Establishment Republicans in Wisconsin lukewarm on Ted Cruz, but say he still has their vote
Several establishment Republicans in Wisconsin say Ted Cruz's surge in the state isn't due to enthusiasm for the Texas senator, but more to anti-Donald Trump sentiment.
A Marquette Law School poll has Cruz with a 10-point lead over Trump ahead of next Tuesday's Wisconsin primary. Several prominent Wisconsin Republicans spoke with Politico, saying that while they don't care for Cruz's combative style and his hard-line stance on immigration, they still view him, ultimately, as the best alternative to Trump. "There will be a stop-Trump vote, but I do not think it reflects enthusiasm for Cruz," an unidentified prominent Republican business leader told Politico. "It's going to be an unenthusiastic vote. It's a pick-your-poison vote that does not have the business community fired up. They're basically [asking], 'What color suicide vest do you wear?'"
While Gov. Scott Walker, Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos are all behind Cruz, one person not supporting him is former U.S. Rep. Scott Klug, who is backing John Kasich. He said "very consciously, a lot of people are hoping" that House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin native, ends up the nominee after a contested convention, but Ryan has said multiple times he does not want the nomination and wants to see a candidate who ran this year become the nominee. The state is expected to have its largest primary turnout since 1980, and Republican businessman Brandon Scholz told Politico that while Cruz "may not be their first choice, he may be their only choice. Others who have not been on the Cruz ship are, at least at this point, buying into, Wisconsin is the firewall to stop Trump."
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.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Putin replaces defense minister with economist
Speed Read In a surprising shake-up, Putin replaced Sergei Shoigu with civilian economist Andrei Belousov
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - May 13, 2024
Cartoons Monday's cartoons - a portrait of humanity, cool re-brand, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Blinken: Israel's Gaza tactics risk 'enduring insurgency'
Speed Read The secretary of state criticized Israel's lack of plan to protect Rafah civilians
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published