Wrapping up the convention

The convention has adjourned, and the WisPolitics.com team is out of here. There are still some festivities tonight and a prayer breakfast tomorrow, which former Gov. Scott Walker is expected to attend after spending Saturday at the wedding of former staffers. A state GOP spokesman says there were 664 delegates, alternates and registered guests at this year’s convention. By comparison, the party said there were about 800 attendees at the 2017 convention in the Wisconsin Dells, the last time activists gathered in an off year. Next year’s convention will be May 15-17 in Green Bay.  

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GOP activists oppose ‘red flag laws,’ ‘gender transitioning & mutilation of minors’

Republican activists voted Saturday to oppose “red flag laws,” universal background checks on gun sales and the “gender transitioning & mutilation of minors.” Dem AG Josh Kaul and Gov. Tony Evers have expressed support for red flag laws, which allow police or a family member to petition a court to temporarily remove firearms from someone who may present a danger to themselves or others. … Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options. Username or E-mail Password * Remember Me  

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Sensenbrenner slams congressional Dems

U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner slammed congressional Dems and called on attendees to deliver President Trump a win in 2020. He also urged those at the state GOP convention to help tip the House back into Republican control, in addition to re-electing him and the other four GOP Wisconsin House members come 2020 — a sign the 76-year-old dean of the congressional delegation will again run to represent the 5th CD. The Menomonee Falls Republican spent much of his remarks Saturday afternoon knocking Democrats and particularly House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler, D-NY. “What we’re facing now from the Democrats in

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Dems call GOP convention wildly out of touch

State Dem spokeswoman Courtney Beyer charged Saturday the state GOP’s convention shows it is more “out-of-touch with the people of Wisconsin than we thought possible.” As evidence, she cited the refusal by legislative Republicans to embrace Gov. Tony Evers’ call to accept federal money to expand the Medicaid program and the party’s decision to invite conservative activist Candace Owens to speak. “It is clear that Wisconsin Republicans have abandoned any sense of obligation to the people of Wisconsin,” Beyer said. “Instead, they are scorching the earth around them while Wisconsin families struggle with rising health care costs, stagnant wages and

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Johnson wants to bring corporate structure to state GOP

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson pitched his vision for the state GOP going forward, telling activists Saturday he wanted to bring a corporate structure to the Republican Party of Wisconsin. That entails, he said, viewing the state GOP as the corporate headquarters and the county parties as 72 divisions or franchises. Headquarters would drive policy, direct communications and offer best practices. The county parties then would carry out that mission into their communities — and be held accountable for doing so. “There’s an expectation of excellence involved in that,” Johnson said. “That’s what we’re trying to do.” Johnson stressed it was

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Johnson says possible 2022 run for office would be to bolster anti-Dem ‘firewall’

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says if he were to run for office again, it’d be to serve as an anti-Dem “firewall” — but that’s not something he’s thinking about until after the presidential race. “I’ve got a lot on my plate right now. I really have no time to worry about beyond 2020,” he said. The Oshkosh Republican previously pledged to limit himself to two terms in the Senate. He told reporters Saturday at the state GOP convention his preference would still be two terms, though he noted the “reality as I was expecting (it) has changed” after the last

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Johnson backs 20-week abortion ban, says it’s a ‘reasonable level’

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says a 20-week abortion ban would be “a pretty reasonable level” to implement restrictions on the procedure. But he added he wouldn’t support implementing measures that would curb abortion earlier in a pregnancy, including efforts to outlaw it after six weeks. The proposed 20-week prohibition, a measure the Oshkosh Republican has backed in the Senate, is something he told rep… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

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After ’18 loss, Nicholson says he’s still committed to conservative cause

Kevin Nicholson, who faced questions during his 2018 Senate campaign about his political background, said he remains committed to the conservative cause and to bringing more into the movement. Whether that includes another run for office will be worked out in the future, he said. Nicholson was president of the national College Democrats before he later served in the U.S. Marines and had what he said was a political conversion to the Republican Party. Some questioned his authenticity in the Senate race as he lost the GOP nomination to Leah Vukmir, who went on to lose to U.S. Sen. Tammy

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Duffy, Grothman, Steil: Dems to bring ‘crazy’ to Milwaukee with national convention

GOP U.S. Reps. Sean Duffy, Glenn Grothman and Bryan Steil warned GOP activists Dems are going to bring their “crazy” to Milwaukee next year with their national convention and urged Republicans to help President Trump win re-election. The decision to bring the convention to Milwaukee was seen by many as partly motivated by a desire to win back Wisconsin after Trump became the first Republican since… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

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Vos, Fitzgerald knock Evers as ‘out of touch,’ credit GOP Legislature for protecting priorities

The Legislature’s top Republicans this morning slammed Gov. Tony Evers and his budget priorities as “out of touch” and “way too liberal” as they credited their party for combatting those initiatives and protecting key GOP priorities. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, who spoke on a legislative panel hosted by Madison talk show host Brian Schimming, also applau… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

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Hagedorn thanks GOP activists for Supreme Court win

Supreme Court Justice-elect Brian Hagedorn on Saturday thanked GOP activists not just for his April victory, but for “fighting for what’s right.” Hagedorn, who will take office in August, told delegates he faced a campaign unlike any other candidate for state Supreme Court. He said his character, his integrity and his faith were attacked. But when that happened, he said, GOP activists came to his … Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

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Wrapping up the convention

The convention has adjourned, and the WisPolitics.com team is out of here. There are still some festivities tonight and a prayer breakfast tomorrow, which former Gov. Scott Walker is expected to attend after spending Saturday at the wedding of former staffers. A state GOP spokesman says there were 664 delegates,

Read More »

Sensenbrenner slams congressional Dems

U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner slammed congressional Dems and called on attendees to deliver President Trump a win in 2020. He also urged those at the state GOP convention to help tip the House back into Republican control, in addition to re-electing him and the other four GOP Wisconsin House members

Read More »

Dems call GOP convention wildly out of touch

State Dem spokeswoman Courtney Beyer charged Saturday the state GOP’s convention shows it is more “out-of-touch with the people of Wisconsin than we thought possible.” As evidence, she cited the refusal by legislative Republicans to embrace Gov. Tony Evers’ call to accept federal money to expand the Medicaid program and

Read More »

Johnson wants to bring corporate structure to state GOP

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson pitched his vision for the state GOP going forward, telling activists Saturday he wanted to bring a corporate structure to the Republican Party of Wisconsin. That entails, he said, viewing the state GOP as the corporate headquarters and the county parties as 72 divisions or franchises.

Read More »

Hagedorn thanks GOP activists for Supreme Court win

Supreme Court Justice-elect Brian Hagedorn on Saturday thanked GOP activists not just for his April victory, but for “fighting for what’s right.” Hagedorn, who will take office in August, told delegates he faced a campaign unlike any other candidate for state Supreme Court. He said his character, his integrity and

Read More »