Wisconsin Republicans Rally at State Convention, Focused on November Election

Appleton, Wisconsin - Wisconsin Republicans gathered over the weekend for their state convention in Appleton, uniting as a strong front for the upcoming November election. Party members including State Senators, Assembly members, party leaders, and Senator Ron Johnson expressed the importance of coming together to ensure success at the polls.

State Rep. Nate Gustafson of Fox Crossing emphasized the urgency of unity, stating, "If we do not come together this fall it's going to be a bloodbath. So, we need to make sure we're all on the same page, going in the same direction and we pull this off."

Party Chairman Brian Schimming echoed Gustafson's sentiments, highlighting the remarkable energy he has witnessed while traversing all 72 counties of the state. The enthusiasm is a testament to the party's commitment to victory in the upcoming elections.

Much of the convention's focus was directed towards the national races, particularly the presidential and U.S. Senate campaigns. Roger Roth, a candidate for Wisconsin's 8th congressional district, emphasized the integral role Wisconsin plays in President Trump's reelection bid, stating, "The path for Trump to be reelected comes through Wisconsin. The path for Eric Hovde to flip the Senate comes through Wisconsin."

Senator Ron Johnson reinforced the importance of party unity, stating, "We need to be unified as the Republican party to win the 10 electoral votes, elect a Republican U.S. Senator. We're going to, I'm sure, nominate Eric Hovde. I'd love to see him as a colleague. We need to make sure at least six of our house seats remain in Republican hands."

In the 8th congressional district, which covers Northeast Wisconsin, only three Democrats have held the seat in the past 79 years. Currently, there are three Republicans competing for the position. State Rep. Dave Murphy of Greenville refrained from endorsing any candidate prior to the primary but expressed confidence in the party's ability to maintain control. He stated, "We have good candidates running for it, and I think when the dust settles and our candidate emerges, we're going to continue to hold the 8th congressional district, and that's a good thing. I'm looking for us to come back with a larger majority in the House of Representatives and a new majority in the U.S. Senate."

Beyond the national races, Wisconsin Republicans are determined to retain their majority in the state Assembly and Senate. Redistricting has presented new challenges, but State Sen. Andre Jacque emphasized the importance of actively engaging with constituents, saying, "I think really what it takes is a very aggressive, door-to-door, getting out and meeting the people every place where they're at."

State Rep. Murphy acknowledged the potential difficulties imposed by the redistricted maps but expressed confidence in the party's ability to succeed. He stated, "I think the new gerrymandered maps are going to make it somewhat tougher for us, I expect we're still going to win. I think that Democrats that thought they weren't winning because of the maps are going to find out differently in November because we're going to win with Tony Evers maps."

Looking ahead, Wisconsin Republicans are prepared to channel the excitement and momentum from the convention into an intensive campaign effort over the next six months. With the determination to secure victory, they are poised to face the challenges ahead and work towards their party's success in November.