Welcome to this week’s Midterm Exam (part one) — complete with tidbits and stories from races around the country.
Extensive midterm coverage, and more detailed reports, can be found here.
Now, we’ll go over some governor and Senate races from Arizona and Wisconsin … why? Why not!
Peter Thiel, Doug Ducey Fundraise For Blake Masters in Arizona
Tech mogul Peter Thiel and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey joined Republican U.S. Senate candidate Blake Masters for a fundraiser in Paradise Valley, Arizona, on Tuesday. Masters has struggled in the money game after the McConnell-aligned Senate Leadership Fund pulled out of Arizona. Thiel heavily financed Masters’ primary run, but has so far refused to repeat that kind of backing in the general election against Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly.
Trump To Rally In Arizona
Former President Donald Trump will hold a rally for Kari Lake, Blake Masters, and other Republicans running for office in Arizona. The rally is set to take place in Mesa, Arizona, on Sunday.
Tavern Owners Slam Evers, Back Michels
The Tavern League of Wisconsin has endorsed Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels while slamming Democrat Governor Tony Evers for COVID restrictions they say harmed their livelihoods.
“We need to get back on track, we need to get everybody rolling in the right direction and keep it going and not get shut down ever again unless it needs to be, and I will tell you Tim Michels is our guy,” said bar-owner and league executive board member Keith Koehler.
The Tavern League took aim at Evers’ directive in 2020 that businesses were only allowed to permit one quarter occupancy because of COVID. Michels and the League had an event in Baraboo to announce the endorsement.
“I’m proud to have earned the support of these Capitalists, these risk takers, who sacrifice and work hard to chase their American Dream,” Michels tweeted. “Big Government edicts during COVID. Governor Evers’ illegal shutdown orders pushed many past the brink. Those that survived now face a labor shortage and runaway inflation. But, November 8th is near. Help is on the way.”
Never-Trumpers Back Democrat Wisconsin Governor For Re-Election
The so-called “Republican Accountability PAC,” headed by never-Trumpers Bill Kristol and Sarah Longwell, is spending $1 million to oppose Michels, a construction executive who is backed by Trump.
Longwell, a publisher of the Bulwark, claims that Michels is “extreme” and an “election denier.”
The announcement comes amid a tight race for governor that will be monumental for control of the purple state. Evers, who narrowly defeated then-Governor Scott Walker in 2018, has been able to block much of the legislative initiatives of Republicans, who control the state Assembly and Senate, and are expected to retain that control.
If elected, Michels could sign legislation in the state regarding school choice, election integrity, abortion, and other critical issues.
Johnson For The Win?
After months of outlets declaring incumbent Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) as one of the most vulnerable seats for Republicans to hold onto in November, Johnson appears to be taking the lead, according to several polls.
At the same time, Democrat Senate candidate Mandela Barnes has claimed that he has hauled in $20 million in third-quarter fundraising, easily the most money his campaign has raised so far.
Ultimately, the race will likely come down to whether voters are more motivated by abortion, which Barnes has focused on, or crime and inflation, which has been Johnson’s emphasis.
Stay tuned for part two on Friday.