This week, we have a two-part exam for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe-plus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Wire readers</a>. There&#8217;s a lot going on in this <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/voting">election cycle</a>, and we&#8217;ll hit all the top news once or twice a week so you don&#8217;t miss a thing as we approach <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/2022-midterms">Election Day 2022</a>. Thanks for reading.
Liz Cheney Thinks She&#8217;s The Second Coming Of Lincoln Or Something
Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY) got <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ben-shapiro-helps-liz-cheney-make-sense-of-her-blowout-loss-in-wyoming-primary">manhandled</a> in the primary by the Trump-backed Harriet Hageman, but for some reason the January 6 Committee member believes that running for the presidency in 2024 is still a possibility.
In the name of truth and protecting democracy, Cheney <a href="https://deadline.com/2022/08/liz-cheney-2022-midterms-1235094129/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also vowed</a> to do &#8220;whatever it takes&#8221; to block former President Donald Trump from ever returning to federal office. Of course, in doing she revealed that she is comfortable with undermining both truth and the will of the people if it means blocking Trump from, presumably, the oval office.
In her concession speech, also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/liz-cheney-goes-nuts-after-losing-election-compares-herself-to-abraham-lincoln-and-gets-torched" target="_blank" rel="noopener">compared</a> herself to President Abraham Lincoln.
In unrelated news, here&#8217;s the definition for &#8220;<a href="https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/delusions-grandeur#:~:text=Delusions%2C%20or%20false%20beliefs%2C%20comes,it%20%E2%80%9Cillusions%E2%80%9D%20of%20grandeur." target="_blank" rel="noopener">delusions of grandeur</a>.&#8221;
Speaking Of 2024, Is Youngkin A Dark Horse Candidate?
Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) raised some eyebrows and provoked murmurings that the political newcomer is considering a 2024 presidential bid after it was <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/virginia-gov-glenn-youngkin-continues-summer-campaign-swing-michigan-rcna43330" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that he would be headlining a major Michigan GOP convention dinner at the end of August. Youngkin has never indicated any desire to seek national office, but he has also avoided denying the idea.
He will also be campaigning on behalf of the Wolverine&#8217;s State&#8217;s GOP gubernatorial nominee, Tudor Dixon. The political-outsider-turned-governor has also traveled to Colorado and Nebraska on behalf of fellow GOP candidates.
Michigan Pro-Choice Crowd Hits Road Block With Ballot Initiative 
A ballot initiative to enshrine abortion rights in the Michigan Constitution is being <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/16/michigan-abortion-rights-ballot-initiative-errors/10335931002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/16/michigan-abortion-rights-ballot-initiative-errors/10335931002/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660843519116000&amp;usg=AOvVaw12yJtA11p1hoqgu-LrN_Ki">challenged</a> by a group alleging that the proposal&#8217;s text has formatting errors that render it unreadable.
Citizens to Support MI Women and Children say they found 43 &#8220;serious errors&#8221; in the proposal that make it read like &#8220;a string of gibberish.&#8221;
The ballot initiative, led by the ACLU and Planned Parenthood, is set to go before voters in November after reaching more than 750,000 signatures. Democrats in the state, especially Governor Gretchen Whitmer, have been pushing to make abortion a top issue for voters in the November election.
John Fetterman Speech Raises Concerns About His Health
Following in the footsteps of President Joe Biden, Pennsylvania Lt. Governor and Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman stumbled his way through one of his first public general election campaign speeches. Fetterman experienced a stroke days before the primary election in May and is now attempting a return to the campaign trail. Yet he repeated words and lost his train of thought several times.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
John Fetterman is not okay. <a href="https://t.co/3xiQwiBaT3">pic.twitter.com/3xiQwiBaT3</a>
&mdash; Greg Price (@greg_price11) <a href="https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1559000551576244226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Senate campaign has descended into a bizarre meme war. Fetterman started it during his months in recovery, and now Dr. Mehmet Oz, his Republican rival, is trying to shoot back. Yet Oz&#8217;s memes, it must be admitted, have leaned more toward cringe than based.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
He’s the most radical candidate in the country. <a href="https://t.co/Z2jr8yowos">pic.twitter.com/Z2jr8yowos</a>
&mdash; Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrOz/status/1559241511170183169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This one is far better. 👇🏽<a href="https://t.co/6irLtbZTQH">https://t.co/6irLtbZTQH</a>
&mdash; Kim C (@KimC15768279) <a href="https://twitter.com/KimC15768279/status/1559243701372588033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Wisconsin Senator Secures Key Endorsement 
Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) won the endorsement of the National Border Control Council this week in his race against his Left-wing opponent, Wisconsin Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes (D-WI).
The group told the Washington Free Beacon that Johnson &#8220;has devoted more time and attention to securing our border than virtually any other member of Congress.&#8221;
The endorsement should come as no surprise as Johnson has long made border security one of his central issues and Barnes has flirted with open borders extremism.
He was once photographed holding an &#8220;Abolish ICE&#8221; t-shirt though he has since said he does not support that movement.
To that extent, in a humorous note, the Wisconsin Republican Party recently <a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/09/ron-johnson-south-park-democrats-mandela-barnes-republicans-wisconsin-senate-election-2022/10283724002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/09/ron-johnson-south-park-democrats-mandela-barnes-republicans-wisconsin-senate-election-2022/10283724002/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660844775727000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0ZH40xwyWQJkfr1NBH4pOE">revealed</a> that they had bought up the domain name <a href="http://mandelabarnesforsenate.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://mandelabarnesforsenate.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660844775727000&amp;usg=AOvVaw08gzqs2jhPS9Tes6vMQK1d">mandelabarnesforsenate.com</a>.
The page links to a page detailing the Senator&#8217;s Left-wing leanings and features that exact picture of Barnes holding up the infamous t-shirt.
Meanwhile, both senate candidates have continued to hit the campaign trail this week with Barnes posting pictures from a farm and declaring this week that he would be the 51st vote to &#8220;protect our democracy.&#8221;
Johnson has spent the week visiting local Republican groups, attending the state fair, and did a joint campaign event with Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels. The Wisconsin Republican also put out an ad this week discussing his work to help start a manufacturing company in Oshkosh with his brother-in-law.
Top Oregon Democrat Endorses Republican Christine Drazan For Governor 
In a somewhat surprising move, George Carillo, a Democrat who ran in the Democratic gubernatorial primary <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/George_Carrillo" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ballotpedia.org/George_Carrillo&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660843520420000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1V_by_3PlyY8DtZC67hLvu">race</a> this year, is throwing his support behind GOP gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan.
&#8220;At the end of the day, I don&#8217;t see Christine just as a Republican, and she doesn&#8217;t see me just as a Democrat. We see each other as two individuals trying to do good for Oregonians.&#8221; Carillo <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=358775392982364">said</a>.&#8221;I&#8217;m supporting Christine Drazan because I believe her values align with mine as far as being able to make the community safer for tomorrow.&#8221;
We do not expect Carillo to earn any praise from legacy media for putting &#8220;country over party&#8221; or whatever they glom on about &#8220;Republicans&#8221; like Wyoming&#8217;s ousted-representative Cheney.
&nbsp;

Midterm stock photo.

MIDTERM EXAM: All The Latest On The 2022 Elections (Part One)

2022 Midterms

Michigan

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Construction executive Tim Michels has won the Republican nomination for governor in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/wisconsin">Wisconsin</a>, and will face incumbent Democrat Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tony-evers">Tony Evers</a> in November.
Michels, who was endorsed by former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, beat out former Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, as well as State Assemblyman Tim Ramthun. 
The race was <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Politics/status/1557209172105633792">called</a> by the Associated Press with 75% of the vote in at 10:35 p.m CDT. Michels <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/08/09/us/elections/results-wisconsin.html?action=click&amp;pgtype=Article&amp;state=default&amp;module=styln-elections-2022&amp;region=TOP_BANNER&amp;context=election_recirc">was</a> 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 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/these-4-republicans-are-hoping-to-oust-wisconsin-democrat-governor-tony-evers-in-november">told</a> 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 <a href="https://www.wispolitics.com/2022/save-america-pac-statement-by-donald-j-trump-45th-president-of-the-united-states-of-america-2/">said</a> 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 <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/print/ratings/races/governor">labeled</a> as a “toss up” by the Cook Political Report.

GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Tim Michels Votes On Wisconsin Primary Day

Trump-Backed Construction Executive Tim Michels Wins Wisconsin Governor Primary

2022 Election

Donald Trump

Tony Evers

Republican voters in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/wisconsin">Wisconsin</a> head to the polls on Tuesday to choose their gubernatorial nominee to take on incumbent Democratic Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tony-evers">Tony Evers</a> in what is expected to be a tightly contested race. 
Polls from the Badger State indicate that the nomination will likely go to former Wisconsin Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch or construction executive Tim Michels. Two polls released in the last week show the difference in support between the two candidates within the margin of error. 
An August <a href="https://www.thetrafalgargroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/WI-Gov-GOP-0808-Poll-Report.pdf">poll</a> of likely Republican voters from Trafalgar showed Michels with a razor-thin lead, taking 43.8% to Kleefisch’s 43.4%. State Assemblyman Tim Ramthun came in third with 7.5% of the vote. 
Another <a href="https://emersoncollegepolling.com/wisconsin-2022-kleefisch-with-slight-edge-over-michels-in-tight-race-for-gop-nomination/">poll</a> of Republican primary voters from Emerson College had Kleefisch with 36%, Michels with 34%, Ramthun with 8%, and 14% undecided. With such a close margin between the top two candidates, those undecided voters will likely determine the outcome of the race. 
“There is a clear regional divide for Wisconsin Republican voters,” said Spencer Kimball, Executive Director of Emerson College Polling. “Kleefisch holds a 21-point lead over Michels among suburban Wisconsin voters, whereas Michels has a similar margin over Kleefisch among rural voters, leading by 15 points.” 
On Tuesday, Michels referenced the raid of former President Donald Trump&#8217;s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida in his pitch to voters on Twitter. 
“We woke up this morning to stakes even higher than we ever thought. Do we want a government of the people or a government targeting the people? Your vote today is the first step in fighting back. That’s what I just did,” he <a href="https://twitter.com/michelsforgov/status/1557005943870787584?cxt=HHwWgMC42YKqzJsrAAAA">said</a>.
Kleefisch pointed voters to a directory about finding their polling place and urged them to cast their ballots for her. 
&#8220;It’s Election Day and I’m asking for your vote! Head to the polls, cast your ballot, and remind your friends and family to vote Rebecca for Governor,” she <a href="https://twitter.com/RebeccaforReal/status/1556982543370559490">tweeted</a>. 
The race will also test the endorsement power of former President Trump, who is backing Michels. At a rally in Waukesha on Friday, Trump <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/tight-tense-wisconsin-gop-governor-race-kleefisch-michels-close-brawl-rcna41952">said</a> Kleefisch was the “handpicked candidate of the failed establishment, the RINOs, the Washington swamp.”
Michels has positioned himself as the outsider candidate, earlier this year <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wisconsin-governor-candidate-introduces-plan-to-drain-the-madison-swamp">introducing</a> a plan to “Drain the Madison Swamp” and promising to turn the state&#8217;s capital city “upside down.”
Kleefisch has been backed by former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), and former Governor Scott Walker (R-WI). She has pointed to her experience and work with Walker saying that she is the trusted conservative candidate.
“There is no candidate for governor in America that is more capable, more experienced or a more proven conservative than Rebecca Kleefisch,” Pence said last week. 
Ramthun, who has garnered endorsements from businessman Mike Lindell and the group Pro-Life Wisconsin, has made election integrity the top issue of his campaign. 
The winner of the Republican nomination will take on Evers in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/2022-election">November</a>.
Wisconsin voters will also choose their nominees for Senate, though those races have effectively been determined. Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes (D-WI) has seen Democrat support consolidate around him as his major rivals have all dropped out and now support his campaign. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) is also on the ballot and expected to easily claim the Republican nomination in his race for a third term.

USA, Wisconsin, Madison, State Capitol Building

Wisconsin Republican Governor Primary Race Expected To Come Down To The Wire

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/wisconsin">Wisconsin</a> Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes (D) has racked up over half a million dollars in security costs in two years, according to public records. 
According to records <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/wisconsin-dem-senate-candidate-spent-nearly-600k-police-detail-cozying-defund-police-movement">obtained</a> by Fox News, state taxpayers footed a $587,281 security bill for Barnes, who is now running for the Democratic nomination to unseat incumbent Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ron-johnson">Ron Johnson</a> (R-WI) in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/2022-election">November</a>. Barnes, who says he does not support defunding the police, has received support from groups and leaders critical of law enforcement. 
Barnes was provided with a police detail for 8,868 regular hours, 4,900 of overtime hours, and 203 holiday hours, Fox News reported. The money was spent on security for Barnes over a period of almost two years, from January 7, 2019 until November 6, 2021. 
This hefty price tag for Barnes&#8217; security was larger than his predecessor, Rebecca Kleefisch, who is now running for the Republican nomination for governor. During his first two months in Madison, he had nine times more hours of security protection than Kleefisch did in her last year in office, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2a8e4fcd97a247de8a501d195e21c5a8">according to</a> the Associated Press. 
State officials at the time said the increase was a decision of the Wisconsin State Patrol, while Wisconsin Republican Party spokesman Charles Nichols accused Barnes of using “the State Patrol as his own personal chauffeur service.”
The Daily Wire reached out to the Barnes campaign for comment. 
The Senate candidate has faced <a href="https://archive.ph/F74Ev">scrutiny</a> over his positions on law enforcement because of the leftist groups backing his campaign and his ties to politicians like Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). 
In 2020, he <a href="https://pbswisconsin.org/news-item/noon-wednesday-communities-chart-course-to-address-racism/">criticized</a> “over bloated budgets in police departments” and was photographed in 2018 holding a “Abolish ICE” shirt. Barnes has said that he does not support defunding the police, but his ties to Left-wing groups remain.
&#8220;Not completely done away with. We need to invest more in neighborhood services and programming for our residents, for our communities on the front end. Where will that money come from? Well, it can come from over bloated budgets in police departments,&#8221; Barnes said during an interview with PBS Wisconsin when asked if he agreed with completely defunding police departments.
Groups <a href="https://www.wispolitics.com/2021/center-for-popular-democracy-action-endorses-mandela-barnes-for-u-s-senate/">backing</a> <a href="https://workingfamilies.org/2021/07/wi-wfp-endorses-mandela-barnes-for-senate/">Barnes</a> that support <a href="https://twitter.com/CPDAction/status/1395019920044396549">defunding</a> the police include the <a href="https://twitter.com/CPDAction/status/1395019920044396549">Center for Popular Democracy</a> and the <a href="https://twitter.com/workingfamilies/status/1267078490945437696?lang=en">Working Families Party</a>. However, a spokeswoman for the Barnes campaign said in February that he had not necessarily endorsed the positions of the groups supporting him. 
&#8220;These groups are endorsing the lieutenant governor, not the other way around,&#8221; said Maddy McDaniel. 
Barnes became the presumptive Democrat nominee last week after his major opponents, including on-leave Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry and State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, dropped out. 
The primary is on August 9.
A previous version of this article previous incorrectly said Barnes was pictured with a &#8220;Defund ICE&#8221; t-shirt, he was pictured with an &#8220;Abolish ICE&#8221; t-shirt.

US-POLITICS-VOTE-DEMOCRATS

Senate Candidate Critical Of ‘Over Bloated’ Police Budgets Has Expensive Police Security Bill

Senate Candidate Critical Of 'Over Bloated' Police Budgets Has Expensive Police Security Bill

Defund The Police

Ron Johnson

Governors <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tony-evers">Tony Evers</a> (D-WI) and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/gretchen-whitmer">Gretchen Whitmer</a> (D-MI) announced plans this week with two other Midwest states to design a scenic route along Lake Michigan for electric vehicles (EVs), which currently make up less than <a href="https://graphics.reuters.com/AUTOS-ELECTRIC/USA/mopanyqxwva/">1% of all vehicles</a> on the road in the U.S.
The 1,100-mile route near the Great Lake’s shoreline is being heralded as an “eco-tourism attraction” and will include numerous EV charging stations to make the scenic drive convenient for EV owners. The so-called “electric Route 66” will connect major cities and tourist attractions, such as Chicago, Milwaukee, and Traverse City, Michigan.
Evers celebrated the plan as a win for the environment. “Making our beautiful coastal communities not only more accessible to EVs but protecting them through lower emissions is a win-win for Wisconsin,” the Wisconsin governor <a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/325c3ad">said</a>. “We’re proud to support this multi-state partnership as we work to implement our first-ever Clean Energy Plan and continue our efforts to bolster Wisconsin&#8217;s tourism industry.”
Evers and Whitmer will join forces with J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) and Eric Holcomb (R-IN) on the project dubbed the “Lake Michigan EV Circuit Tour” that could cost up to $4 million.
In a previously signed <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/leo/-/media/Project/Websites/leo/Lake_MI_Circuit_MOUdocx1.pdf">Memorandum of Understanding</a>, the four neighboring states said that one of the objectives of the EV route was to “support organizations to build, maintain, and encourage use of a robust EV tourism attraction around Lake Michigan.”
Michigan’s Democratic governor first announced the “Lake Michigan EV Circuit Tour&#8221; last September at the Mackinac Policy Conference. At the time, the project was estimated to cost between $3.5 and $4 million, <a href="https://www.govtech.com/fs/multi-state-partnership-to-bring-ev-circuit-to-lake-michigan">according</a> to GovTech.com.
Whitmer said the EV route will help bolster the state’s economy and provide more jobs for autoworkers while giving EV drivers the option to travel longer distances.
“Today, Michigan is proud to lead the Lake Michigan Electric Vehicle Circuit Tour, a partnership between fellow Midwestern states to grow our economy, create more good-paying jobs, and lead the future of mobility and electrification,” Whitmer <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/press-releases/2022/08/03/whitmer-announces-michigan-joining-three-other-midwest-states-to-build-lake-michigan-ev-circuit">said</a> in a statement released Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Michigan’s largest employer, Ford, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ford-plans-to-cut-8000-jobs-so-it-can-fund-ev-push-report">reportedly</a> preparing last month to cut thousands of jobs to help the company fund its EV projects. It was unclear how many of those cuts would affect Michigan-based jobs.
In March, Ford admitted that its EV project would not be profitable until at least 2025 when its next generation models come out. Ford CEO Jim Farley also said at a conference in February that EV portfolios were “under-earning.”

Electric Vehicle

‘Electric Route 66’: Midwest Governors Collaborating On Scenic Road Trip Circuit Designed For EVs

Midwest Governors Collaborating On Scenic Road Trip Circuit For Electric Vehicles

electric vehicles

Gretchen Whitmer

Illinois

Indiana

JB Pritzker

Democrats Go All In On Abortion After Kansas Pro-Life Referendum Fails
Kansas voters rejected a referendum that would have <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article263832087.html">removed</a> the right to abortion from the state’s constitution by an 18 point margin. In reaction, President Joe Biden stated that the vote was a mandate from the American people to codify Roe v. Wade and protect the right to abortion nationwide.
&#8220;This vote makes clear what we know: the majority of Americans agree that women should have access to abortion and should have the right to make their own health care decisions,&#8221; Biden <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/08/02/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-defeat-of-kansas-ballot-measure-threatening-womens-right-to-abortion/">said</a> in a statement after the election results were announced.
&#8220;Congress should listen to the will of the American people and restore the protections of Roe as federal law,” Biden added.
In Michigan, Another GOP Rep Who Voted For Trump’s Impeachment Loses
Representative Peter Meijer (R-MI) <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/elections/results/2022-08-02/state/michigan/">lost</a> his primary battle in Michigan’s 3rd District against John Gibbs, a political appointee who served in former President Donald Trump’s Housing and Urban Development agency and earned the endorsement of Trump. Meijer was one of ten House Republicans to vote for Trump’s impeachment following the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Six out of ten of those Republicans have either retired from Congress or lost primary challenges.
Former two-time U.S. Senate candidate John James handily won Michigan&#8217;s GOP primary for a U.S. House seat. He will go on to face Democrat nominee Carl Marlinga in a newly redrawn district.
In the Wolverine State’s gubernatorial race, Trump-backed Tudor Dixon also proved victorious in the Republican primary. Dixon also was backed by the state&#8217;s party&#8217;s establishment. Dixon will now face incumbent Democrat Gretchen Whitmer in the general election, dubbing her “the queen of lockdowns.”
“Frankly Michigan, we deserve better,” Dixon <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-michigan-a1a3ec1327ea5d8795812ae2ef255963">said</a> during her victory speech. “Now we have the opportunity to truly hold Gretchen Whitmer accountable for the pain she has inflicted on each and every one of us during the past four years.”
Masters Wins In Arizona, Governor’s Race Too Close To Call
Blake Masters, a Trump-endorsed Silicon Valley entrepreneur, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/primary-election-results-august-2-az-ks-mo-mi-wa">knocked off</a> Attorney General Mark Brnovich and businessman Jim Lamon in Arizona&#8217;s widely watched GOP Senate primary election. Masters — a strong supporter of Trump’s America First agenda — ran on strong borders, taking on Big Tech, and supporting the right to life while creating an economy that allows Americans to raise a family on one income.
Meanwhile, the race for Arizona’s gubernatorial race is too close to call, but the MAGA candidate Kari Lake holds a lead over Taylor Robson. Former Vice President Mike Pence endorsed Robson. Trump endorsed Lake, and the election has been viewed as a quasi-proxy war between Pence and Trump.
Cheney Lands Hollywood Endorsement
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/liz-cheney-touts-support-from-yellowstone-actor-kevin-costner-ahead-of-primary">touted</a> a recent endorsement from Hollywood actor Kevin Costner, but it is doubtful that the “Yellowstone” star will attract any new supporters to her campaign. Costner supported Pete Buttigieg in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary and then-candidate Joe Biden in the presidential election.
Polls indicate that Cheney will likely lose by a wide margin to her Trump-endorsed challenger Harriet Hageman. Hageman is up by 20 points over the January 6 Committee member, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/08/02/1115267074/how-liz-cheneys-attempt-to-get-re-elected-as-wyomings-member-of-the-house-is-goi">according</a> to one set of data.
Based on recent press comments, Cheney has not ruled out a 2024 run for president.
“At this point, I haven’t made a decision on 2024 …. I’ll make a decision on 2024 down the road,” Cheney <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/3572066-cheney-reiterates-she-hasnt-decided-on-running-for-president-in-2024/">said</a> on CNN’s “State of The Union.&#8221;
Crime Takes Center Place In Nevada
Nevada Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak is accusing his GOP opponent, Sheriff Joe Lombardo, of overseeing a crime and homicide surge in Clark County.
Sisolak <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/nevada-gov-sisolak-hits-joe-lombardo-crime-new-ad-rcna40479">released</a> an ad last week harping on the point and referencing Trump&#8217;s claim that Nevada is a &#8220;cesspool&#8221; of crime. Sisolak&#8217;s ad also says that the state spends more than any other on law enforcement as a percent of its budget.
For his part, Lombardo is throwing the crime issue back at Sisolak, claiming that Nevada State Police is short-staffed and that is causing problems, such as long waits on the freeway.
Lombardo is also hitting Sisolak for staying silent on Clark County Judge Erika Ballou&#8217;s &#8220;anti-police&#8221; comments. Lombardo has called for Ballou&#8217;s resignation for implying that police officers are racist.
“You’re the one making the decisions not to walk away from cops,” Ballou <a href="https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2022/07/21/judges-comments-reflect-reality-say-civil-rights-leaders/">said</a> to one defendant. “You’re a black man in America. You know you don’t want to be nowhere where cops are.”
“You know you don’t want to be nowhere where cops are because I know I don’t, and I’m a middle-aged, middle-class black woman,” the judge added. “I don’t want to be around where the cops are because I don’t know if I&#8217;m going to walk away alive or not.”
Lombardo and Sisolak will face off against each other in the first gubernatorial debate on October 18.
Early Voting Starts In Alaska
Early voting <a href="https://alaskapublic.org/2022/08/02/early-voting-has-started-in-alaskas-august-elections-heres-what-to-know/">started</a> Monday for the race that includes former Republican Governor Sarah Palin seeking to return to politics in a House special election to replace the deceased Representative Don Young (R-AK).
Palin, Republican Nick Begich III, and Democrat Mary Peltola face off in a ranked-choice battle.
Wisconsin Dems Rally Around Leftist Senate Candidate, GOP Gubernatorial Primary Days Away
This past week, Wisconsin Democrats <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/07/29/sarah-godlewski-suspends-wisconsin-senate-campaign-endorses-barnes-00048717">consolidated</a> behind leftist Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes, who is running to challenge incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson. State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, on-leave Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry, and county executive Tom Nelson dropped out of the race and endorsed Barnes. He is also supported by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Johnson responded to the recent news of Godlewski dropping out by <a href="https://twitter.com/RonJohnsonWI/status/1553020221576777729?s=20&amp;t=NVFlACYrCrwBVbIiFQ_Gqw">tweeting</a>: &#8220;Showing their lack of respect for voters and the democratic process, the power brokers of the Democrat party have now cleared the field for their most radical left candidate. Socialist policies have produced this mess, &amp; a radical left Senator from Wisconsin is not the solution.”
“I won’t be lectured about respecting voters by a pro-insurrectionist Senator,” Barnes said in response.
The Badger State&#8217;s Republican primary is less than a week away as GOP contenders attempt to connect with voters.
Candidates Tim Michels, a Trump-endorsed construction executive, state Assemblyman Tim Ramthun, and former Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch answered questions from callers for a local TV station on Monday.
An interesting note is that Trump <a href="https://www.wisn.com/article/upfront-recap-trump-pence-split-front-and-center-in-gop-race-for-governor/40758116">has a Friday rally</a> in Waukesha, Wisconsin, for Michels.
Meanwhile, Pence, the state&#8217;s former GOP Governor Scott Walker, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley are expected to campaign for Kleefisch throughout the state this week.

Voting

MID-TERM EXAM: All The Latest On The 2022 Elections

Abortion

Alaska

Arizona

Kansas

Liz Cheney

Nevada

Sarah Palin

A Minnesota man who was arrested for allegedly stabbing a teenager to death and injuring four others during a tubing incident on Saturday is claiming self-defense.
Nicolae Miu, a 52-year-old mechanical engineer from Prior Lake, Minnesota, said he acted in self-defense when <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/murder-on-the-river-teen-stabbed-to-death-4-hurt-in-mystery-tubing-attack">he stabbed</a> 17-year-old Isaac Schuman to death and injured four other teens. He apparently told police after the attack that he was “so fearful” for his life, according to a police report <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/nicolae-miu-gun-loving-maga-fan-held-in-connection-with-tubing-murder-cops-say">obtained</a> by the Daily Beast.
The attack occurred on July 30 in Somerset, Wisconsin. Miu, his wife, and a group of friends had been tubing on the Apple River when one person dropped their phone in the river. Miu agreed to search for the phone using scuba gear and left his group to return to the river. While he was away from his wife and friends, Miu had an altercation with two different groups of tubers. What happened between the groups is unclear, with each telling their own side.
Miu’s Story
Miu told St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Brandie Hart that he had approached a group of people who he thought might have found his friend’s phone. He said the group got off their tubes and began “insulting” him and “produced two weapons.” He said these people hit him and that he was “so fearful” for his safety and didn’t know what the people would do to him. He said another group of mostly women then approached him and began calling him a “child molester” and he responded by saying that if he was, and they were children, then they shouldn’t be drinking alcohol.
Miu also told the lieutenant that one of his alleged attackers took the snorkel he was using to locate his friend’s phone and threw it in the river and another tried to pull down his swim trunks. He said he grabbed this person and saw the person had a knife. Miu also claimed he saw another person with a “longer knife.” Miu told the officer he took the “smaller knife” from an individual who attacked him.
“I thought that was it for me,” Miu told the lieutenant, according to the police report. “Luckily, I took it from one of the young kids.”
Miu said he twisted the arm of the person who had been holding the knife and “poked him with his own hand.” That’s when, he said, he obtained the knife and started swinging.
Hart asked Miu if he had brought a knife with him that day and he responded, “absolutely no,” other than the one he’d used earlier in the day to cut the string holding the tubes together. He said he didn’t know what happened to it but believed he “gave it to one of the people” or left it in his car.
Sondra Miu’s Story
Sondra told St. Croix County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Mitchell Schaeppi that she didn’t see what actually happened, but that she did see a group of men get off their tubes and start hitting her husband. She said she yelled and that two members of her own group ran toward Miu and the other people, but that all she heard was screaming before her husband and friends returned.
Sondra also told the deputy that Miu did have a knife with him, in his pocket, and that her husband told her the people had “grabbed it from him.”
Other Witnesses’ Stories
Other witnesses told deputy Schaeppi that they saw an older man bothering a group of teens in the river as they yelled for help. These witnesses said they saw another group of people stand between Miu and the teens before Miu punched or slapped a woman who had confronted him. Witnesses said they then saw Miu stabbing multiple people near him.
Video Of The Altercation
Footage of the altercation taken by Jawahn Cockfield was summarized in the police report. The footage showed Miu running up to the group of teens and grabbing their tubes, prompting the teens to tell him to “get away.” Miu can then be seen walking around the tubes and looking for something before walking away. He then turned back to the group and said something before again walking away. By this point, several individuals approaching Miu and yelling at him to walk away.
“In the video you can hear people expressing that ‘he was looking for little girls,’” deputy Schaeppi wrote. “A larger group of individuals converge toward the area. Multiple people were yelling at Nicolae, and it appears at least one person touched his shoulder. From the video it does appear to show people on three sides of Nicolae at different distances. The video and elapsed time shows opportunity for Nicolae to leave the confrontation.”
Miu is then confronted by two women, and a knife can allegedly be seen in Miu’s pocket with his right hand on it. It is after this conversation that Miu allegedly pulls out the knife. A commotion starts, and Miu can be seen falling back into the water, with someone slapping him in the face. Miu tries to get to his feet but is shoved back into the water again. He tries again to get out of the water but is shoved by the same individual yet again Miu then stabs the person in the abdomen while again being shoved into the water.
Miu stands up and the camera shows a young woman holding her left side and a man touching Miu’s back. Miu turns and moves his arm in a stabbing a motion. The camera also shows another woman with a wound on her torso. Miu is shoved again and reaches out in a stabbing motion once again. The knife appears to be covered in blood as Miu runs away before approaching a young man lying in the river. Miu appears to lean over the individual, and blood can be seen in the water.
Arraignment
Miu appeared in court on Monday via Zoom, where he was held on $1 million bond and ordered to wear a device that would test his blood alcohol levels throughout the day. The monitor would also alert authorities if Miu comes within half a mile of the victim’s homes.
If convicted, Miu faces life in prison.

Apple river in Wisconsin

Man Accused Of Stabbing Teen To Death In Tubing Attack Claims Self-Defense

Crime

Stabbing

A tranquil float down a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/wisconsin">Wisconsin</a> river turned tragic when a man killed a teen and stabbed four others Saturday, according to police.
The attack came as several groups were tubing down the Apple River. Police said a 52-year-old Minnesota man stabbed a 17-year-old boy to death and critically wounded four others.
&#8220;At this time we&#8217;re not sure what started this incident,&#8221; St. Croix County Sheriff Scott Knudson <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_GORvSOyLE" data-ylk="slk:said at a news conference Saturday" data-rapid_p="7" data-v9y="1">said at a news conference Saturday</a>. &#8220;It&#8217;s all believed that everybody was tubing.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Press conference: One dead, four injured after man goes on stabbing spree while tubing in Wisconsin" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N6bRUjpFGVQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The suspect fled but was identified by witnesses and taken into custody by police about an hour and a half after the incident. Members of the group gave police a photo of the suspect that had been taken at the scene, airing in his capture. Authorities did not immediately release the names of either the suspect or the victim.
The dead teen was also from Minnesota, and the surviving victims were described as one woman and three men, all in their 20s. When he was taken into custody, the suspect did not have a knife on him, and police were looking for the murder weapon.
Knudson said the suspect and victims were tubing down the river in two separate groups when the incident happened. He described the scene as &#8220;scary&#8221; and &#8220;chaotic.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m sure that anybody that witnessed this will never forget it,&#8221; he said. &#8220;So it is a tragedy.&#8221;
It was unclear whether the man and the boy knew each other. The alleged killer belonged to a group of six to eight people, Knudson said.
“He was taken into custody without incident,” Knudson said. “We don&#8217;t know yet who was connected to who, who knew each other or what precipitated it.”
Knudson said investigators were trying to interview as many as 20 people and suggested formal charges could be filed as early as Monday.
The suspect was being held in the St. Croix County Jail.
The stretch of the Apple River where the attack took place is a popular camping and tubing area near Somerset, Wisconsin, a town about 35 miles outside Minneapolis.

Screen Shot 2022-07-31 at 10.59.18 AM

Murder On The River: Teen Stabbed To Death, 4 Hurt in Mystery Tubing Attack

Murder

A basketball player for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater passed away this week after suffering a &#8220;cardiac event&#8221; while at a summer basketball practice.
&#8220;Warhawk Nation mourns the loss of Derek Gray, a student-athlete on the Warhawk men&#8217;s basketball team, who passed away unexpectedly on July 24th, 2022, playing the game he loved,&#8221; the school&#8217;s athletic department said in a statement.
&#8220;It was a cardiac event,&#8221; UW-Whitewater Men&#8217;s Basketball Coach Pat Miller <a href="https://www.wkow.com/news/coach-whitewater-basketball-players-sudden-death-cardiac-related/article_95bbf726-0e07-11ed-a5de-233e74827dab.html">told</a> local media. &#8220;He had a blockage.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Warhawk Nation mourns the loss of Derek Gray, a student-athlete on the Warhawk men&#39;s basketball team, who passed away unexpectedly on July 24th, 2022, playing the game he loved. <a href="https://t.co/gHkyMr23NP">pic.twitter.com/gHkyMr23NP</a>
&mdash; Warhawk Athletics (@UWWAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/UWWAthletics/status/1552053637014327296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“He was a great kid,” Miller said following Gray&#8217;s passing. &#8220;He was very intelligent. He and I had long talks about basketball, life and family. He was a very engaging, sincere person. He was loved by his teammates. He had an ability to connect with people. And he showed up and played hard — to do what he could for the team. There are not enough good things I can say about him. The shock of this is beyond words.”
Miller said that when Gray collapsed, he initially believed the player was experiencing a seizure.
&#8220;It was just a very surreal situation where you&#8217;re thinking, &#8216;Okay, he&#8217;s going to be all right,&#8217; and then you&#8217;re very scared and the longer it went on, it became apparent that this was extraordinarily serious,&#8221; Miller said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been around for a long time, I&#8217;ve seen a lot of different things. It was one of the most traumatic things I&#8217;ve ever been a part of.&#8221;
Gray&#8217;s high school, Madison&#8217;s La Follette High School, put out a statement remembering his time as a student athlete at the school.
&#8220;On behalf of Principal Mat [Thompson] and all [La Follette] High School Staff, it is with a profound sense of sadness that the La Follette community mourns the unexpected loss of former Lancer, Derek Gray,&#8221; Assistant Principal Cullen Haskins wrote in a statement. &#8220;Derek was a giant of La Follette basketball and Lancer athletics, and was at his best in the toughest games and most challenging moments. He was a true ‘gamer.’ His toughness and tenacity on the court will always be remembered, and his kindness and smile off the court forever missed.”
“As a well known student-athlete and basketball standout, his presence and impact on the La Follette community was far-reaching,” the statement continued. “His life, both on and off the court, had an enormous impact on all those who knew him. As we process this tremendous loss for our community, we ask you to join us in keeping Derek’s friends, teammates, and family in our thoughts.&#8221;

UW-Whitewater v Wisconsin

College Basketball Player, 20, Drops Dead From ‘Cardiac Event’

College Basketball Player Derek Gray, 20, Drops Dead From ‘Cardiac Event’

College basketball

Heart Attack

Medical

University of Wisconsin

Former Vice President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-pence">Mike Pence</a> on Wednesday announced his endorsement of former Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch (R-WI) in her run for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/wisconsin">Wisconsin</a> governor. 
Pence’s endorsement puts him at odds with former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, who endorsed construction executive Tim Michels early in June. The two are the front runners in a tightly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/these-4-republicans-are-hoping-to-oust-wisconsin-democrat-governor-tony-evers-in-november">contested GOP primary</a> on August 9. 
“Rebecca Kleefisch is the only candidate that will deliver a stronger and more prosperous Wisconsin, and I am proud to support her,” Pence <a href="https://rebeccaforgovernor.com/vice-president-mike-pence-endorses-rebecca-kleefisch-for-wisconsin-governor/">said</a> in a statement. “Rebecca has a proven conservative track record and will draw on her experience to give parents more control of their children’s education, grow the economy and get Wisconsin back to work, fight for traditional conservative values, and make Wisconsin streets safer.”
Kleefisch, Wisconsin’s lieutenant governor during former Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s time in Madison, said she was “honored” to have Pence’s endorsement. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has also announced his support for Kleefisch. 
Recent polling has shown Kleefisch and Michels in a tight race, giving Michels a slight edge with many voters still undecided. This week, Trump announced that he would visit Waukesha for a rally on August 5 promoting Michels and the other candidates in the state that he is backing. 
“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,” Trump <a href="https://www.wispolitics.com/2022/save-america-pac-statement-by-donald-j-trump-45th-president-of-the-united-states-of-america-2/">said</a> last month. 
Trump added that Michels was the best candidate to provide &#8220;meaningful solutions&#8221; to Wisconsinites&#8217; problems.
This is not the first time Trump and Pence have split over gubernatorial picks. In Georgia, Trump supported former Senator David Perdue (R-GA) while Pence backed the incumbent Governor Brian Kemp (R-GA), who won in a landslide. Meanwhile in Arizona, former newscaster Kari Lake has been endorsed by Trump, while Pence has thrown his support behind Karrin Taylor Robson. The Arizona GOP primary is on August 2.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) <a href="https://www.wispolitics.com/2022/gov-evers-raises-over-10-million-shatters-fundraising-records/">brought</a> in $10 million for his re-election campaign this year, while Kleefisch has <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-donald-trump-rebecca-kleefisch-fd0c5d9ca98bc5a9afdaefdfe57bfb35">raised</a> just over $3.6 million. The Michels campaign has <a href="https://www.wpr.org/republican-tim-michels-spends-nearly-8m-his-campaign-governor">raised</a> just under $8 million. Much of Michels&#8217; war chest has come from his own funds.  
On Sunday night, Michels, Kleefisch, and Wisconsin Assembly Member Timothy Ramthun faced off in a GOP primary debate hosted by Marquette University. While Kleefisch said she was the trusted conservative in the race, Michels pointed to his business experience, promising to turn Madison “upside down.”  
The GOP is eager to oust Evers so Wisconsin&#8217;s Republican-controlled legislature can advance its agenda without being obstructed by his liberal use of veto power.

SFChroniclePence

Pence Makes Endorsement In Contentious Wisconsin Republican Governor Primary

Pence Endorses Former Wisconsin Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch For Governor

Mike Pence

On-leave Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry has ended his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/2022-midterms">bid</a> for the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/democratic-party">Democratic</a> nomination to challenge Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ron-johnson">Ron Johnson</a> (R-WI), and has endorsed Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes (D-WI).
Lasry, who had given his campaign fund about $12 million in personal loans, decided to back Barnes, who is now the favorite to win the nomination.
“We’ve been saying since day one the most important thing that we can do for Wisconsin is to get rid of Ron Johnson,” Lasry <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/07/27/alex-lasry-dropping-out-of-wisconsin-senate-race-to-unseat-ron-johnson-00048186">told</a> Politico. “I firmly believe that if there was no path to victory, the best thing to do is to make sure that we can as early as possible rally around a nominee so that we can spend every second that we have making sure that we’re working toward that goal.”
Earlier this week, another Democrat dropped out and endorsed Barnes. Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson on Monday announced his endorsement of Barnes. The lieutenant governor has also received the support of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).
In recently released second quarter fundraising reports, Barnes <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ron-johnson-raises-more-money-than-democratic-challengers-in-key-fundraising-quarter">brought</a> in just over $2 million in donations.
“This quarter’s unprecedented show of support is proof that working families are ready to support a candidate who understands firsthand the challenges they’re facing and their hopes for the future,” <a href="https://mandelabarnes.com/mandela-barnes-raises-over-2-1-million-in-q2-of-2022-with-average-donation-of-35/">said</a> Lauren Chou, deputy communications director for the Barnes campaign.
State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski (D-WI) remains in the race and has championed her support for abortion as a key reason Wisconsin Democrats should support her. She took in $900,000 in donations, and contributed $600,000 in self-loans during the quarter as well.
Johnson raised more money than his Democratic opponents during the fundraising quarter, bringing in over $7 million.
Barnes welcomed Lasry&#8217;s support, calling him a friend and someone he admired, per Politico.
“I deeply admire Alex’s commitment to creating good union jobs and raising wages throughout his career and throughout this campaign, and the work he’s done to bring pride and opportunity to Milwaukee, a city we both love.”
Lasry did not tell Politico if he had any future plans to run for political office.
“I know we always love to talk about the next race, but I’m very focused on this one. And whether it’s running for something or making sure we’re getting good people and good Democrats elected, I will be involved in that always,” he said.

Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On Jan. 6 Attack On Capitol

Milwaukee Bucks Executive Drops Bid To Challenge Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson

Milwaukee Bucks Executive Drops Bid To Challenge Wisconsin's Ron Johnson

U.S. Senate

Democrats Boost Pro-Trump House Candidate in Michigan
Talk about politics making odd bedfellows.
Democrats are set to spend nearly $500,000 to push a Republican who is a supporter of former President Donald Trump in a highly contested primary for a House seat.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) hopes to knock out another GOP candidate it feels is more moderate, believing that Democrats will have a better chance in November against the pro-Trump candidate.
The DCCC plans to shell out $425,000 on an ad painting candidate John Gibbs as the real pro-Trump candidate compared to Republican Rep. Peter Meijer &#8212; who voted to impeach Trump.
&#8220;Handpicked by Trump to run for Congress, Gibbs called Trump ‘the greatest president’ and worked in Trump’s administration with Ben Carson,&#8221; the ad says, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/26/peter-meijer-michigan-democrats-trump">according</a> to Axios. &#8220;Gibbs has promised to push that same conservative agenda in Congress.&#8221;
Trump endorsed Gibbs after Meijer voted for his impeachment over the January 6 Capitol riot.
While the ad still portrays Gibbs as “too conservative” for Michigan, it casts Gibbs as he paints himself &#8212; the true pro-Trump candidate.
Fetterman A Champion Troll
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D) dropped off the campaign trail a couple of months ago after sustaining a stroke, but his team has proved adept at trolling his GOP candidate, celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz.
Team Fetterman has been portraying Oz as a carpetbagging New Jerseyan. The team put out a video featuring &#8220;Jersey Shore” star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi wishing Oz luck on his recent move to Pennsylvania to “look for a new job.” Another featured pictures of Oz’s mansions &#8212; it&#8217;s worth noting that not one is in Pennsylvania. And in the team&#8217;s most recent effort, they released a video of Fetterman launching a petition to have Oz inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
We thought it would be *so* nice to honor Dr. Oz&#39;s Jersey Pride. So we&#39;re starting a petition to get him inducted into the <a href="https://twitter.com/NJHallofFame?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NJHallofFame</a>! 🎉 
Add your name here and let&#39;s show him our support: <a href="https://t.co/mMqaHYvGpO">https://t.co/mMqaHYvGpO</a> <a href="https://t.co/2J812jNJbl">pic.twitter.com/2J812jNJbl</a>
&mdash; John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnFetterman/status/1550211995026194432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The team&#8217;s efforts caught the eye of liberal MSNBC, which published a piece <a href="https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/why-john-fetterman-s-twitter-trolling-dr-oz-works-so-n1297452">headlined</a>: &#8220;Why John Fetterman&#8217;s trolling could win him a seat in the U.S. Senate.&#8221;
Oz’s campaign has tried to push back on the residency issue, and his team took a shot at Fetterman being off the trail to recover from his stroke.
“Fetterman hasn’t faced voters in months — but he did have time for a family vacation to the Jersey Shore,” Oz communications director Brittany Yanick said in an email to NBC News.
Fetterman’s campaign once again slapped back smartly, saying: &#8220;John just visited — Dr. Oz still basically lives there.”
Big Money Roils AZ Race
Billionaire Peter Thiel is flexing his wallet in Arizona, throwing his support &#8212; and some big bucks &#8212; behind Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters.
Thiel contributed another $1.5 million to the pro-Masters Saving Arizona super PAC on July 7, according to a Thursday filing with the Federal Election Commission. That means the venture capitalist has now dropped some $15 million to boost the Trump-backed Masters, who has been struggling to raise money.
Masters is being heavily outspent by his Republican primary opponent, Jim Lamon, a solar power executive who has loaned his campaign more than $14 million. But Masters has been relying on Thiel and the super PAC to stay competitive.
Still, Masters remains at the top of the polls and is set to appear at a rally with Trump Friday night in Prescott Valley. The primary is on Aug 2.
Gloves Off In Wisconsin
Republican candidates for Wisconsin governor faced off Sunday night, making their pitch to GOP voters in Milwaukee.
Former Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch was the &#8220;clear&#8221; winner, at least according to conservative Wisconsin radio host Dan O&#8217;Donnell.
During the debate, Trump-backed candidate Tim Michels continually pointed to his business experience, saying he hoped to direct young people to trade schools. Michels also said he would:
<ul>
<li>Back universal school choice</li>
<li>Oppose Red Flag laws</li>
<li>Support paid family leave</li>
<li>Push election integrity bills</li>
</ul>
Meanwhile, Kleefisch cited her experience in office, mirroring Michels support for school choice and other issues, but she did not say if she would support paid family leave.
No Joe For Raphael
With President Joe Biden&#8217;s approval ratings hovering in the 30s, Democratic Senate candidates like Georgia&#8217;s Raphael Warnock are fleeing from the commander-in-chief.
Recently, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution <a href="https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/the-jolt-sen-raphael-warnock-keeps-distance-from-joe-biden-as-presidents-ratings-sink/IXWQC3Z4MVBKTFNVNDTV2A4SWI/">reported</a> that journalist Shannon McCaffrey asked Warnock whether or not he thought Biden was doing a good job. Warnock wouldn&#8217;t say.
“I’m focused on the job that I’m doing standing up for the people of Georgia,” Warnock told McCaffrey.
He repeated himself when asked a second time.
“I am standing up for the people of Georgia. I’m going to fight for them every single day. When that means standing with this person, it’s based on what it does for Georgia,&#8221; the incumbent said.
Abortion Becomes Big Issue In Nevada
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D) portrays herself as the key to preventing a national abortion ban. She gathered like-minded Republican women in a friend&#8217;s backyard to urge them to back her candidacy.
&#8220;There is no doubt in my mind that the Republicans in the Senate right now — that some of them are writing a draft legislation to further restrict abortion in this country,&#8221; Masto said at the campaign event this month, The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/07/25/nevada-senate-2022-economy-abortion/">reported</a>.
&#8220;Nevada is the seat that’s going to stop that,&#8221; she said.
Currently, Nevada guarantees abortion access, passing the bill by a large margin more than 30 years ago.
But Republican Senate nominee Adam Laxalt, speaking the next day in Las Vegas, focused on soaring gas prices and runaway inflation, blaming Democrats.
“We need someone that will actually stand up for Nevada when the Biden administration takes us away from energy independence, gives us all-time high gas, all these things we’re dealing with every single day,” said Laxalt, who is a former state attorney general but lost his bid for governor four years ago.
Cruz Steps In In Wyoming Race
Rep. Liz Cheney (R) is having a tough time in her re-election campaign &#8212; the latest <a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/house/">poll</a> shows her trailing her GOP primary opponent by 22 points.
And now, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is jumping into the fray, saying on Fox News that he is endorsing her primary challenger, Harriet Hageman.
“Harriet will be a rock-ribbed conservative congresswoman who will always defend the Constitution,” Cruz told the news outlet.
“She knows the importance of standing up for individual constitutional rights and fighting back against the federal government, which wants to seize more land and prevent people from being able to provide for their families.”
Hageman expressed her appreciation for endorsement. “In many ways, Texas and Wyoming face the same struggles against the relentless onslaught of the federal government, and it will be nice to know that I have another ally in the other chamber when I get to Congress.”
A Look At Cook
The Cook Political <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings">Report</a> has been handicapping congressional races for years, so each week we&#8217;ll tell you what they think will happen in the 2022 mid-terms for the House of Representatives.
Solid Democrat &#8212; 162 
Solid Republican &#8212; 191 
Toss Ups &#8212; 34
Both parties each have 13 seats considered &#8220;likely&#8221; and 11 seats that &#8220;lean&#8221; their way.
But here&#8217;s an interesting pair of numbers: The Democrats currently hold 26 of the toss-up seats, while Republicans hold just 8 of those seats.
Joseph Curl has covered politics for 35 years, including 12 years as White House correspondent for a national newspaper. He was also the a.m. editor of the Drudge Report for four years. Send tips to josephcurl@dailywire.com and follow him on Twitter @josephcurl.

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