Democrats challenge Tim Michels; GOP leaders face primaries; Milwaukee races
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Democrats challenge Tim Michels
Looks like this is a pretty big week for businessman Tim Michels, a Republican running for governor.
Michels' nomination papers to get on the Aug. 9 primary ballot are being challenged by Democrats. The Michels campaign claims it's "a frivolous complaint."
The Wisconsin Elections Commission will take up the matter Friday. That's the same body that Michels has pledged to eliminate if he's elected governor.
"A Madison voter, financially supported by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, filed a complaint Saturday with the Wisconsin Elections Commission alleging Michels did not include the municipality of his mailing address on the vast majority of his nomination papers, which were due by June 1.
"Wisconsin Elections Commission staff already validated 3,861 signatures of the 4,000 submitted by Michels, according to the campaign. Democrats are challenging all but 345 of those signatures because the nomination papers they appear on do not include Michels' mailing address municipality.
"State law requires candidates to include their mailing address on their nomination papers but Michels used just the municipality of his residence, which is different, on the vast majority of his paperwork. Michels lives in the Village of Chenequa but the U.S. Postal Service lists Hartland as his mailing address."
It's going be interesting watching this all proceed.
In the meantime, things had been looking up for the Michels campaign. Last week, the candidate got what may be a pivotal endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
Trump's statement read in part: "Wisconsin needs a Governor who will Stop Inflation, Uphold the Rule of Law, strengthen our Borders (we had the strongest borders in history just two years ago, now we have the weakest!) and End the well-documented Fraud in our Elections."
One last thing about the Michels campaign.
When he jumped into the race, Michels claimed: "I will never ask anyone for a donation.”
But Daniel Bice points out Michels is asking for cash.
And Bice has the receipts, or in this case, the texts and email solicitations.
You can read all about it here.
GOP leaders face primaries
Molly Beck reports on some fascinating primary challenges against leaders in the Republican-led Legislature.
Beck writes:
"Challengers to Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Caucus Chairman Van Wanggaard are calling for the abolition of the state Elections Commission, or are questioning the outcome of the 2020 election. Some blame their Republican primary opponents for unresolved concerns over how the contest was administered."
Adam Steen, who is trying to topple Vos, told Beck why election issues are a common focus of the primary challenges: "It's not, do they want to see the president back, or do they want to change everything — they just really have some questions. So I think with that many people having doubts, I think it's imperative on the Legislature to actually (look) at the laws that exist and try to improve them so that it makes the clerk's job easier," Adam Steen, who is challenging Vos, said about why elections issues are a common focus of the primary challengers.
"It makes it easier for men and women that vote to be confident in the election process" Steen said.
You can read the article here.
Milwaukee races
Three first-time candidates are competing for the Milwaukee Common Council District 2 seat vacated by Mayor Cavalier Johnson.
Alison Dirr reports:
"Two of them — Jerel Ballard and Keyellia Morries — would have to move into the district before they could assume the duties of the office. The third candidate, Mark Chambers Jr., already lives in the district.
"And, Democratic state Rep. Jonathan Brostoff will be the sole candidate for the east side District 3 seat vacated by Nik Kovac, who was appointed budget director in Johnson's administration last month."
Meanwhile, Vanessa Swales reports on the three contenders for Milwaukee County Sheriff.
She writes:
"Chief Deputy Denita Ball, Inspector and Commander of the Investigative Services Bureau Brian Barkow and sheriff's Capt. Thomas Beal all made a June 1 deadline to register for the race, file for candidacy and submit their nomination paper signatures. With no Republicans on the ballot the Democratic primary will effectively choose the next sheriff.
A fond farewell and a new arrival
We've got some changes in the Journal Sentinel's political team.
Patrick Marley, who for 18 years has covered all the twists and turns of state government in Wisconsin, is joining the Washington Post.
Patrick will be based in Madison and serve as the Post's democracy reporter for the Upper Midwest.
Lawrence Andrea is the Journal Sentinel's new political reporter in Washington, D.C., covering the state's Congressional delegation. Andrea is a University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate and former Journal Sentinel intern who covered public safety for the Indianapolis Star.
Around the horn
Tony Evers raises LGBTQ flag over Capitol for Pride Month, but his Republican opponents may not do the same.
Whistleblower complaint accuses City Attorney Tearman Spencer's office of anti-police bias, losing cases on purpose.
Milwaukee Common Council approves a framework for the 2024 Republican National Convention, a key step in being named host city.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin says any gun reform agreement in Congress will not be "particularly ambitious."
Wisconsin Supreme Court rules in favor of releasing data on COVID outbreaks at businesses after two-year public records battle.
Tweet of the week
Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has some thoughts on Thursday's opening of the January 6 committee hearings: "Fox News won't air the January 6 hearings because they prefer their sedition made fresh on-site."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Democrats challenge Tim Michels; GOP leaders face primaries
