GOP Chair Schimming Says Hong Makes Job Easier
Wisconsin Republican leader says State Rep. Francesca Hong has "unique weaknesses."
Chairman of Wisconsin Republican Party Brian Schimming at 2024 Republican National Convention. Photo by Graham Kilmer.
Wisconsin Republican Party chair Brian Schimming said he thinks his job will be easier during the coming midterm elections if state Rep. Francesca Hong is the Democratic candidate for governor.
As chair of the party, Schimming is in charge of turning out Republican voters ahead of the midterm election. “We don’t do the messaging. We state parties do the organization, the turnout, all that sort of thing,” he said during an event organized by the America First Policy Institute with U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner.
Historically, midterm elections provide an opportunity to vote against the party in control of the presidency, energizing voters for the party out of power. Democrats in Wisconsin believe national political trends and President Donald Trump‘s unpopularity put them in a position to score big victories in the midterms, including possibly winning majorities in both chambers of the state Legislature while hanging onto the governor’s office.
Schimming said his job ahead of the midterms is to turn out the Republican base and independent voters, adding, “[Hong] just does make it a little bit easier. I’ll say that.”
Schimming sees Wisconsin Democrats divided, pointing to Gov. Tony Evers‘ decision to endorse County Executive David Crowley over other candidates, such as former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes or his former Cabinet official Joel Brennan. On the other hand, Trump’s decision to endorse Tiffany remains “a strong endorsement,” according to the party chairman.
The latest Marquette University Law School poll placed Hong well ahead of her Democratic opponents, with 38% of respondents saying they would vote for her. Asked whether Republicans want to see Hong as the Democratic nominee, Schimming said Hong has “unique weaknesses” and “a lot of people, not just Republicans,” view Hong as the “weaker of the candidates.”
“I mean, the information on [Hong]’s record goes to the ceiling,” Schimming said. During a debate for Democratic candidates for governor Tuesday, Hong faced questions about her past support for abolishing the police and calling the police killing of Corey Ruiz an “execution.” As a socialist, Hong could also be attacked for positions taken by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which calls for abolishing the U.S. Senate and prisons.
Republicans across the country are already attempting to frame the upcoming midterm election cycle as a battle against far-left political ideology and, more specifically, communism. Trump has taken to referring to political opponents as communists, and a recent memo from the House Republican Conference published by Ms. Now shows the group urging House Republicans to lean into using the word “communist.”
U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the presumptive Republican nominee for governor, attended the America First Policy Institute event at Clifford’s Supper Club in Hales Corners on Wednesday. Security would not let media near the Republican candidate.
But the day prior, during an interview with Fox Business, Tiffany said Democrats had “turned their party over to the radicals, to the big government socialists” and “We’re going to be the firewall here in Wisconsin that’s going to stop socialism here in the heartland.”
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If Brian Schimming thinks Hong is weak, she’s going to beat Tom Tiffany in a f*cking landslide.
That makes sense. He gets a chance to be racist AND sexist.
Classic republican nonsense
I have seen many times that Hong referring to the killing Corey Ruiz as an execution is a “weakness”. That is just absurd to me. That was clear as day what happened. Republicans have no common sense.
What a way to respond to the question, they are clearly terrified of her
But I predict they will win the governor’s race, because Dems can’t face the fact there are plenty of voters outside the Madison and Milwaukee areas, and the majority of them would not vote for a person of color or a woman. Past Waupaca County, all one sees are Trump, Tiffany ad Charlie Kirk signs. There are small pockets of Dems in Portage County and throughout the upper half of the state, but they are not enough to bring victory to the Dems. Just the opinion of one raised in central Wisconsin with ties to the area. They believe NYC is now under a Communist’s leadership. Please Dems, wake up.
jmpehoski it’s a good thing land doesn’t vote, people do. Like 50% of the state population is East of interstate 41. Throw in Madison and you have something like +60%. Not to say the voice of Central Wisconsin and further North does not matter, but population density is what matters in elections.
Goodlander, I hope I don’t have to say “I told you so.”
Hong is also aware of this and has been campaigning in red areas. A recent Marquette poll had shown her to be close with TT in a one on one. We all need to do our part, spread the word, and fight the stigmas. Wisconsin CAN have a socialist governor.
jmpehoski, I do understand your concern. I hope you join the cause and help fight for a champion for the common people of Wisconsin. It is a fight that we can win, but not without effort.
Trump’s policies and lack of concern for the working person has hurt all of Wisconsin. We can not base our policies on what the MAGA wants. We can no longer base our policies on reaching across an aisle. When someone is drowning we don’t ask them what color life preserver they want. Wisconsin voters are intelligent, and open to change. Obama won the state twice. Hong can and will win. It is time for the other candidates to drop out and put their support behind her.
The party of child rape, murder, and stealing tax dollars going for the same racist vote.