Barnes wins Democratic Senate primary in Wisconsin, finalizing showdown with Ron Johnson
NBCDec 26, 2022
Trump-Backed Gubernatorial Candidate Wins Wisconsin Primary
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Image copyright: AP [via New York Post]
The 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.
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.
The 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.
