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Tim Michels, the Republican pacesetter for Wisconsin’s gubernatorial race, made headlines on Tuesday when he alluded to decertifying the state’s 2020 presidential election.
In an interview, the Trump-backed candidate told WKOW-TV that he would “need to see the details” when asked if he would sign legislation to overturn the 2020 results.
The timing of the question falls on the heels of the state Supreme Court’s decision to outlaw ballot drop boxes last week. The ruling is a major win for election integrity, which is a key issue for Michels.
On his campaign page, Michels states, “I’m pledging that as governor, addressing the election mess will be among the first things I do on my very first day in office.”
Accordingly, the court’s majority opinion does not create new voter laws but enforces the existing jurisprudence that governs how Wisconsin elections should be conducted.
Furthermore, state statutes mandate that absentee ballots be delivered by hand to the clerk or the clerk’s official representative. In response, President Trump published a scathing message about the Wisconsin legislature for “cheating and irregularities.” Emphatically, the 45th president exclaimed that the “Democrats now lost Wisconsin” before calling the 2020 election the “Big Lie.”
Moreover, Trump declared that the court’s 4-3 ruling meant that Joe Biden lost the state and the 2020 election. “This means I won the very closely contested (not actually!) Wisconsin Presidential race because they used these corrupt and scandal-ridden Scam Boxes,” he stated.
Expanding upon his point, Michels told reporters that he has to get “sworn in as governor first” and then work with the state legislature before any action could proceed.
Although the primary election is a crowded race, Michels can find solace in Trump’s endorsement record. The real estate expert boasts a long streak of winning candidates in this year’s political cycle. The Wisconsin primary election will be held on Aug. 9, 2022.