MADISON, Wis. — The Republican Party of Wisconsin meets in Middleton this weekend for their annual convention.
So far, 2022 is shaping up to be a big year with so many statewide races on the ballot. While campaign season has gotten off to a slow but steady start in the race for governor, voters will head to the polls for the GOP primary in August, and republicans are already talking strategy.
One of the main purposes of a political convention is the endorsement process for statewide races.
Who the party decides to back can have a significant impact going into the August primary. Generally, it means more money and support.
However, this year, for the first time in a long time, Republicans are talking about a no endorsement option.
Some of the gubernatorial candidates, and even local county parties, want to see that process end altogether.
Currently, the party already has viability thresholds based on fundraising. Recently, a second process was added in which candidates can still be nominated for party endorsement if they have support from their home county and two counties from two other congressional districts.
Much of the debate over the endorsement process has unfolded behind the scenes. However, come this weekend, the issue will be center stage, and Chairman Paul Farrow is well aware.
“I don't think we're going to see anything but an exciting opportunity in the endorsement process as lively as possible,” Farrow said. “The outcome, if we have individuals endorsed by the party and move forward, I think we're going to be in great shape, and if we don't have an endorsement, I think we're going to be in great shape as well.”
Elections aside, Republicans will also need to vote this weekend on what priorities they want to include in their platform for the upcoming year.
“What we're hearing is inflation,” Farrow said. “We're hearing about pro-life. As we know, Roe v. Wade is going to be coming down, the final decision. One of the main tenants of our platform has been pro-life, and so we'll see that move forward. I think there are other areas that are out there around Second Amendment rights and making sure that people have the right to protect themselves, especially in the world that we are living in today.”
There are dozens of resolutions to vote on during the convention Saturday. Among them:
- Commending U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson for his stance on COVID-19
- Dissolving the Wisconsin Elections Commission
- Calling on lawmakers to pass so-called 'Stand Your Ground' legislation
- Opposing vaccine mandates
- Supporting the death penalty for people who kill police officers
Resolutions start at the local party level and then go through a state party committee. Farrow said the process is a grassroots effort for party members to voice their opinions and help set legislative priorities.
“When I was in office, in these halls, we looked at those resolutions and said is there legislation that we can work from of what their concerns are,” Farrow explained. “And that's when we brought out an expansion to the School Choice Program back in 2013. We looked at different things like that. Back in 2011, when we had the concealed carry, photo ID, those were all resolutions that were brought forth to the convention.”
Meanwhile, Democrats referred to the Republican convention as a “dumpster fire” and called it an opportunity to showcase extremism.
“For months, the Wisconsin Republicans running for governor have embraced every radical and divisive position they can find,” Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler said in a statement. “Along the way, the Republican field has not only divided our state, they’ve also created chaos within their own party. The GOP’s gruesome foursome—Rebecca Kleefisch, Tim Michels, Kevin Nicholson, and Tim Ramthun—will push each other further to the extremes of every issue. Whether it is disenfranchising voters through lies regarding the 2020 election or advocating for a total ban on abortion, these candidates have said it all in order to pander to the fringe base and Donald Trump.”
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has its convention scheduled for the weekend of June 25-26 in La Crosse.