Kleefisch, who was Walker's lieutenant governor, joined him for the right-to-work bill signing.ĭemocrats on Monday branded Michels as an extremist, noting his past opposition to any exceptions for abortions and his stand against same-sex marriage. Walker signed laws eliminating the prevailing wage and effectively banning mandatory union membership and the collection of dues. The business coalition also opposed ending the prevailing wage, which sets minimum salaries on state-funded construction projects. Scott Walker and other Republicans in 2015. was also part of a coalition of business groups that joined with unions in fighting a "right-to-work" proposal in Wisconsin that was championed by then-Gov. was one of three contractors that double-billed the state, and was paid twice, for work done on Milwaukee's Zoo Interchange in 2015. Democrats were quick to point out that Michels Corp. Michels' company has won more than $1 billion in state contracts since 2013.
He also served on the board of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state's largest business lobbying organization, which is running ads in support of her. "I’m a business owner and a veteran - not a politician." Michels said, promising to focus his campaign on the economy, education, public safety and election integrity.ĭemocrats noted that Michels previously served on the board of a conservative group Kleefisch ran before she got into the governor's race. Michels, despite his ties with Kleefisch and other politicians, his former runs for office and his company’s history of being awarded state contracts, also tried to cast himself as an outsider. Kleefisch has been racking up endorsements from many Republican power brokers, including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who had sought a clear field for Kleefisch to win the nomination.īut Nicholson and Ramthun have tried to run as outsiders, tapping into distrust of party leaders among some Republicans.
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Michels planned his first campaign event for Monday afternoon at Michels Corp.'s maintenance facility in Brownsville, just down the road from where he grew up.įREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android Senate bid where he was defeated by Democrat Russ Feingold. Evers' campaign spokesman Sam Roecker said Michels would be "in lockstep with the divisive agenda Republicans are pushing." The Wisconsin Democratic Party branded Michels a "two-time failed candidate," referring to his losses in a 1998 run for state Senate and a 2004 U.S.