Cruz endorses Kleefisch, placing him at odds with Trump in Wisconsin’s GOP gubernatorial main

EXCLUSIVE: With two weeks to go till Wisconsin’s main, former conservative Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch is getting the backing of one of many largest names in her get together proper as she fights for the GOP gubernatorial nomination within the race to face off in November in the important thing battleground state with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

Kleefisch on Tuesday was endorsed by conservative firebrand Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, in an announcement shared first with Fox Information.

“I am proud to endorse Rebecca Kleefisch for governor of Wisconsin. Rebecca will combat for a stronger financial system, faculty alternative so dad and mom are again answerable for their children’ training, and she is going to work to guard Life and our Second Modification. I ask my fellow conservatives to affix me in supporting Rebecca’s marketing campaign for governor as we speak!” Cruz emphasised in an announcement.

Kleefisch, who served eight years as lieutenant governor below former Gov. Scott Walker, is among the two polling front-runners within the GOP main, together with Tim Michels – a multimillionaire proprietor of a building firm who in early June was endorsed by former President Trump. The sphere of 4 Republican candidates additionally consists of state lawmaker Timothy Ramthun. Retired Marine Kevin Nicholson suspended his GOP marketing campaign for governor earlier this month.

AFTER SNUB FROM TRUMP, KLEEFISCH VOWS SHE’LL WIN WISCONSIN’S GOP GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks on the Conservative Political Motion Convention (CPAC) Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Picture/John Raoux)

In asserting the endorsement, Kleefisch highlighted that “Senator Cruz is aware of the combat Wisconsin is up in opposition to on the federal degree and is aware of our state wants a powerful, confirmed chief as governor to combat in opposition to Bidenflation and for our pro-life and pro-2nd Modification values.” 

Cruz’s endorsement of Kleefisch places him at odds with Trump in one other high-profile GOP main – after they backed rival candidates in Republican Senate nomination showdowns earlier this yr in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

REBECCA KLEEFISCH ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL: TO STOP CRIME, FIRST STOP LIBERAL CRIME POLICIES

Cruz, who was the runner-up to Trump within the 2016 Republican presidential nomination race and who might face Trump once more in 2024 if each launch White Home bids, backed former Ohio state treasurer Josh Mandel within the Buckeye State’s GOP Senate main. Mandel got here in second to the Trump-endorsed J.D. Vance in a crowded area of Republican candidates within the state’s early Might main. In Pennsylvania, Cruz endorsed Dave McCormick, who was narrowly edged out by the Trump-backed Mehmet Oz – in one other massive area of GOP contenders – in a nomination that wasn’t settled till a few weeks after the first.

Former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch speaks with a voter in Sturtevant, WI, on July 17, 2022. Kleefisch is among the front-runners within the GOP gubernatorial nomination race in Wisconsin’s Aug. 9 main.  (Rebecca Kleefisch marketing campaign)

Kleefisch, together with Ramthun, earlier this yr trekked to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in hopes of touchdown his assist. Nonetheless, Kleefisch instructed Fox Information a day after the previous president’s backing of Michels that “Donald Trump says he likes winners, and I’m the one individual on this race who’s gained statewide. The truth is, I’ve gained statewide 4 occasions.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

In touting her file in workplace, Kleefisch stated she’ll proceed to “make my case primarily based on my established credentials of being a conservative reformer. I used to be lieutenant governor through the conservative coverage revolution that had everybody Wisconsin.”

Kleefisch landed the backing in Might of one other potential 2024 GOP presidential contender – former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who served as ambassador to the United Nations through the Trump administration. 

Haley traveled to Wisconsin a few weeks in the past to affix Kleefisch on the marketing campaign path and has helped fundraise for the previous lieutenant governor.

This text was initially revealed by foxnews.com. Learn the unique article right here.