Politics & Government
'Fake Democrats' Names Released for Governor, Lt. Governor Recalls
Six Republican "recall protest candidates" will run for the various governor and senator seats facing a recall election, likely forcing a primary race even in races where a primary was already expected, including in the 21st Senate District.
The "fake Democrats" are coming out again.
Six of them, in fact, who plan to get their names on the ballot in the upcoming recall elections, according to an Associate Press article. Though they've been labeled "fake Democrats," GOP spokesman Ben Sparks calls them "recall protest candidates."
The group includes: Gladys Huber, running who is running for governor; Isaac Weix, running for lieutenant governor; and Gary Ellerman, Tamara Varebrook, James Engel and James Buckley, who are running as Democrats in four state Senate recall elections.
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Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, and four state senators, including Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, , Pam Galloway and Terry Moulton are targeted for recall.
The take place in all recall races and general elections are held on the same date for all targeted Republicans.
Find out what's happening in Mount Pleasant-Sturtevantwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"The Republican Party will not actively campaign for the protest candidates, other than collecting nomination signatures to ensure their place on the ballot," Republican Party of Wisconsin Executive Director Stephan Thompson said in a statement. "Without protest candidates, the Democratic Party would be able to control the dates in which Republican officials face election, potentially separating the elections for state senate and lieutenant governor from the governor."
The state Government Accountability Board . These "Fake Democrats" will likely force a primary in all races, which would be held May 8; the general election date will be June 5.
Here in the 21st District, Varebrook's entrance into the race guarantees a primary with former Sen. John Lehman. Andrew Mielke, a resident from Caledonia, announced he was also seeking Wanggaard's seat in Madison and would run against Lehman as a Democrat even though he is not a registered member of the Democratic Party.
Candidates who want to run have until 5 p.m. April 10 to circulate and file nomination petitions and declaration of candidacy papers with the state Government Accountability Board.
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