• Michels Supported Banning Abortion Even In Cases Of Rape And Incest.
• “What if a woman is raped? ‘Should she have to go through that birth and all that trauma?’ But for Michels, there are no exceptions. ‘I think she’s going to pick up mental trauma from having the abortion as well,’ Michels says. ‘To ask her to go through the birth is not unreasonable when you talk about killing the life of that baby.’” [Wisconsin State Journal, 6/13/04]

• Michels has been vocal about his homophobic views, saying he “believe[s] in family values” and doesn’t think you should “bring it out of your house and onto the public street.” “Michels answered a question from the audience about what he would do to protect the rights of gays and lesbians. He began by saying they should be treated just like other Americans before launching into his opposition to gay marriage. ‘When you bring it out of your house and onto the public street, that’s where I differ. I believe in family values. I believe in traditional family values,’ said Michels, a Republican. Michels later clarified he did not mean homosexuals should not bring their sexuality into public but people shouldn’t have ‘gay values’ imposed upon them. [Associated Press, 10/16/04]
• Michels Supported A Constitutional Amendment Banning Gay Marriage. “U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold says he’ll fight a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage this year, while two of his would-be GOP challengers support the proposal. […] Michels argued defining marriage was a proper role for the Constitution. ‘The Constitution provides a foundation for our country and for the states,’ said Michels, a construction company owner. ‘For me, marriage between man and woman is a basic premise.’” [Associated Press, 1/11/04]

• Michels held at least $100,000 in investments in Chinese companies, saying it was a good investment for his children.
• Michels Invested At Least $100,000 In Chinese Companies. “The other day we reported that Michels had between $50,000 and $100,000 invested in the Templeton China World Fund on behalf of his children. At the same time, though, the Oconomowoc Republican spends a good chunk of his time on the campaign trail blaming China for costing American jobs and threatening to yank the country’s preferred trading status if it doesn’t play by the rules. Well, we were wrong. Documents filed with the feds show Michels actually has between $100,000 and $200,000 in the China fund in two separate accounts for his kids. On top of that, he has between $30,000 and $100,000 in the Templeton Emerging Markets Fund, a diversified mutual fund that has nearly 11 percent of its assets invested in China.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/1/04]
• Michels Said His Investments In A Chinese Mutual Fund Were Made On Behalf Of His Children. “The multimillionaire exec has made a significant investment in the Templeton fund that, according to its prospectus, ‘seeks long term capital growth by investing at least 80 percent of its net assets in equity securities of ‘China companies.’ The prospectus said China companies include those organized or having a principal office in the communist nation, Hong Kong or Taiwan or firms that receive at least half of their revenue from goods or services made or sold in China. Companies with at least 50 percent of their assets in China also fit the definition. […] ‘It’s not hypocritical,’ said Roby. He repeatedly noted the mutual fund was one of Michels’ many investments, and this one was for Michels’ children, not himself.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9/28/04]

• While students and teachers struggled to afford even basic school supplies, Rebecca Kleefisch and Scott Walker viciously attacked funding for Wisconsin’s public schools, making massive cuts to K-12 education and the University of Wisconsin system, which plays a key role in the state’s economy.

• In 2011, Walker-Kleefisch administration cut $800 million from public education and $71.6 million from Wisconsin’s technical colleges, 30% of their funding. [WISN, 6/27/11; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/1/11]
• In 2015, Kleefisch proudly touted Governor Walker’s budget as a success – it failed to increase K-12 funding and cut University of Wisconsin funding by $250 million, impacting approximately 150,000 students and 21,000 workers. [Washington Post, 7/13/15]
• The Walker-Kleefisch administration also signed legislation which led to a “historic” teacher shortage. [Slate, 11/8/18]

• Over the years, Michels Corporation has been sued for questionable business practices and has received hundreds of millions of dollars in state contracts. The Michels Corporation:
• Fleeced Wisconsin taxpayers by exploiting a payroll mistake and forcing the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to pay them for doing one job twice, totaling more than $400,000 for the three companies involved.
• Was sued by Ohio landowners over breach-of-contract allegations and damaging crops and soil.
• Lost a breach-of-contract lawsuit against the Village of Elm Grove after they failed to fix a recurring flooding problem.
• Was accused of illegally discharging sewage into a Milwaukee creek, and in one instance was fined $10,000 for a sewer overflow.

Tim Michels, Michels Corp. were awarded half a billion dollars by the State of Wisconsin for 52 construction-related projects. 

• From FY14 through the end of the Walker Administration, Michels Corp. was awarded $582,055,521.35 for 52 projects. [Wisconsin Department of Transportation, accessed 4/15/22]
• As Michels Corp. received hundreds of millions of dollars in state contracts, they actively donated to then-Gov. Scott Walker’s campaigns. In total, Michels Corp. and their employees had contributed at least $143,435 to Walker’s campaigns.

Wisconsin Republicans in the state legislature unanimously voted in favor allowing loaded weapons on school grounds. The bill was vetoed by Gov. Tony Evers.

• Associated Press: Wisconsin Senate Approves Concealed Guns at School Lots
• Salon: Wisconsin Republicans pass bill allowing some high school students to bring a gun to campus

GOP candidates Rebecca Kleefisch and Kevin Nicholson both said they are in favor of rolling back gun safety measures and allowing permitless carry, which would allow anyone in Wisconsin to carry a weapon without training or a license. Wisconsinites overwhelmingly opposed permitless carry. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4/12/22]

Rebecca Kleefisch wanted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would have resulted in over 430,000 Wisconsinites losing their insurance and would severely damage the state’s economy. That’s why she supported a lawsuit that Governor Walker authorized, which would have ended protections for 2.4 million Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions.

Wisconsin Republicans have attempted to limit voting rights in Wisconsin multiple times during Gov. Evers’ first term. Disability and senior advocates have come out against these bills, saying they will make it more difficult for Wisconsinites to vote. 

• Associated Press: Wisconsin Republicans sends election bills to governor
• WPR: Gov. Tony Evers Vetoes 6 GOP-Backed Election Bills
• WUWM: Advocates for voters with disabilities voice concern over Republican efforts to shape Wisconsin elections

Despite countless reports from law enforcement agencies, a recount, and ruling by courts in Wisconsin — Rebecca Kleefisch, Kevin Nicholson, and Tim Ramthun are embracing election conspiracy theories in order to win favor with national Republicans and Donald Trump.

• Associated Press: Kleefisch used to believe Biden won Wisconsin, now won’t say
• Washington Post: The Trailer: Decertify the 2020 election? In Wisconsin, it may be on the ballot
• Rolling Stone: He Wants to Throw Out Biden’s Victory — And Be Wisconsin’s Next Governor

Donald Trump’s own Department of Homeland Security called the 2020 election the most secure in American history.

• Politifact: Yes, Department of Homeland Security declared Nov. 3 election most secure in American history