‘Million Mile Motorcycle Man’, former State Senator, and Veterans Advocate calls Nicholson a ‘rebel maverick’ and calls for more veterans in Congress
(Delafield) – The Nicholson for Senate campaign announced that Dave Zien – the “Million Mile Motorcycle Man,” former state senator from the Chippewa Valley area, and one of the most decorated and influential veterans in Wisconsin – has endorsed Kevin Nicholson for U.S. Senate.
“I’m proud to endorse Kevin Nicholson for U.S. Senate,” said Zien. “People like a rebel maverick and someone unconventional. Kevin’s background isn’t typical in Washington, and we need more people like him to actually tackle the problems our country faces – not just talk about them.”
Zien continued: “Kevin is a Marine and a family man, and the values of honor, courage, and commitment that are engrained in him and that he exhibits in his everyday life are important to Wisconsin voters – regardless of what their political stripes are. Republicans need a candidate like him who can appeal to all voters in the general election. There aren’t enough veterans in Congress who understand the very real life-and-death implications of the decisions they make. We need more veterans in Congress that ‘get it’ and aren’t afraid to step into the fight.”
Kevin Nicholson expressed his gratitude for the endorsement: “Dave Zien is a leader amongst leaders, and a hero amongst heroes in Wisconsin. From the battlefields of Vietnam to the the Capitol in Madison, Dave Zien has committed his life to his community, state, and nation, and exemplifies American patriotism. It is truly humbling to receive his endorsement, and I am grateful. I won’t let him down, and will continue to work tirelessly to win the support of Wisconsin voters, and to provide real solutions once in Washington.”
Dave Zien was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate as a Republican in a solidly Democrat district in 1988 and served for 20 years. Senator Zien served as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and was Senate Assistant Majority Leader. He was declared “Wisconsin’s Most Decorated Lawmaker” by then-Senate President Alan Lasee for his service in Vietnam.
Zien is perhaps best known for riding his motorcycle across the country to recognize those KIA in Vietnam and all veterans, and known throughout Wisconsin for his tireless dedication to veteran’s issues. To date, Zien has logged more than 2 million miles on his motorcycles – one of which is in the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum for being the first Harley Davidson for logging one million miles.
A Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, Zien received the Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation/Cross of Gallantry, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He continues to ride his Harley and log more miles.
Yesterday, Nicholson announced that he was the first U.S. Senate candidate to file nominating signatures with the Wisconsin Elections Commission and qualify for inclusion on the ballot in the Republican Primary on August 14. The Nicholson for Senate campaign submitted more than 4,000 eligible signatures from throughout the state. He has also reported having donations from more than 9,000 Wisconsin voters from all 72 counties. Nicholson has outraised his primary opponent by a margin of more than 2:1 according to filings with the Federal Election Commission, and publicly available polling has shown his lead in the primary continues to grow.
Nicholson has been endorsed by an impressive and growing coalition that includes a dozen Wisconsin sheriffs, Senator Mike Lee and Senator Ted Cruz, Ambassador and now-National Security Advisor John Bolton, Wisconsin Family Action, Club for Growth, FreedomWorks for America, Ed Rollins and Great America PAC, Tea Party Patriots, and the Madison Project.
Nicholson is a decorated Marine Corps veteran who served combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He currently works as a business consultant, helping companies solve their toughest problems. He is a first-time candidate running in the Republican primary to defeat Democrat Tammy Baldwin.