MILWAUKEE — Republican businessman Tim Michels is running for Wisconsin governor, TMJ4's Charles Benson reports.
Michels is the co-owner of Brownsville, Wis.-based Michels Corporation with his brothers. Michels Corporation is an infrastructure and energy contractor.
Michels is jumping into the race with about fours months until the August primary. He ran for U.S. Senate in 2004 and lost to Russ Feingold.
This comes days after former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson declined to run for an unprecedented fifth term in office. His family vetoed the idea of jumping into the race.
Former President Donald Trump has already met with former Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, who is the perceived Republican front-runner right now in the primary for governor. Trump's first choice for Republican governor was former Congressman Sean Duffy, who has declined to run. Thompson also met with Trump before making his decision.
Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, Kevin Nicholson and State Rep. Timothy Ramthun are also running in the Republican primary. Gov. Tony Evers is running for reelection.
Just in: It’s official. Republican Tim Michels is running for Governor. The Wisconsin businessman jumping in with about fours months until the August primary. He ran for US Senate in 2004 and lost to Russ Feingold. pic.twitter.com/hNQ3Bu3UXK
— Charles Benson (@CharlesBenson4) April 22, 2022
Read his official announcement released on Monday, April 25:
Conservative businessman and veteran, Tim Michels, announced his bid to become Wisconsin’s next governor today. He is running in the Republican primary.
“Wisconsin is on the wrong track. From COVID to Kenosha, Tony Evers has been a terrible governor,” said Michels. “His instincts are awful and his policies are even worse.”
Tim Michels is a proven leader from outside the political establishment who is poised to clean up the mess in Madison and get things headed in the right direction. Michels and his brothers run Michels Construction, which in the last 25 years has grown from a few hundred employees to a nationally-admired, multi-faceted construction company with more than 8,000 employees.
“I’m a businessman and a veteran — not a politician.” Michels continued. “Holding office has not been a lifelong goal of mine. However, when I see the mess Tony Evers has created, I hear a call to serve and believe I have a duty to try to help get Wisconsin back on track. I know my proven, decisive, executive leadership experience is just what we need in Madison.”
Four of the key issues Michels will focus on during the campaign are the economy, education, public safety and election integrity.
“Under Tony Evers, violent crime is surging, our economy was shut down unconstitutionally, elections are being hijacked by big tech foundations from California, and our schools are leaving our most vulnerable kids behind,” said Michels. “I won’t tolerate the repeated failures we’ve seen from the Evers Administration.”
Michels vowed his campaign will be free from special interest influence yet will have the resources necessary to defeat Tony Evers.
“Our campaign will be aggressive, and it will be free of special interest influence,” said Michels. “I will not accept any contributions from PACs or lobbyists and I have set a cap of individual contributions to $500.”
Michels is holding an event with family and friends later this afternoon at his company’s Brownsville maintenance facility, just down the road from where he was born and raised. The campaign has also begun a statewide advertising campaign on radio and television as well as via direct mail and digital communications.
Michels for Governor, Inc. is launching an aggressive grassroots, door-to-door campaign across the state following today’s announcement. Michels said the timing of his announcement meets the expectations and needs of Wisconsin voters
“As I’ve talked to people across Wisconsin, nobody has said to me, ‘you know, I wish campaigns were longer.’ I will not engage in sniping and personal attacks. That’s what politicians want to do. My campaign is different. I’m focused on one goal - winning, and getting Wisconsin out of the hands of ineffectual career politicians like Tony Evers.”
