Trump-Endorsed Tim Michels Prevails in Wisconsin Gubernatorial Primary

Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch won a Mike Pence endorsement but faltered.

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In a consequential GOP gubernatorial primary in Wisconsin, voters tapped construction business executive Tim Michels narrowly over former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch in what has been a contentious race. Michels was beating Kleefisch 47 percent to 42 percent Wednesday morning, with more than 95 percent of the vote tallied.

The win is also a victory for former President Donald Trump over former Vice President Mike Pence—who has fallen out of favor with the Make America Great Again crowd since refusing to attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The two issued competing endorsements in the Wisconsin contest, highlighting a widening rift in the Republican Party. Though the race remained close, it became clear within a couple of hours of polls closing that Michels, Trump’s pick, would win.

Kleefisch did take the lead briefly, thanks to suburban areas in Wausau and elsewhere. But her edge remained paper thin and quickly disintegrated as more results from rural areas came in.

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  1. Mathew A

    I don't like Johnson at all. But I do agree Barnes seems like the perfect opponent to beat. Barnes might know what the cost of a gallon of milk is, but he still doesn't understand economics and his policies are designed to make those problems worse.

    I blame our primary system and the fact that general election voters are too lazy to vote in the primaries. Thus two horrible candidates. And voters trying to pick the lessor of two evils.

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    1. Grafakos

      Barnes' only serious competitor dropped out of the race before the primary. What were primary voters on the D side of the aisle supposed to do? They could choose to vote for Johnson's Republican competitor (who got all of 16% of the vote among those who voted R), or they could hold their nose and vote for Barnes as the only viable alternative.

      Agree that the primary system is terrible (some days I think we'd all be better off if the parties would simply nominate a candidate and not leave the decision to voters; that would have saved us from four years of Trump!) but in this case both parties' candidates were running essentially unopposed.

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    Jon McKinney

    Guess I’m voting Evers and Barnes because they seem like the only ones acting like adults.

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    Cthocas

    As loathsome as the DCCC's strategy of strategically boosting MAGA kooks in other races is, it may just work. I just can't see general election voters choosing any of these weirdos over incumbents or less insane alternatives in a post-January 6th environment, even in a supposed red wave.

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      Luke Sherman

      The main problem in Wisconsin is that we are a pretty evenly divided state and grievance politics has held much more sway that it should here recently. I have heard people from both sides of the aisle complain about how oppressed they are by the other side.

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        Rajeev

        I'm glad Wisconsin hasn't gone the way of Iowa or Ohio ... yet. It seemed the next logical state to switch from purple to hard red but it has remained very even.

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        George.Rozes

        News flash. It is national. Half my family believes the other half are clueless. As for Trump, he notches another win. The half-baked answer is how will they do in November. WHO CARES! The fact that one of two MAJOR parties in this nation is run by a psychotic narcissist whose minions have forced a Federal judge into hiding for signing a warrant, talk of banana republics and third world nations (DOG WHISTLE ANYONE?) is huge cause for concern.

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    George.Rozes

    Johnson is a lock. Except for outliers like Vermont, no state will vote for a Sanders/AOC endorsed candidate. It'll be close but this isn't horseshoes.

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      Rajeev

      Barnes is better than the typical AOC endorsed candidate. He's young and has an overall better presence on the campaign trail. I agree Johnson will win but I doubt it's a lock. Even 538 has a 32% chance of Barnes winning. Also Ron Johnson it's hard to remember but when he first ran for senate he was a strong candidate. He's less appealing now on the Republican side than he once was.

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      1. BadgerBill

        And remember, Wisconsin’s other Senator, Tammi Baldwin is very left. She won re-election in 2018 with an 11% margin. It would be an upset, but not an huge one if Barnes wins.

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