GOP U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany launched his long-teased bid for governor, saying the American Dream is “slipping away” under Democratic leadership in Madison and “we can do better.”
In a rollout video accompanying his announcement, the Minocqua Republican vowed to freeze property taxes, protect Wisconsin farmland from communist China and preserve Wisconsin values.
“Girls sports will stay for girls, moms will be moms, not inseminated persons, and common sense will win because we cannot let Minnesota’s madness and Illinois’ insanity to take over here in Wisconsin,” Tiffany says in the video.
Tiffany has spent months talking about a run for guv. Republicans view him as the early frontrunner in a GOP field that includes southeastern Wisconsin businessman Bill Berrien and Washington County Exec Josh Schoemann. He has been a regular fixture on conservative media backing President Donald Trump’s policies and has been in public office for 15 years.
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Still, he told WisPolitics partner WISN-TV last month that after meeting with Trump about his possible bid for guv, the president said his focus was on making sure Republicans hold onto control of Congress. That has raised questions about whether Trump will issue an endorsement, which has proven powerful in GOP primaries.
Tiffany, 67, won a special election for the 7th CD in 2020 after nine years in the Legislature, where he served in the Assembly before winning two terms in the state Senate.
His decision to run for guv opens up his deep red congressional seat. Republicans who have told WisPolitics they are looking at a run for the seat include: state Rep. Calvin Callahan, R-Tomahawk; Jessi Ebben, who ran against now-U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, in the 2020 GOP primary for the 3rd CD and has since moved to the 7th; Senate President Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk; Paul Schecklman, who is finishing his doctorate in energy and defense policy, and recently launched the Northwoods Policy Network; and state Sen. Rob Stafsholt, R-New Richmond.
Ebben registered with the FEC on Friday to run.
On the Dem side, Christopher Armstrong, a northern Wisconsin business owner, has filed to run. Former Dem state Rep. Fred Clark, who lived in Baraboo while in the Assembly from 2009-15 and now lives in Bayfield, told WisPolitics he’s looking at a bid.
