The Pro-Life Wisconsin Victory Fund (PLWVF), the organization’s political action committee, has endorsed State Representative André Jacque (R-De Pere) in the 1st Senate District special election.
“André’s commitment to protect each and every innocent human being from the moment of conception, coupled with his solid voting record on behalf of preborn children, makes him the only candidate for pro-life voters in the upcoming special election,” the PLWVF announcement said on Monday.
The special election is scheduled for June 12, with the GOP primary on May 15. Jacque faces Alex Renard, a 24-year-old businessman who moved to the district to run after being recruited by former Assembly Speaker and current lobbyist John Gard. The winner of the GOP primary will take on Door County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Caleb Frostman, the Democratic candidate.
The news comes as another pro-life organization, Wisconsin Family Action (WFA), announced a poll result on Friday showing Jacque ahead of Renard, 27 percent of the GOP vote, to 7 percent for Renard, with 67 percent undecided. Of those that have decided on a candidate in the Republican primary, Jacque leads 80 percent to 20 percent. The poll was an automated robopoll of 10,000 potential GOP primary voters, according to WFA President Julaine Appling, and has a 4 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence rate.
Renard recently announced the endorsements of five members of the state Assembly, colleagues of Jacque. Jerry Bader, a former radio host and the editor of Media Trackers, warned in his Monday podcast that there may be a backlash against the Republican establishment backing Renard in the primary over the more conservative Jacque.
“This could backfire,” said Bader. “I know those involved don’t think so, but this could backfire. André Jacque is a very established conservative.”
Bader said “rumblings” among some Republicans in Madison are that Jacque has “stepped on toes” in the Capitol. Bader issued a warning to Republican leaders.
“Be careful, because André Jacque is well-regarded as a conservative in the district,” Bader said. “And this could blow up in their face like a trick cigar.”
