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Former VP Pence endorses Rebecca Kleefisch in race for governor

The endorsement is the latest split between Pence and former President Donald Trump

By
A large white sign says "Rebecca for Governor" behind the stage where Rebecca Kleefisch is speaking.
Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch addresses a crowd on stage while announcing her campaign for governor Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, at Western States Envelope Company in Butler, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch announced she is being endorsed in the governor’s race by former Vice President Mike Pence.

Kleefisch shared the Pence endorsement on Twitter. Her post includes a statement from Pence calling her “the only candidate that will deliver a stronger and more prosperous Wisconsin.”

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Kleefisch’s announcement comes the day after former President Donald Trump said he was coming to Waukesha to campaign for Tim Michels ahead of the primary. Michels is Kleefisch’s main rival in the Republican primary race, with the two roughly tied in the most recent polling by the Marquette University Law School Poll.

Trump endorsed Michels in June.

It’s not the first time Trump and his vice president have split on endorsements. They are supporting rival candidates for the governor’s race in Arizona. In May, Pence backed Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in his primary race against Trump-endorsed David Perdue. Kemp won that race by a wide margin.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, endorsed Kleefisch on Tuesday.