Construction executive Tim Michels has won the Republican nomination for governor in Wisconsin, and will face incumbent Democrat Governor Tony Evers in November.
Michels, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, beat out former Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, as well as State Assemblyman Tim Ramthun.
The race was called by the Associated Press with 75% of the vote in at 10:35 p.m CDT. Michels was in the lead by over 20,000 votes with 47% of the vote. Kleefisch finished second with 43%, and Ramthun took 5.5%.
Michels had strong performances around the state, especially in rural areas, while Kleefisch generally did better in more suburban areas like Dane and Milwaukee counties, though Michels remained competitive in those areas.
“I am running for governor because I am very concerned about the direction that the country is heading and extremely concerned about the lack of leadership from Governor Evers here in Wisconsin,” Michels told The Daily Wire last month when asked why he was running for governor.
Michels was endorsed by former President Donald Trump and former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson. Kleefisch, his top rival, brought in endorsements from former Governor Scott Walker, former Vice President Mike Pence, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.
“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,” Trump said in his endorsement. “Tim is an America First Conservative who Supports our Second Amendment, Honors our Brave Law Enforcement and First Responders, and Stands Strongly against the Woke Mob trying to destroy our Country.”
Michels was in the Army for 12 years before leaving as a major and said the company that he runs, Michel’s Corporation, currently employs about 8,000 people. He said he was honored to receive Trump’s endorsement.
“People are tired with politics as usual, tired of career politicians, they want an outsider, they want a businessman,” Michels told The Daily Wire in July. “That’s what I bring to this race.”
Throughout the campaign, Michels has said that he will turn Madison “upside down,” decrease the influence of lobbying on state politics, uphold Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban, end “unmanned ballot boxes,” and end the Wisconsin Election Commission. At a debate last month, he also said that he would support paid family leave, a unique policy for a Republican politician.
He also has made education reform and ensuring that Critical Race Theory is not taught in Wisconsin schools a major component of his campaign.
The November election is expected to be tight, and the governor’s race has been labeled as a “toss up” by the Cook Political Report.