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Trump-Backed Gubernatorial Candidate Wins Wisconsin Primary

    Trump-Backed Gubernatorial Candidate Wins Wisconsin Primary
    Last updated Aug 17, 2022
    Image credit: AP [via New York Post]

    Facts

    • With over 98% of ballots counted on Tues., Trump-endorsed Republican candidate for Wisconsin Gov., Tim Michels, had beaten primary opponent Rebecca Kleefisch by more than 335k votes.[1]
    • Kleefisch - formerly the Lieutenant Gov. under former Gov. Scott Walker - was supported by former VP Mike Pence, meaning the results reflect another win for Trump in his battle of endorsements with his former VP.[2]
    • Michels, a retired Army Major and head of Michel's Corp. construction company, has said he wants to decrease political lobbying, uphold Wisconsin's 1849 abortion ban, end "unmanned ballot boxes," and support paid family leave.[3]
    • The millionaire businessman who largely self-funded his campaign has faced scrutiny over his support of Trump's election fraud claims. Last week Michels said he wouldn't endorse Trump as a 2024 presidential candidate before reversing his stance a day later.[4]
    • Wisconsin's gubernatorial election in Nov. is predicted to be close, with the incumbent gov. having won by a sliver in 2018. The candidates' stances on state-based electoral reform and the legality of abortion and contraception are likely to face significant scrutiny during the race.[2]
    • Pres. Biden narrowly beat Trump in Wisconsin by 20k votes in 2020 - a result Trump has disputed and called to be decertified. Michels has shown public support for the unsubstantiated assertion, declaring last week that he will abolish the state's election commission if made gov. this November.[1]

    Spin

    Democratic narrative

    Michels's primary win should give Democrats some hope. While Biden's low approval rating, along with midterm polls, have projected a Republican sweep, far-right candidates like Michels will likely lead to many Democrat victories this fall. Not only does he support Trump's election lies, but he has said he wants to ban abortion, a procedure most Americans support.

    Pro-Trump narrative

    Tim Michels just defeated the Republican establishment by a six-figure landslide, which goes to show that Wisconsinites are fed up with the status quo. His next opponent, Tony Evers, should fear this momentum come Nov., as Michels only has Republican votes to gain.

    Nerd narrative

    There is a 50% chance that Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee for US President in 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

    Political split

    LEFT

    RIGHT

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