Wisconsin Capitol Building at night during Chrismas. MWC file photo by Mike Leischner
MADISON, WI (WSAU) — Bill Berrien has ended his campaign for Governor, three months after he entered the race.
The Republican, who pitched himself as a successful businessman and political outsider, released a statement on Friday saying he was choosing to end the bid on his terms.
“As I entered this race for Governor 11 weeks ago, I saw an amazing opportunity for us to turn our state around after six years of being stuck in the economic doldrums under Tony Evers’ leadership. Based on my experiences as a manufacturing leader, I saw the opportunity to make Wisconsin the manufacturing powerhouse to the world again (with wages doubling every ten years) and to make education (including a reinvigorated focus on the trades) and training both excellent and lifelong so workers could thrive in this new economy. I thought that by applying a business mindset to spending, budgeting, and cutting taxes, we could make Wisconsin a better place to build and grow businesses, attract investment, and allow families to prosper.
“And yet, as my campaign was gaining traction and emboldened by that optimistic vision, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published this week two articles clearly targeted to force me out of the race. I consider myself very intellectually curious and, as a leader in business and hoped-for leader in politics, I thought it was a strength to read very widely and show a broad intellectual interest. I listen to podcasts every day on my way to work. I am constantly trying to take in new information, trying to learn something new. I follow over 5,000 people across so many platforms. I subscribe to over 100 newsletters. And I have hit the ‘like’ button on perhaps 20,000 different articles or postings. Yet the media cherry-picked a handful of individuals and written articles that came across my feed that I then followed (without the faintest clue as to an author’s lifestyle choices!) 6 or 7 years ago, and painted a salacious and sensational picture that was clearly targeted to force me out of this governor race. It was a major attack piece, and we confirmed opposition research started in January of this year, if not earlier.
“And for what? For reading! Nothing illegal, nothing unethical, and nothing immoral. Just reading. Wouldn’t you want your political and business leaders (and all of society, frankly) to be widely read and thoughtful and aware of different perspectives and ideas? Yet, when a supposedly major metropolitan newspaper condemns someone for reading, we have ourselves a problem.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Berrien was following some sexually explicit accounts. He scrubbed those accounts from his social media after he was asked about them by a reporter.
His departure leaves two big-name Republicans in the race, 7th Congressional District representative Tom Tiffany and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann.
Berrien spent about $400,000 on radio and TV ads this summer, introducing himself to voters as a Trump-aligned conservative.
Comments