Trump endorses Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in the open race for governor of Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — President Donald Trump has endorsed U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in the open race for Wisconsin governor, bolstering the congressman’s standing in the battleground state’s GOP primary while also bolstering Democrats’ attempts to tie Tiffany to unpopular elements of the president’s agenda.

Trump announced his endorsement in a social media post Tuesday evening, saying Tiffany “has always been there for me.”

Tiffany has been a staunch Trump loyalist since he was elected to Congress in 2020. Before that, he served just over seven years in the Wisconsin legislature where he was a vocal supporter of Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

Tiffany faces Washington County Executive Josh Shuman in the August primary.

Trump said that, as governor, Tiffany will work to grow the economy, lower taxes, secure the border, ensure law and order, support the military and protect gun rights.

Tiffany said he was honored to receive the endorsement and promised that if elected, “I will make Wisconsin great again by lowering utility rates and property taxes, cutting burdensome red tape, eliminating waste and fraud, and restoring common-sense leadership to Madison.”

Democrats criticized the endorsement.

“Tiffany proudly voted for the Washington Republicans’ expensive and unpopular agenda that has hurt families, farmers and small businesses across Wisconsin,” Democratic Governors Association spokesman Izzi Levy said.

Wisconsin’s governor’s race is open for the first time in 16 years after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers decided not to run for a third term. Notable Democrats running include Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes; Current Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez; Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley; State Sen. Kelda Ruiz; State Rep. Francesca Hong; former state economic development director Missy Hughes; and former Evers assistant Joel Brennan.

Tiffany faces some historical obstacles. No member of Congress has ever been elected governor of Wisconsin, and over the past 36 years, gubernatorial candidates who were from the same party as the president have lost in the midterm elections every time, with the exception of Evers in 2022.

But Democrats also haven’t held the position for more than eight consecutive years.