Wisconsin Primary Sets Up Key Senate Race

Primary elections in four states are underway - Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

• Wisconsin is one of the five pivotal Senate races which will determine control of the Senate in November. Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona are the others.
• Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) is considered the most vulnerable Republican incumbent.
• The primaries appear a formality. Johnson has limited competition on the GOP side, and Democrat candidates have withdrawn to throw support behind Lt Gov Mandela Barnes.
• Jessica Taylor, of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report: “...this was always going to be one of the marquee races and it remains a toss-up for now.
• Bloomberg on the significance of Wisconsin for the 2024 presidential election: "The highly competitive swing state was won by Republican former President Donald Trump by less than a percentage point in 2016 and by Democratic President Joe Biden by a similar margin in 2020. Both parties will be looking to the Senate contest as a bellwether."
• Also today: Round three of former President Trump vs former Vice President Mike Pence in gubernatorial primaries.
  • Trump won in Arizona last week when his endorsee Kari Lake defeated Pence backed Karrin Taylor Robson. In Georgia, Pence's endorsee Governor Brian Kemp comfortably defeated Trump's David Perdue.
  • In Wisconsin, Pence, and the GOP establishment, have backed former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. She appeared a clear favourite until construction company owner Tim Michels entered the contest with a significant self funded campaign budget and Trump's endorsement.