-taylor-robson-kari-lake-trump-pence-2022-7">Trump and Pence are also facing off in a proxy war in Arizona's GOP gubernatorial primary on August 2.</a></p><p>Pence and Trump gave dueling speeches on Tuesday outlining their respective visions for the GOP as both prepare for likely 2024 presidential campaigns. Trump's nearly hour-and-a-half-long speech began with a grisly recounting of crime before <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-consultants-dont-want-him-attacking-trans-athletes-2022-7">veering into mockery of transgender people</a> and his usual grievances about the 2020 election and his political enemies. </p><p>Pence, speaking at the Young Americans for Freedom conference in Tampa, gave his classic stump speech and touted the accomplishments of the Trump-Pence administration.  </p><p>"I couldn't be more proud of the record of the Trump-Pence administration," <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pence-says-may-differ-on-focus-apparent-swipe-2022-7">Pence said in response to a question from a college student.</a> "I don't know that our movement is that divided. I don't know that the president and I differ on issues, but we may differ in focus"</p>

Trump and Pence again face off in a proxy fight, backing rival GOP candidates in Wisconsin governor's race

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Ted Cruz broke with Trump and endorsed Rebecca Kleefisch, the opponent of Trump-backed Tim Michels.</li><li>Trump is headed to Wisconsin in August to stump for Michels.</li></ul><p>Sen. Ted Cruz has broken with former President Donald Trump once again by endorsing an opponent of a Trump-backed candidate running in Wisconsin's gubernatorial primary.</p><p>Cruz on Tuesday <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1551904566496616450?s=21&amp;t=fhTY2hwP9mb-UXB-jBmLXw">tweeted</a> his support for Rebecca Kleefisch, writing: "Rebecca will fight for a stronger economy, school choice so parents are back in charge of their kids' education, &amp; she will work to protect Life &amp; our #2A. Support Rebecca's campaign today!"</p><p>Notably, the Texas lawmaker did not back Tim Michels, Trump's pick for the race. Trump had <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://truthsocial.com/@realLizUSA/posts/108410676288506253">endorsed Michels</a> in June, calling him "a very successful businessman."</p><p>"If Wisconsin has the wisdom to make Tim their next governor, it will have unprecedented success!" read Trump's statement at the time.</p><p>Trump is due to visit Waukesha to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/07/26/donald-trump-campaign-tim-michels-wisconsin-august-5-before-governor-election-august-9-primary/10140540002/">stump for Michels</a> on August 5 — just four days before the August 9 vote. </p><p>Representatives at Trump's post-presidential press office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.</p><p>Cruz's backing of Kleefisch marks his second notable break from the former president regarding political endorsements.</p><p>In May, Cruz <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ted-cruz-breaks-with-trump-stumps-for-mo-brooks-2022-5">stumped for his GOP colleague, Rep. Mo Brooks</a>, who was running for a senate seat in Alabama. In a speech, Cruz mocked Republicans who pledged allegiance to Trump, while lauding Brooks.</p><p>In contrast, Trump in March rescinded his endorsement of Brooks, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pulls-his-endorsement-of-mo-brooks-says-he-went-woke-2022-3">saying the congressman "went woke" over the 2020 election</a>. Up till that point, Brooks had been known as a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-rescinds-mo-brooks-endorsement-alabama-senate-race-loyalty-test-2022-3">staunch</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mo-brooks-brands-mitch-mcconnell-rino-pledges-to-fire-him-2022-3https://www.businessinsider.com/mo-brooks-brands-mitch-mcconnell-rino-pledges-to-fire-him-2022-3">Trump ally.</a></p><p>Brooks' <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mo-brooks-trump-no-loyalty-to-anyone-anything-but-himself-2022-6">unsuccessfully</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mo-brooks-is-begging-for-trump-to-re-endorse-him-2022-6">appealed for Trump's re-endorsement </a>and lost his primary in June, after which he said he would <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mo-brooks-testify-to-the-january-6-panel-if-subpoenaed-2022-6">testify about the Capitol riot if subpoenaed</a>.</p><p>Other GOP figures have used endorsements to challenge Trump's control over the party. </p><p>Outgoing Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, for instance, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hogan-blasts-gop-candidate-dan-cox-no-chance-hell-win-2022-7">denounced Trump-backed candidate and election denier Dan Cox</a>, calling him unfit for office. Cox eventually beat Kelly Schultz, a Hogan-backed moderate GOP candidate, in the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/maryland-governor-house-primary-elections-live-results-2022-7">Maryland primary elections</a>,</p><p>In May, former Vice President Mike Pence stumped for <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pence-brian-kemp-david-perdue-georgia-election-future-2022-5">incumbent Georgia GOP Gov. Brian Kemp</a> in his race against his Trump-backed challenger, David Perdue. Kemp <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/georgia-governors-race-brian-kemp-vs-david-perdue-live-results-2022-5">trounced Perdue</a> and is set to go head-to-head for the governor's seat <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stacey-abrams-appalled-roe-v-wade-overturned-supreme-court-georgia-2022-6">against Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams.</a> Trump's PAC <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pac-claims-brian-kemp-52pt-primary-win-fraud-2022-6">later claimed without substantiation</a> that Kemp only won the Georgia primary because of voter fraud.</p><p>Pence <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pence-endorses-karrin-taylor-robson-over-kari-lake-2022-7">is now backing Karrin Taylor Robson for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in Arizona</a>. Robson is running against the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2021/09/28/donald-trump-endorses-kari-lake-arizona-governor/5837690001/">Trump-endorsed Kari Lake,</a></p>

Ted Cruz breaks with Trump and endorses yet another GOP candidate running against the former president's pick

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Trump made a risky endorsement by going against much of the <keyword id="11899150" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wisconsin" source="Orion">Wisconsin</keyword> GOP establishment.</li><li>The former president announced his support for businessman Tim Michels' Wisconsin gubernatorial bid.</li></ul><p>Former President <keyword id="11914386" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="donald-trump" source="Orion">Donald Trump</keyword> made a risky bet on Thursday evening, weighing in on the Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial primary by backing a different candidate while snubbing the current frontrunner who has received support from former Gov. <keyword id="12306870" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="scott-walker" source="Orion">Scott Walker</keyword>.</p><p>"Tim is an America First Conservative who Supports our Second Amendment, Honors our Brave Law Enforcement and First Responders, and Stands Strongly against the Woke Mob trying to destroy our Country," Trump said in a statement announcing his support for Tim Michels, a millionaire businessman.</p><p>Walker, once a conservative darling for his campaign against public-sector unions, previously endorsed his former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. Former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who will likely be the next governor of Arkansas, has backed her as well. An April Marquette Law School Poll showed Kleefisch had a commanding lead before Michels entered the race. By all accounts, <a href="https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/donald-trump-endorses-gubernatorial-candidate-tim-michels-ahead-of-contested-gop-primary/article_4fad24df-ea08-541a-bb7c-661e2f88fd2e.html">Kleefisch was considered the frontrunner in the race.</a></p><p>Trump's endorsement will certainly shake up the contest. But the former president's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-endorsement-success-rate-average-performance-vote-percentage-gop-primaries-2022-5">frequent entries into contested GOP primaries have blemished his endorsement record,</a> especially when Trump goes against the GOP establishment.</p><p>Trump backed businessman Charles Herbster in Nebraska, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin in Idaho, and former Sen. David Perdue in Georgia. All three candidates failed to win their respective state's GOP nomination for governor. In McGeachin and Perdue's cases, Trump made the decision to endorse challengers to incumbent GOP governors.</p><p>The former president has found much more success at the federal level. He endorsed author JD Vance for US Senate over the wishes of many Ohio Republicans, vaulting the venture capitalist to first place. Trump was also ahead of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Senate Republicans in announcing his support for former Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker, who will challenge Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in Georgia this November.</p><p>Ahead of a possible 2024 run, Trump's endorsements are being closely tracked. The recent failure of many of his picks to oust Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has not gone unnoticed. </p><p>The Wisconsin gubernatorial race will be closely watched come November.</p><p>Incumbent-Gov. <keyword id="12375480" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tony-evers" source="Orion">Tony Evers</keyword>, a Democrat, ousted Walker in 2018 by just under 30,000 votes. President Joe Biden later narrowly carried the state in 2020. Since then, Trump-allies have sought to raise baseless claims to question the results and some even have pushed the unconstitutional and unfounded step of "decertifying" Biden's win in the state.</p>

Trump makes another risky endorsement, defying Wisconsin Republicans like Scott Walker

<p>Wisconsin held key Senate and gubernatorial primaries on Tuesday. Polls in the state closed at 8 p.m. local time and 9 p.m. ET.</p><h2><strong>The races and the stakes: </strong></h2> <iframe id="embed-0a7cd658-d79c-4e5c-93b0-18ebd895e12d" src="https://embeds.ddhq.io/app/v2/client/1.0/index.html?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" frameborder="0" width="100%"></iframe> <iframe id="embed-ac4dd8ab-0a0f-43ea-a9c9-e6d5350bb1ed" src="https://embeds.ddhq.io/app/v2/client/1.0/index.html?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" frameborder="0" width="100%"></iframe><h3><strong>US Senate</strong></h3><p>Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes is set to take on Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, setting up one of November's marquee US Senate races.</p><p>Johnson, a former plastics executive and political ally of former President Donald Trump, has compiled a reliably conservative voting record during his Senate career.</p><p>Democrats, still smarting from Johnson's dual wins over former Sen. Russ Feingold in 2010 and 2016, have been angling to defeat him the lawmaker for years.</p><p>Barnes, a longtime frontrunner in the Democratic primary, basically wrapped up the nomination after his leading competitors <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mandela-barnes-ron-johnson-wisconsin-democrats-rally-2022-7">ended their campaigns</a> last month. The former candidates, which included state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson, and Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry, all endorsed Barnes after their respective exits from the contest.</p><p>Barnes was first elected to statewide office on a ticket with now-Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in 2018. He would be Wisconsin's first Black United States senator if he were to defeat Johnson in November.</p> <iframe id="embed-479ad841-b078-4fef-9612-b62e0173b01d" src="https://embeds.ddhq.io/app/v2/client/1.0/index.html?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" frameborder="0" width="100%"></iframe> <iframe id="embed-16d4ed1c-fbd0-456b-b271-2cb33e78fe7e" src="https://embeds.ddhq.io/app/v2/client/1.0/index.html?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" frameborder="0" width="100%"></iframe><h3><strong>US House</strong></h3><p><strong>3rd District</strong></p><p>Democratic Rep. Ron Kind, a moderate who has held the seat since 1997, is not running for reelection. The district is anchored by Eau Claire and La Crosse in the state's Driftless region.</p><p>Navy SEAL Derrick Van Orden — who narrowly lost to Kind in 2020 — is projected to be the GOP's pick.</p><p>Democrats have four candidates: La Crosse City Councilman Mark Neumann, state Sen. Brad Pfaff, retired CIA officer Deb McGrath, and businesswoman Rebecca Cooke.</p> <iframe id="embed-d41cddd4-cfa2-40c9-8abf-0baeec8dff70" src="https://embeds.ddhq.io/app/v2/client/1.0/index.html?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" frameborder="0" width="100%"></iframe><h3><strong>Governor </strong></h3><p>Incumbent Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is running for reelection to a second term in what is expected to be a competitive contest in one of the nation's most closely-divided states. He did not face a primary opponent.</p><p>In 2018, Evers narrowly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wisconsin-governor-scott-walker-loses-to-democrat-tony-evers-2018-11">defeated</a> conservative star Scott Walker, a former 2016 Republican presidential candidate who was running for a third term as governor.</p><p>Construction executive Tim Michels, who secured Trump's coveted endorsement, is projected to challenge Evers this November. Michels beat a field that included former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who former Vice President backed in the race.</p><p>Despite Kleefisch's early status as a frontrunner in the race and her ties to Walker, Trump threw his support behind Michels — who previously lost to Feingold in the 2004 Wisconsin Senate election.</p><h3><strong>Lieutenant Governor </strong></h3><p>In Wisconsin, parties choose their respective nominees for lieutenant governor separately from the gubernatorial nominees, but the candidates run on a ticket together in the general election.</p><p>With Barnes in the Senate race, state Rep. Sara Rodriguez is now projected to become Evers' running mate.</p><p>State Sen. Roger Roth is projected to have emerged from a crowded primary field that featured fellow state Sen. Patrick Testin; Lancaster Mayor David Varnam; conservative activist David King; former state workforce development official Will Martin; Army veteran Cindy Werner; businessman Jonathan Wichmann; and insurance agent and entertainer Kyle Yudes.</p> <iframe id="embed-c6d730f7-9e62-4163-8419-29513dcf3df7" src="https://embeds.ddhq.io/app/v2/client/1.0/index.html?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" frameborder="0" width="100%"></iframe> <iframe id="embed-73eade90-1efb-41e6-9c14-fe93ab35d6a1" src="https://embeds.ddhq.io/app/v2/client/1.0/index.html?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" frameborder="0" width="100%"></iframe><h3><strong>Secretary of State</strong></h3><p>Longtime Democratic Secretary of State Doug La Follette bested his lone primary challenger, Dane County Democratic Chair Alexia Sabor.</p><p>State Rep. Amy Loudenbeck beat out former Menasha town supervisor Jay Schroede and  conservative activist Justin Schmidtk for the GOP nomination.</p><h3><strong>State Treasurer</strong></h3><p>With Godlewski having declined to run for reelection in favor of her now-suspended Senate campaign, the race is wide open.</p><p>The Democratic primary candidates include West Allis Alderman Angelito Tenorio, Fitchburg Mayor Aaron Richardson, and radiologist Gillian Battino.</p><p>Attorney John Leiber is expected to be the Republican nominee after besting Orlando Owens, a former Johnson aide.</p> <iframe id="embed-7b4d32b1-02be-4b8b-9b06-b7ee2d2c7560" src="https://embeds.ddhq.io/app/v2/client/1.0/index.html?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" frameborder="0" width="100%"></iframe> <iframe id="embed-bf86d6a3-b96e-4d6b-b6ff-3383224d7f46" src="https://embeds.ddhq.io/app/v2/client/1.0/index.html?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" frameborder="0" width="100%"></iframe><h3><strong>State Legislature</strong></h3><p>Republican House Speaker Robin Vos is projected to have prevailed over a Trump-backed primary opponent, another loss for the former president after he made the rare decision to back a challenger to a state legislative leader.</p><p>Vos, who has repeatedly <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/15/wisconsin-power-robin-vos-tony-evers-511582">stymied</a> Evers from enacting his agenda, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/robin-vos-trump-urged-wisconsin-speaker-decertify-biden-win-2022-7">drew Trump's ire for refusing to push</a> for the state to illegally "decertify" its 2020 election results. Trump had endorsed Adam Steen to unseat Vos.</p><p>There is no evidence of Trump's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wisconsin-nonpartisan-election-audit-safe-secure-voter-integrity-fraud-2021-10">debunked claims</a> about widespread voter fraud. There is also no mechanism under the constitution for a state to decertify its election results after the Electoral College vote has been formally counted and a new president inaugurated. </p>

LIVE RESULTS: Trump-backed Tim Michels wins Wisconsin GOP gubernatorial primary

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Democratic Gov. Tony Evers defeats Republican Tim Michels in Wisconsin's governor race.</li><li>Michels won a contested GOP primary after receiving Trump's backing.</li></ul><p>Democratic Gov. Tony Evers defeated Trump-backed Republican Tim Michels in Wisconsin's governor race.</p><p>Polls closed in the state at 8 p.m. local time, or 9 p.m. EST.</p><iframe id="embed-a678eb0e-0552-4db3-b588-6d3673062d43" src="https://embeds.ddhq.io/app/v2/client/1.0/index.html?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" frameborder="0" width="100%"></iframe><h2><strong>Wisconsin's gubernatorial candidates</strong></h2><p>Evers notched a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wisconsin-governor-scott-walker-loses-to-democrat-tony-evers-2018-11">shocking upset</a> in 2018 when he ousted Republican Gov. Scott Walker — <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/poll-new-hampshire-scott-walker-jeb-bush-gop-116863">an</a> <a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/iowa-poll/2015/01/31/iowa-poll-walker-leads-tight-pack/22659477/">early</a> 2016 presidential election favorite — from the Wisconsin gubernatorial mansion just three years after Walker bested a recall campaign. </p><p>Evers' fight never really ended. Almost immediately, Wisconsin Republicans moved to limit his and other Democrats' power, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/03/21/705536383/wisconsin-governors-powers-restored-after-restricted-by-lame-duck">though a judge turned that effort away</a>. The two sides' frequent tussles have led Evers to veto more bills than any other governor in the state's history.</p><p>Michels, who co-owns the state's largest construction company, bested former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch in a closely contested GOP primary that hinged on former President Donald Trump's support of Michels. Michels <a href="https://www.fox6now.com/news/wisconsin-governor-candidate-michels-election-decertification">later refused to rule out</a> an unprecedented — and unconstitutional — effort in the state to decertify Biden's 2020 win there. </p><p>Like in other races across the country, abortion remains a key issue in this race. Michels initially expressed support for Wisconsin's abortion ban, first enacted in 1849, that bans abortions in almost every instance. <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/wisconsin-gov-bids-abortion-central-184723951.html">Michels now says</a> he would support passing exceptions to allow abortion in cases of rape and incest. The current law allows an exception for the life of the mother, but <a href="https://pbswisconsin.org/news-item/wisconsins-1849-ban-allows-only-life-saving-therapeutic-abortions-no-one-knows-what-that-means/">some doctors have complained the exact wording is antiquated</a> and are afraid of risking a felony charge. </p><p>While Evers has attacked Michels on abortion, the Republican has assailed the incumbent for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the shooting of Jacob Blake.</p><h2><strong>Wisconsin's voting history </strong></h2><p>Evers ended eight years of Republican control of the governor's mansion. He won by roughly a single percentage point, or just under 30,000 votes.</p><p>At the top level, Wisconsin like neighboring Michigan was once part of the so-called "blue wall." Trump broke this streak in 2016, becoming the first Republican to carry the state since Ronald Reagan during his 1984 reelection.</p><p>Biden's 2020 win came at a narrower margin than Evers' 2018 victory. The president carried Wisconsin by just under 21,000 votes.</p><h2><strong>The money race</strong></h2><p>Michels has been able to use his considerable wealth to fund his campaign. He has raised roughly $16 million, spent about $15 million, and has just over $1 million remaining, as of his campaign's September 27 report to state officials. Michels has also loaned his campaign $3.7 million just in the month of August. Before the primary, the construction owner was clocked at spending nearly $1 million dollars of his own money a week, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-donald-trump-campaigns-campaign-finance-95e2d93e6aa95f722d0d8aadcdd94131">according to the Associated Press.</a> </p><p>While Evers had a head start in fundraising. This year, the governor has raised roughly $15.8 million, spent about $20 million, and has just over $6 million on hand, as of his campaign's September 27 report.</p><h2><strong>What experts say</strong></h2><p>The race between Evers and Michels is rated as a "toss-up" by <a href="https://insideelections.com/ratings/governor">Inside Elections</a>, <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/governor-race-ratings">The Cook Political Report</a>, and <a href="https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2022-governor/">Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.</a></p>

Results: Democratic Gov. Tony Evers defeats Trump-backed Republican Tim Michels in Wisconsin's gubernatorial race

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Democratic Gov. Tony Evers faces off against Republican Tim Michels in Wisconsin's governor race.</li><li>Michels won a contested GOP primary after receiving Trump's backing.</li></ul><p>Democratic Gov. Tony Evers faces off against Trump-backed Republican Tim Michels in Wisconsin's governor race.</p><h2><strong>Wisconsin's gubernatorial candidates</strong></h2><p>Evers notched a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wisconsin-governor-scott-walker-loses-to-democrat-tony-evers-2018-11">shocking upset</a> in 2018 when he ousted Republican Gov. Scott Walker — <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/poll-new-hampshire-scott-walker-jeb-bush-gop-116863">an</a> <a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/iowa-poll/2015/01/31/iowa-poll-walker-leads-tight-pack/22659477/">early</a> 2016 presidential election favorite — from the Wisconsin gubernatorial mansion just three years after Walker bested a recall campaign. </p><p>Evers' fight never really ended. Almost immediately, Wisconsin Republicans moved to limit his and other Democrats' power, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/03/21/705536383/wisconsin-governors-powers-restored-after-restricted-by-lame-duck">though a judge turned that effort away</a>. The two sides' frequent tussles have led Evers to veto more bills than any other governor in the state's history.</p><p>Michels, who co-owns the state's largest construction company, bested former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch in a closely contested GOP primary that hinged on former President Donald Trump's support of Michels. Michels <a href="https://www.fox6now.com/news/wisconsin-governor-candidate-michels-election-decertification">later refused to rule out</a> an unprecedented — and unconstitutional — effort in the state to decertify Biden's 2020 win there. </p><p>Like in other races across the country, abortion remains a key issue in this race. Michels initially expressed support for Wisconsin's abortion ban, first enacted in 1849, that bans abortions in almost every instance. <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/wisconsin-gov-bids-abortion-central-184723951.html">Michels now says</a> he would support passing exceptions to allow abortion in cases of rape and incest. The current law allows an exception for the life of the mother, but <a href="https://pbswisconsin.org/news-item/wisconsins-1849-ban-allows-only-life-saving-therapeutic-abortions-no-one-knows-what-that-means/">some doctors have complained the exact wording is antiquated</a> and are afraid of risking a felony charge. </p><p>While Evers has attacked Michels on abortion, the Republican has assailed the incumbent for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the shooting of Jacob Blake.</p><h2><strong>Wisconsin's voting history </strong></h2><p>Evers ended eight years of Republican control of the governor's mansion. He won by roughly a single percentage point, or just under 30,000 votes.</p><p>At the top level, Wisconsin like neighboring Michigan was once part of the so-called "blue wall." Trump broke this streak in 2016, becoming the first Republican to carry the state since Ronald Reagan during his 1984 reelection.</p><p>Biden's 2020 win came at a narrower margin than Evers' 2018 victory. The president carried Wisconsin by just under 21,000 votes.</p><h2><strong>The money race</strong></h2><p>Michels has been able to use his considerable wealth to fund his campaign. He has raised roughly $16 million, spent about $15 million, and has just over $1 million remaining, as of his campaign's September 27 report to state officials. Michels has also loaned his campaign $3.7 million just in the month of August. Before the primary, the construction owner was clocked at spending nearly $1 million dollars of his own money a week, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-donald-trump-campaigns-campaign-finance-95e2d93e6aa95f722d0d8aadcdd94131">according to the Associated Press.</a> </p><p>While Evers had a head start in fundraising. This year, the governor has raised roughly $15.8 million, spent about $20 million, and has just over $6 million on hand, as of his campaign's September 27 report.</p><h2><strong>What experts say</strong></h2><p>The race between Evers and Michels is rated as a "toss-up" by <a href="https://insideelections.com/ratings/governor">Inside Elections</a>, <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/governor-race-ratings">The Cook Political Report</a>, and <a href="https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2022-governor/">Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.</a></p>

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers faces off against Trump-backed Republican Tim Michels in Wisconsin's gubernatorial race

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The top <keyword id="11899365" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="republican" source="Orion">Republican</keyword> candidate for <keyword id="11899150" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wisconsin" source="Orion">Wisconsin</keyword> governor says she will eliminate the commission if elected.</li><li>A Wisconsin sheriff recommended felony or misdemeanor charges for 5 of the 6 commission members.</li></ul><p>In an attempt to overhaul the state's election process, Wisconsin Republican officials are seeking to eliminate the <keyword id="12136285" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bipartisan" source="Orion">bipartisan</keyword> Wisconsin Elections Commission and charge five of its six officials with felonies or misdemeanors related to the guidance they gave municipal clerks ahead of the <keyword id="11907757" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="2020-election" source="Orion">2020 election</keyword>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/19/us/politics/wisconsin-republicans-decertify-election.html?referringSource=articleShare">The New York Times reported</a>.</p><p>With less than a year before midterm elections, Rebecca Kleefisch, the top Republican challenger to Democratic Governor Tony Evers, has incorporated the termination of the state election commission into her platform, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/19/us/politics/wisconsin-republicans-decertify-election.html?referringSource=articleShare">according to The Times</a>. She <a href="https://rebeccaforgovernor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Rebecca-Kleefisch-v.-Wisconsin-Elections-Commission.pdf">filed a lawsuit</a> earlier in the week against the commission, which was created by <keyword id="11899267" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="republicans" source="Orion">Republicans</keyword> in 2016, asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to declare that its guidance contradicts state law.</p><p>Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling echoed Kleefisch's position and recommended felony and misdemeanor charges in early November against five of the commission's six members because they advised clerks not to send trained poll workers to nursing homes during the start of the pandemic, <a href="https://www.wisn.com/article/racine-co-sheriff-recommends-criminal-charges-against-5-state-election-commissioners/38152075">according to Milwaukee-based ABC affiliate WISN-TV</a>.</p><p>Schmaling also asked for a statewide investigation to be launched by Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, who called the move a "publicity stunt" and a "transparently political effort and an abuse of authority," <a href="https://www.wisn.com/article/racine-co-sheriff-recommends-criminal-charges-against-5-state-election-commissioners/38152075">WISN-TV reported</a>.</p><p>After Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 election, Wisconsin Republicans claimed that fraudulent votes were cast from nursing homes across the state as a result of a March 2020 commission vote, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/19/us/politics/wisconsin-republicans-decertify-election.html?referringSource=articleShare">according to The New York Times</a>.</p><p>In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the commission voted to lift a requirement for special voting deputies to visit nursing homes twice before issuing residents absentee ballots because facilities were not allowing visitors, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/19/us/politics/wisconsin-republicans-decertify-election.html?referringSource=articleShare">The New York Times reported</a>. No challenges to the guidance were raised at the time of the vote.</p><p>Still, Republican State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos called the commission lawless during <a href="https://www.wkow.com/news/vos-says-elections-commissioners-should-probably-face-criminal-charges/article_7cdd9398-4410-11ec-a1d8-93e6cab5d1a2.html">a November 12 WKOW interview</a> and said its members should "probably" face felony charges. Members of the commission <a href="https://elections.wi.gov/node/7561">released a statement in October</a> maintaining that they had not broken any laws and that they may have missed the deadline to collect and count votes from individuals in nursing homes if they did not lift the rule.</p>

GOP officials in Wisconsin want to eliminate a bipartisan elections agency and charge 5 of its 6 members with felonies and misdemeanors

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5be2e60a110d4c55f45a4414-2000/scott walker.jpg" border="0" alt="Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker" data-mce-source="Scott Olson/Getty Images" data-mce-caption="Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker" /><p class="source"><span>Scott Olson/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker lost the state's gubernatorial race to Democrat Tony Evers in<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/2018-midterm-elections"> Tuesday's Midterm elections. </a></li><li>Democrat Tony Evers narrowly led the Wisconsin gubernatorial race against Walker 49.6% to 48.4%, or by 1.2%, as of Tuesday morning.</li><li>After the 2016 presidential election, Walker signed into law that future recounts would only be allowed when the loser is within 1% of the winner.</li></ul><p>Scott Walker, Wisconsin's Republican governor, was ousted from office in the state's closest governor's race in more than 50 years in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/2018-midterm-elections">Tuesday's midterm elections</a> - and he won't be able to ask for a recount because of a law he put into place.</p><p>With 99% of votes reported on Wednesday morning, Democrat Tony Evers narrowly led the Wisconsin gubernatorial race against Walker 49.6% to 48.4%, <a href="https://www.apnews.com/9b28173f43b44cfa9ba64438d002f075">according to the Associated Press</a>.</p><p>After President Donald Trump won Wisconsin by just 23,000 votes, Walker signed into law a measure mandating that future recounts would only be allowed when the loser is within 1% of the winner.</p><p>The law triggers a free recount if the margin is 0.25% or less. When the margin is between 0.25 and 1%, the losing candidate must petition and pay for a recount.</p><p>As it stands, Walker is 1.2% behind Evers, with a gap of about 31,000 votes. More than 2.6 million votes were cast in the election.</p><hr /><p><strong>Read more: </strong><em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/midterms-key-takeaways-trumps-message-fails-democrats-take-house-governorships-2018-11">Midterm key takeaways: Trump's message flops, and Democrats set the stage for 2020</a></em></p><hr /><p>Walker's campaign spokesman, Brian Reisinger, told the Associated Press that he wants allegedly damaged ballots to be examined.</p><p>He also wants to see the official canvass of the vote, which would show him Election Day results, as well as results from absentee ballots and accepted provisional ballots.</p><p>Evers declared victory at about 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday with almost all precincts reporting, according to <a href="https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/tony-evers-beats-scott-walker-to-win-wisconsin-governor-s/article_3df2a0a6-2334-514b-b14f-fde26b6bef89.html">The Wisconsin State Journal</a>.</p><p>His win also means his running mate, Mandela Barnes, will become Wisconsin's first African-American lieutenant governor.</p><p>Moments before the race was called, Walker's Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch said she was prepared for a "long, drawn-out recount," but would be "gracious no matter the outcome."</p><p>Walker's loss means he misses out on a third term as governor, despite just three years ago being seen as a front-runner in the 2016 presidential election.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-nfl-league-usfl-sued-tweet-three-dollars-2017-9">Trump once won a lawsuit against the NFL - but the result was an embarrassment</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/vlMvpjcK-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

You Searched For "rebecca kleefisch" and got 9 results

A Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial candidate is running on a platform to decertify the 2020 statewide presidential results

John L. Dorman

Trump and Pence again face off in a proxy fight, backing rival GOP candidates in Wisconsin governor's race

Grace Panetta

Ted Cruz breaks with Trump and endorses yet another GOP candidate running against the former president's pick

Cheryl Teh

Trump makes another risky endorsement, defying Wisconsin Republicans like Scott Walker

Brent D. Griffiths

LIVE RESULTS: Trump-backed Tim Michels wins Wisconsin GOP gubernatorial primary

John L. Dorman

Results: Democratic Gov. Tony Evers defeats Trump-backed Republican Tim Michels in Wisconsin's gubernatorial race

Brent D. Griffiths

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers faces off against Trump-backed Republican Tim Michels in Wisconsin's gubernatorial race

Brent D. Griffiths

GOP officials in Wisconsin want to eliminate a bipartisan elections agency and charge 5 of its 6 members with felonies and misdemeanors

Morgan Keith

Scott Walker was narrowly ousted in Wisconsin, and a law he put in place means he can't ask for a recount

Kelly McLaughlin