Scott Walker, other Wisconsin Republicans avoid Trump talk at state convention

GREEN BAY – Republicans gathered in Green Bay for their annual state convention Saturday, but many of the party’s leaders avoided the topic of presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.

The five elected officials who spoke in Saturday morning’s session – Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, Attorney General Brad Schimel, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos – didn’t mention Trump by name.

Walker spoke for more than 30 minutes yet never brought up the presidential race, focusing his attention on his own record and the re-election campaign of U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson.

Governor Scott Walker

“We need to stay focused like a laser beam on the importance of the grassroots about getting the message out about Ron Johnson,” Walker told several hundred people at the KI Convention Center.

Walker has endorsed Trump -- as a presidential candidate last summer, Walker pledged to support the nominee -- but has indicated he may not campaign for him.

There were several Trump supporters in the crowd. A few wore hats with Trump’s slogan, “Make America Great Again,” and one man carried yard signs for the businessman.

Trump supporter Earl Vraa of Pepin County said his wife was surprised that the state officials steered clear of Trump. He said he expected Republicans to come together by November.

“They’re gonna change,” Vraa said. “Initially, I thought about (Ted) Cruz too, but I drifted more toward Trump.”

Robin Vos

The lack of support for Trump among state officials doesn’t mean they plan to vote for Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton. Several explicitly told the audience to vote against her.

I will work for Sen. Johnson, I will work for Congressman Paul Ryan, and I will work for the Republican nominee,” said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester.

Vos has said he wants to hear Trump announce his policy positions before deciding whether to support him.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzerald, who has been one of the most vocal supporters of Trump in Wisconsin, called for party unity but didn’t name Trump.

“We can unify under the pillars of conservatism, that’s what makes our country strong,” said Fitzgerald, R-Juneau.

Scott Fitzgerald

Vos and Fitzgerald asked Republican attendees to show their support for Assembly and Senate candidates. The GOP has a 63-36 majority in the Assembly and a 19-14 hold on the Senate.

Schimel said he was fearful that the country would pick the “wrong president” – without saying who the “right president” would be – and that person would nominate liberal judges to federal benches.

“The U.S. Supreme Court is evenly divided right now,” Schimel said. The next president’s going to decide which way that balance tips – our voter ID law could be jeopardy.”

Schimel is currently defending Wisconsin’s controversial law, which requires photo identification to vote, in federal court.

Democrats are holding their state convention on June 3-4. It will also be in Green Bay.