… still fighting (and losing) yesterday’s battles!
The Republican Party of Wisconsin is cracking down on anti-Vos election deniers and took a sideways slap at Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA, which is seen as attempting a hostile takeover. RPW announced an emergency change in bylaws Monday, coming after the fractious 8th Congressional District caucus in Green Bay April 5. (“Our own worst enemy”)
The bylaw changes allow the state party to remove party leaders at all levels who “undermine the party’s mission of electing Republicans to office.”
Prohibited actions include engaging in harassment, publicly defaming party officials or volunteers, undermining Republican candidates post-primary, misusing party data or finances, using social media in conflict with the party mission, or pursuing personal agendas contrary to party goals.
Turning Point USA member Hilario DeLeon chairman of the Milwaukee County GOP, blasted back at the state party. “They decided it’s better to get rid of the resistance. … They want to purge … to make it impossible to speak out against the party.”
The discord erupted after a disheartening loss to ultra-progressive Susan Crawford for state supreme court despite — or because of — endorsements by President Trump and Elon Musk.
“It’s time to take back our state party,” DeLeon said in a social media post.
‘Destroying the country’
In a podcast for something called “Badger State Resistance,” a failed secretary of state candidate singled out Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and state party chairman Brian Schimming. “They do not want outsiders to tell them how things are to be done. … They just want to follow the marching orders from the national heads on how to destroy this country.” The podcaster, Justin Schmidtka, describes himself as “a true patriot.”
“We have an entire legislature that is beholden to one man because they are worried about losing their seats. We have a state senate that is the same thing. … I’ve never seen Republicans act like such Democrats.”
As leader of Assembly Republicans, Vos pulled the staff help from Reps. Janelle Brandtjen and Tim Ramthun, two of the state’s most insistent 2020 election deniers.
→ “Ramthun wanted to punch Vos after [election] decertification meeting”
After hiring Mike Gableman to investigate Trump’s loss in Wisconsin, Vos fired the former state justice after Gableman came up bupkis and then endorsed election-denier Adam Steen, who had challenged Vos for re-election. Gableman’s law license was recently revoked for unprofessional conduct.
Election denial runs deep
Three county parties apparently funneled money to an independent challenge Steen waged against Speaker Vos after losing the primary election.
Wisconsin Ethics Commission had recommended that felony charges be brought against Brandtjen and others for allegedly laundering campaign contributions through three county parties to support Steen. County parties can make unlimited donations, whereas candidate campaigns must impose individual donation limits. Several district attorneys declined to prosecute, however.
Ken Sikora, elected chairman of the 8th District in that raucous caucus, also weighed in. “Instead of looking at the mistakes … maybe hiring some new leadership and learning how to win, it’s better to get rid of the resistance … to cleanse the party of us. … they want to purge.”
‘Obsessing on election fraud’
As quoted by Urban Milwaukee, Sawyer County GOP chairman John Righeimer warned that “Republican county parties in Wisconsin are at risk from being “over-indexed on national issues, and focusing on the past, such as obsessing on election fraud.”
Because Donald Trump HIMSELF can’t let it go. First he fired cybersecurity chief Chris Krebs, who sinned against Trump by attesting to the integrity of the 2020 election. Then the President ordered his Justice Department to investigate Krebs.
Schmidtka put in a plug for the Charlie Kirk organization: “Turning Point has come with proven results in bringing the young vote.” Badger State Resistance claims 162,000 followers but does not publicly list them by name.
Turning Point employee Brett Galaszewski was elected to the GOP’s state executive committee from Milwaukee’s 5th Congressional District. The chairman of the Dane County party, Brandon Maly, is also Turning Point. Progressive supreme court candidate Susan Crawford overwhelmed conservative Brad Schimel 74.6% to 25.4% in Milwaukee County and 81.7% to 18.3% in Dane County.
Blaska’s Bottom Line: What do Adam Steen, Janel Brandtjen, Timothy Ramthun have in common? They all suffered election defeats after denying Trump’s 2020 loss. Justin Schmidka — who knows how to get it done — lost his primary race, getting only 13.8% of the Republican vote.
9 responses to “WI Republican minority stuck in reverse”
Who is your leader?
Don’t blame me, I voted for Kodos.
He does whatever Mayor Cheezewhiz tells him to do.
Dave–very simple to me. And I’ve been over this road with other Republicans: if the 2020 was stolen, WHERE IS THE PROOF? No one has any, and don’t give me any third-rate Martian BS. Even the “mighty” Dinesh D’Souza was brought low when his sketchy facts crumbled. And of course there’s still the 61 lawsuits Giuliani & co. brought that were thrown out of court, many of them by trump-appointed judges.
There’s only one kind of reality, and we all have to live in it.
Trump voters created their own self-inflicted reality. Fortunately, not all of us have to live in it.
Anonymous, I’m still waiting for proof to substantiate your statement that Musk is going to eliminate Medicare and social security.
I have no idea what republicans stand for.
Fetal murder act, name it for what it is, roe v wade sent back to states. Wi gop are rtards and said nope no exceptions. I abhor fetal murder, but i also am a believer in exceptions, instead wi gop said nope we can win without passing legislation to put on Evers desk to hold his feet to fire. To have a response if he vetoed it. Now it is too late wi will become a hell hole forever. In 2 years i will leave the state to redder pastures. Please note since walkers initial budget, state has had 6 budget cycles of surplusses. That will be over by next cycle caused by Ltards.
Wow not a rhino or trump bash. Madison is a lost city. It is full on commie all decision are commie. You adore reagan, please speak about him. You are so blinded by the light. I get baited into arguments at pubs and places in dane county it sucks. I have to say stop it.