Republicans offered conflicting accounts of former President Donald Trump’s alleged remark that Milwaukee is a “horrible city.” Some lawmakers claimed he was referring to election integrity, while others said he was talking about crime. Rep. Claudia Tenney, who posed the question that led to Trump’s comment, clarified that he was discussing voter fraud and policies related to protecting the integrity of elections. She emphasized the importance of addressing concerns from both Republicans and Democrats about election integrity ahead of the upcoming fall races.
Tenney, who narrowly won her congressional seat in a recount in 2020, highlighted the need for measures to ensure fair elections. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson fired back at Trump, citing his own criticisms of Trump’s presidency. The theme of “restoring trust” has been key for Milwaukee’s election commission and the media, particularly regarding the counting of votes in the 2020 presidential election. Despite findings from audits that there was no widespread fraud, there were irregularities and failures to follow election laws and procedures.
The use of private funds in the 2020 election, particularly in urban areas like Milwaukee, sparked outrage among conservatives in Wisconsin and beyond. This led to the approval of two referenda in April to prohibit the use of private money in election administration and stipulate that only election officials can conduct election tasks. The Republican National Committee launched a campaign called “Protect the Vote” to ensure fair elections by recruiting poll watchers and election lawyers in key states, including Wisconsin.
Rep. Tenney expressed her concerns about the potential for vote harvesting and obtaining ballots from illegal immigrants by Democrats. She stressed the importance of targeting voter fraud in identified areas to prevent any attempts to sway election outcomes. Despite differing accounts from Wisconsin lawmakers about Trump’s comments on Milwaukee, the focus remains on ensuring election integrity and restoring trust in the electoral process.
Milwaukee’s mayor criticized Trump by highlighting issues during his presidency, while the city’s election commission continues to address concerns surrounding the 2020 election. Audits found no widespread fraud, but identified irregularities that raised questions about following election laws and procedures. The use of private funds in the election led to changes in state regulations and fueled conservative outrage, prompting the launch of the RNC’s “Protect the Vote” campaign to safeguard elections in key swing states, including Wisconsin.
