Contact: Brad Bainum, bradb@wisdems.org

Fearing a repeat of the disastrous 2012 GOP primary, Senator Ron Johnson has called on the “weaker candidate” to “exit the race”

MADISON — With more than 72 percent of the vote, the Republican Party of Wisconsin today formally endorsed ultra-conservative state Sen. Leah Vukmir for U.S. Senate.

Leah Vukmir’s record couldn’t be farther out of touch with hardworking Wisconsin families. She supports tax breaks for the wealthy, eliminating protections for people with pre-existing conditions and limiting a woman’s access to healthcare options with zero exceptions.

“After 15 years of undermining our state’s working families and championing special interest corruption in Madison, it’s no surprise that Sen. Vukmir can now add the Republican Party of Wisconsin to her list of supporters along with the billionaire backer propping up her candidacy,” said Brad Bainum, Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson for the 2018 Senate race. “Given that Leah Vukmir and Kevin Nicholson are dragging each other farther and farther into the mud, Senator Ron Johnson and Wisconsin Republicans are rightly worried about repeating the same costly and expensive mistakes of their 2012 primary.”

Leah Vukmir and Kevin Nicholson’s divisive personal attacks recently prompted Senator Johnson to warn of a “knock-down, drag-out fight all the way to the [Republican] primary.”

In an effort to avoid the mistakes of the 2012 divisive GOP primary that left the Republican Party’s nominee, Tommy Thompson, too bruised to compete in the general election, Johnson touted the strength of the party endorsement as “a way to clear the field,” and called for the weaker candidate to “exit the race.”

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