What to know about the Wisconsin GOP Primary

After causing “a costly, divisive,” and “vicious” primary battle that’s “hurting Republicans in Wisconsin,” Leah Vukmir and Kevin Nicholson, will face off today — each propped up by millions in outside money.

While Nicholson is propped up by a whopping near-$11 million in outside spending from groups funded by billionaire Dick Uihlein, Vukmir is backed by the Republican Party of Wisconsin and heavy outside spending from corporate special interests. Vukmir and Nicholson’s mutual disdain, multiplied by their billionaire backers’ hefty ad spending, has ensured that the GOP primary remains dominated by petty squabbles and a high-dollar TV ad war that’s damaged both candidates.

What to know about the Wisconsin GOP Primary

Billionaire Dick Uihlein has spent $10.7 million to buy a U.S. Senate election for Kevin Nicholson, while Leah Vukmir has benefited from millions from corporate special interests and billionaire Diane Hendricks.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “Deep Pocketed Republicans” Are “Lining Up On Opposite Sides” Of The GOP primary.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “Richard Uihlein-backed groups have spent nearly $11 million to help Kevin Nicholson in GOP Senate primary.”

• “When it comes to Wisconsin’s race for the U.S. Senate, Illinois businessman Richard Uihlein has not been shy about spending his cash to get Kevin Nicholson across the finish line in the Republican primary. On Thursday, the Uihlein-backed Solutions for Wisconsin group unleashed a $911,000 television buy that will be up in several markets through the Tuesday primary.”

• “In all, Uihlein-supported groups have spent $10.7 million on the race in support of Nicholson and against his rival, Leah Vukmir, according to Republican and Democratic operatives tracking media placements.

Huffington Post: “Another Billionaire Goes On The Air In Wisconsin Senate Race”

• “Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate contest has quietly become one of the top races of the 2018 cycle, with conservative interests throwing millions into defeating Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). So far, groups connected to Illinois-based billionaire Dick Uihlein have dominated the airwaves on behalf of Republican candidate Kevin Nicholson. But last week, another billionaire’s money went on the air in the heated GOP primary.”
• “Wisconsin Next PAC has received $500,000 from billionaire businesswoman Diane Hendricks, who is also backing Vukmir.”

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin GOP Senate contender Kevin Nicholson wins endorsement from super PAC tied to Steve Bannon.

Politico: “The first big move of Leah Vukmir’s Senate campaign wasn’t a traditional kick-off speech or a catchy web video, but a private audience with an influential billionaire.”

The primary has been a crowded mess since the beginning and neither Leah Vukmir nor Kevin Nicholson were Wisconsin Republicans top candidates to face off against Senator Baldwin.

Associated Press, HEADLINE: “Wisconsin Republicans worry about crowded Senate primary.”

• “Wisconsin Republicans are growing increasingly worried about the high number of candidates running in a primary to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, fearing a repeat of the crowded 2012 race that put her in office… That year four Republicans slugged it out in an expensive and negative primary that left nominee Tommy Thompson, the former four-term governor, bruised and broke.”

Politico: “Rep. Sean Duffy bowed out early, and Republicans haven’t had a clear candidate to take on Baldwin since.”

RealClear Politics: Republicans “expressed concern” about Wisconsin’s “crowded field.” “Some [Republicans] expressed concern about…Wisconsin, where a wide array of businesspeople and state lawmakers are considering runs in what could become a crowded field with no clear frontrunner.”

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:  “It’s game on in the Republican contest to challenge Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin next year.” Prominent GOP donors are finding themselves on opposite sides of the GOP primary contest.

The Primary has been plagued with months of infighting which will inevitably leave the nominee badly damaged with less than 90 days until the general.

Washington Examiner, HEADLINE: Messy Wisconsin GOP Senate primary comes to tense end

Vox, HEADLINE: Wisconsin’s vicious Republican Senate primary election, explained

HuffPost, HEADLINE: A GOP Civil War Comes To Wisconsin

Politico, HEADLINE: Vukmir tries to turn ‘insider’ label inside-out in Wisconsin primary

Wall Street Journal, HEADLINE: Wisconsin Primary Shows Waning Power of State’s GOP Leaders