MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Latest on Reince Priebus endorsing Leah Vukmir in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate (all times local):
10:40 a.m.
Former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus says he just doesn’t believe that U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Nicholson is a true Republican after he previously served as national president of the College Democrats.
Priebus on Monday endorsed Republican state Sen. Leah Vukmir in the GOP Senate primary.
Priebus says on WISN-AM that Nicholson’s conversion to a Rpeublican is “all too convenient, all too contrived and I just don’t buy it.”
Nicholson says on WTMJ-AM that “I know it rocks the boat a bit when someone from outside the comfortable, established political universe stands up wants to serve.”
Nicholson is backed by former White House strategist Steve Bannon.
The primary is Aug. 14. The winner will face Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin in November.
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8:38 a.m.
Former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus is endorsing state Sen. Leah Vukmir in the Republican primary race for U.S. Senate.
Vukmir’s Republican challenger, Kevin Nicholson, is backed by former White House strategist Steve Bannon.
Both Bannon and Priebus left President Donald Trump’s White House last year. Bannon has been supporting conservative Senate candidates he thinks will get behind Trump’s agenda, but he’s drawn criticism from some Republicans for backing Roy Moore in Alabama. Moore lost after several women accused him of sexual misconduct.
Priebus is a former Wisconsin Republican Party chairman who went on to lead the Republican National Committee before going to the White House.
He says Vukmir will stand with Trump to enact his agenda in Congress and has a strong record as a conservative state lawmaker.
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