Mark Jefferson, the executive director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin (RPW), said that RPW may consider a “no endorsement” option for its convention in May after pushback from some primary candidates and other organizations.
“I expect there will probably be a vote by the full convention as to whether a ”no endorsement“ option is allowed on the ballot,” Jefferson said. “No mater what the rules committee decides, I expect the convention attendees will take up that question and vote on it.”
Under RPW’s endorsement policy, which was approved in December, to receive an endorsement from the state party at convention candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general must raise at least $50,000 in campaign donations from at least 300 individual donors — excluding candidate contributions or those from their immediate family or political action committees — by March 15th. Candidates for governor or U.S. Senate must raise at least $100,000 from at least 1,000 individual donors by that same deadline.
Some candidates have criticized RPW’s endorsement process, one of the most notable being gubernatorial candidate Kevin Nicholson. David Varnam, vice chair of the Grant County Republican Party and candidate for lieutenant governor, argued that his endorsements from notable conservative organizations like Wisconsin Right to Life PAC, should factor into his consideration despite his falling short of the fundraising threshold.
Additionally, nearly two dozen county parties, including the Republican Party of Dane County, have called on RPW to allow delegates to choose to not endorse any candidate, or skip the process entirely.
