A new TV ad has sparked a disagreement among Republicans running for Wisconsin’s only open congressional seat in this fall’s election.
Three state lawmakers are competing in the Republican primary in the 6th Congressional District in eastern Wisconsin. One of them, Sen. Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan) is responsible for the ad in question, which features the senator’s brother crediting Leibham for being a key author of a voter ID bill that was eventually signed into law.
Courts have since halted the photo ID requirement, and one of Leibham’s congressional opponents, Rep. Duey Stroebel (R-Cedarburg) said the senator helped stop a modified bill this year that would have allowed people with a signed affidavit to cast a provisional ballot.
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“He was more interested in having his bill … become law,” said Stroebel. “He seems to think it will be deemed constitutional, but right now we’ve had a judge say it isn’t constitutional.”
Leibham’s campaign put out a Twitter message in response, suggesting Stroebel doesn’t understand legislating. He continues to endorse the bill he authored.
“I believe that our law will be found constitutional once it is removed from a liberal district judge,” said Leibham. “I am not prepared to compromise on that strong photo ID bill.”
The third Republican lawmaker in primary, Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-Campbellsport), is not criticizing the Leibham ad.Grothman’s campaign says it expects to be outspent in the congressional race, but promises to be competitive with its ads and direct mail.
Grothman did join Stroebel is promisingto serve just 10 years if elected. The Republican vacating the seat, Rep. Tom Petri (R-Fond du Lac) has been in office 35 years.
Whoever wins the primary next month will have to defeat Democratic candidate Mark Harris.
Watch the Joe Leibham ad below:
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