Scott Walker launches GOP presidential bid: 'I'm for reform, growth, and safety'


Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) announced to supporters in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Monday night that he is officially running for president, becoming the 15th Republican candidate to enter the race.
"We need new, fresh leadership," he said. "Leadership with big, bold ideas from outside Washington, the kind of leadership that knows how to get things done, like we've done in Wisconsin." Walker told the crowd that as governor, "we took on the unions and we won, we lowered taxes by $2 billion, lowered taxes on individuals, employers, and property owners.... How many other governors can say that?" He also mentioned defunding Planned Parenthood, enacting conceal carry laws, and the fact that he is frugal, and likes to use Kohl's Cash to purchase his clothes.
Walker said he would repeal ObamaCare, approve the Keystone Pipeline, get rid of Common Core, and protect "our children and grandchildren" from "radical Islamic terrorism." "I'm for reform, growth, safety, and transferring power from Washington to the hands of hardworking taxpayers, building a better economy that allows everyone to live their piece of the American dream," he said. "That's pro-growth."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Anne Hillerman's 6 favorite books with Native characters
Feature The author recommends works by Ramona Emerson, Craig Johnson, and more
-
How Zohran Mamdani's NYC mayoral run will change the Democratic Party
Talking Points The candidate poses a challenge to the party's 'dinosaur wing'
-
Book reviews: '1861: The Lost Peace' and 'Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers'
Feature How America tried to avoid the Civil War and the link between lead pollution and serial killers
-
Supreme Court clears third-country deportations
Speed Read The court allowed Trump to temporarily resume deporting migrants to countries they aren't from
-
Judges order release of 2 high-profile migrants
Speed Read Kilmar Ábrego García is back in the US and Mahmoud Khalil is allowed to go home — for now
-
US assessing bomb damage to Iran nuclear sites
Speed Read Trump claims this weekend's US bombing obliterated Tehran's nuclear program, while JD Vance insists the US is 'not at war with Iran'
-
Trump's LA deployment in limbo after court rulings
Speed Read Judge Breyer ruled that Trump's National Guard deployment to Los Angeles was an 'illegal' overreach. But a federal appellate court halted the ruling.
-
Marines, National Guard in LA can detain Americans
speed read The troops have been authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration raids
-
Trump vows 'very big force' against parade protesters
Speed Read The parade, which will shut down much of the capital, will celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday
-
Smithsonian asserts its autonomy from Trump
speed read The DC institution defied Trump's firing of National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet
-
Trump sends Marines to LA, backs Newsom arrest
speed read California Gov. Gavin Newsom is filing lawsuits in response to Trump's escalation of the federal response to ICE protests