The Associated Press is reporting Wisconsin First Lady Tonette Walker, wife of Governor Scott Walker, is supporting state Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield) in her run for U.S. Senate:
Vukmir first mentioned at a Republican event Saturday that Walker’s wife Tonette Walker will soon be endorsing her in the GOP primary over Kevin Nicholson. Vukmir’s campaign spokesman Mattias Gugel said Monday that Tonette Walker will also be hosting a fundraiser for her.
As the story notes, this is not the first Walker to support Vukmir’s campaign. The governor’s son Alex Walker is actually working for the campaign. The governor, so far, has remained neutral in the race despite Nicholson allies attacking the records of Walker and Vukmir.
In an interview with RightWisconsin, Gugel confirmed that the first lady will be appearing at an event for Vukmir but he wasn’t ready to call it an endorsement yet.
“Mrs. Walker is supportive, but I don’t think we’re at the endorsement stage yet,” Gugel said.
Brian Reisinger, a spokesman for the governor’s campaign, issued the following statement:
First Lady Tonette Walker can think on her own, and just because the governor is neutral doesn’t mean that his family can’t support causes important to them. The Walkers raised their families in Wauwatosa, just like Leah raised hers, and they’ve known each other for years. The governor plans to remain neutral and support the eventual nominee.
Vukmir is running against Delafield business consultant Kevin Nicholson in the Republican Primary for U.S. Senate. Nicholson spokesman Brandon Moody says the First Lady is backing “an insider” who cannot win.
An insider cannot beat Tammy Baldwin. That’s why our campaign is winning this race and leading in all available public polling. We’ve outraised Leah Vukmir two-to-one, and have over 5,000 Wisconsin donors from all 72 counties. Kevin has received the endorsements of conservative leaders like Ted Cruz, John Bolton, Club for Growth, Freedom Works, Madison Project, Great America PAC and many others because he’s the conservative who will beat Tammy Baldwin.
Businessman Eric Hovde, who made a run for the U.S. Senate in 2012 but finished second in the Republican primary that year, is also seriously considering entering the race.
The winner of the Republican Primary in August will take on the incumbent U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison) in November.
