Trump-backed Tim Michels projected winner in battleground Wisconsin’s GOP gubernatorial primary

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President Donald Trump’s revenge tour is in full force.

Trump-endorsed businessman Tim Michels has been declared the winner in Wisconsin’s GOP gubernatorial primary.

Michels is the projected winner despite significant competition from former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. This outcome in the battleground state of Wisconsin suggests Trump holds strong influence in the key region.

Michels will now face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in the general election in November.

“That’s what this race has always been about, and that’s what the general election race is going to be about as well, standing up for the hard-working people of Wisconsin,” Michels said in his victory speech.

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“They’ve been left behind by the Democratic Party that just wants to focus on the social issues. From my first day in office to my very last day as governor, jobs and the economy are arguably my number one priority.”

“[My wife Barbara and I] feel like we’re on a slippery slope toward socialism, and it’s being cloaked behind all these other social issues,” he continued.

“But we know what’s happening. We can see what’s going. And we said, you know what? We’re going to do everything we can to stand in the way of the tearing down of America, the America that we know and love.”

“I’ll tell you what, Tony Evers, he’s failed the people of Wisconsin… He’s been a weak leader. And we are going to make him an unessential worker come November.”

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Former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to congratulate Michels.

“Congratulations to Tim Michels on his win against a wonderful and highly-competitive opponent, Rebecca Kleefisch,” Trump wrote. “I know both sides will come together and defeat one of the worst Governors in the Country, Tony Evers.”

The fight for Wisconsin’s GOP gubernatorial nomination was latest test of Republican clout between former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence, one-time running mates who could potentially face-off against each other for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Michels, a multimillionaire owner of a construction company who poured millions of his own money into his race, was endorsed by Trump in early June. Two weeks ago, Pence once again broke with his former boss as he backed Kleefisch, the former conservative lieutenant governor who served eight years under then-Gov. Scott Walker.

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