On the surface, the call for unity at this weekend’s GOP state convention was about getting the activist base behind gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany.

The subtext, though, was a push to move past the internal squabbles over state Chair Brian Schimming that some party insiders fear could hobble Tiffany’s pursuit of the governor’s office this fall.

None of the elected officials who made pleas for unity from the stage mentioned Schimming by name, though numerous party activists said in interviews there was a dual purpose to the message.

“We’ve got to be united,” former Gov. Tommy Thompson implored the crowd. “You might not like everybody in the Republican Party. There are some I don’t like either. But I know they vote right, and I know they believe in Wisconsin, and I know they believe in America.”

Schimming has been under fire for the party’s poor fundraising and losses in off-year elections. Some members of the state GOP’s executive committee in recent weeks have made runs at his job security. The first vote in April failed, and critics tried to call a special meeting last week to discuss employment matters. After turning in six petitions, the minimum required to trigger a special meeting of the body, two members withdrew their support, and the meeting was canceled.

Milwaukee County Chair Hilario Deleon has been a critic of Schimming for the party’s shortcomings. But he said in an interview it was time to put those disagreements on hold to focus on the November election.

He said the party has already unified around its candidates at the top of the ticket in Tiffany and AG candidate Eric Toney, something it didn’t do four years ago. That means the party can now focus solely on November and what it will take to address the concerns of Wisconsinites who are struggling financially.

“People are hurting,” Deleon said. “They’re looking for help.”

Racine businessman Will Martin, endorsed by the party in the lieutenant governor’s race, said efforts to target Schimming are due, in part, to his status as the first paid state chair in memory. He argued it was time for the party to unify behind Tiffany while Dems navigate their multi-candidate primary.

Two years ago, Martin called for an overhaul to the party’s fundraising approach after a disappointing haul to start 2024, warning in a letter obtained by WisPolitics, “No money, no mission.”  

“This is a new phenomenon for this party to have a paid chair and this is part of some of the inevitable growing pains,” Martin said of the ouster efforts.

Some delegates at the state convention this weekend sported homemade stickers proclaiming their support for Schimming.

Following the party’s formal endorsement, Tiffany was asked if the party should pick a new leader after this spring’s 20-point loss in the state Supreme Court race. Tiffany said he believes “you saw real leadership here the past couple of days.”

Tiffany also argued it was now incumbent upon him to be a leader for the party in his bid for the governor’s office.

State parties can be a key partner for gubernatorial candidates because they can accept unlimited contributions and face no caps on the size of transfers they can make to campaigns.

“I’m not looking at others for what they should do. I’m looking at myself for what I should do,” Tiffany said.