Wisconsin GOP Governor’s Primary Represents Another Clash Between Trump and Pence

Voters head to the polls on Aug. 9 in Wisconsin, and for the third time, a candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump faces a candidate given the stamp of approval by his former vice president, Mike Pence.

Businessman Tim Michels, backed by Trump, and former Wisconsin lieutenant governor Rebecca Kleefisch, supported by Pence, are the leading contenders in the Republican gubernatorial primary.

The race represents the most recent battle between Trump and Pence, both of whom are potential presidential candidates in 2024.

Michels, who owns a construction company, has loaned his campaign around $12 million. Kleefisch is backed by Pence along with former Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

Wisconsin GOP gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Kleefisch (center) makes a campaign stop in Brookfield, Wisconsin on August 8. (Courtesy of Rebecca Kleefisch)

A former TV news anchor, Kleefisch served for two terms as lieutenant governor under Walker, who has enthusiastically campaigned for her.

Kleefisch has raised more than $7.5 million. State Rep. Tim Ramthun has generated around $189,000.

Until Michels entered the race and then secured Trump’s endorsement in June, Kleefisch owned a comfortable lead in the polls. Michels has poured millions of dollars of his own money into TV ads, portraying himself as a businessman and an outsider.

Michels and Kleefisch have cast doubt on President Joe Biden’s victory in Wisconsin in 2020.

Kleefisch has drawn criticism from Trump for being an establishment politician, but she has said the 2020 election was “rigged.” She is also the lone Wisconsin GOP gubernatorial candidate who has dismissed the idea of overturning the outcome.

“It’s not constitutionally possible,” Kleefisch said at a GOP gubernatorial debate. “There is no path to decertifying an election that has already happened.”

Wisconsin political strategists have said that the primary illustrates a divide between

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