Despite months of grumbling by unhappy conservative Republicans around the nation and on talk radio, Speaker Paul Ryan seems poised to win his GOP primary in Wisconsin on Tuesday, as voters go to the polls in four states for the U.S. Congress.
"Wisconsin’s first Congressional District has the chance to be the voice for millions of Americans by retiring Paul Ryan," said Paul Nehlen, the Republican running against Ryan who has been endorsed by conservative figures like Sarah Palin, Ann Coulter and more.
"August 9, let’s retire Speaker Ryan and send him back to Wall Street where he belongs," Nehlen has said, repeatedly trying to tie Ryan to Hillary Clinton, Wall Street and global trade deals.
"Paul Ryan at the Center of DC’s Culture of Lies," wrote conservative activist Richard Viguerie, as he tried to fan the flames of opposition to Ryan.
Nehlen had received a boost from Donald Trump earlier this month, when Trump refused to endorse Ryan, and gave a shout out to Nehlen - but that lasted only a few days, as Trump was leaned on by GOP leaders, giving Ryan and others a public endorsement during a visit to Green Bay.
Nehlen had gone to that Badger State rally where Trump endorsed Ryan. He tried to make the best of it.
So far this year, four sitting members of the U.S. House have lost their primary races, the same as two years ago.
Credit: Jamie Dupree
Credit: Jamie Dupree
One interesting note about that graphic is that, even before the November elections, there is already more turnover for the U.S. House than two years ago.
That is not true in the Senate, where major change only seems likely in the general election.
Also voting on Tuesday along with Wisconsin in primaries for the Congress is Connecticut, Minnesota and Vermont.
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