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Yes.

Former Republican Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels said on The Jay Weber Show on Nov. 29 that former President Donald Trump told him just before the 2022 election that he would not visit Wisconsin because Michels was poised to win. 

“He said, ‘I’m not gonna come in. You’ve got this thing. I’ve seen all the numbers. It looks really strong, congratulations,’ ” Michels said about his phone call with Trump. The former president endorsed Michels during the primary and made a campaign appearance for him in August 2022. 

Michels also recounted how many prominent Republicans — including former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and former Trump White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus — thought Michels would be elected governor as part of a nationwide “red wave.” But Republicans came up empty handed in numerous key races, including Michels’, and failed to retake the U.S. Senate.

Sources

IHeart: Tim Michels appearance on The Jay Weber Show — November 29, 2022

AP News: Michels: Trump assured him no campaign visit needed

Wisconsin Public Radio: Donald Trump campaigns for Tim Michels, against Robin Vos at Waukesha rally

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Jacob Alabab-Moser joined as Wisconsin Watch’s fact checker in September 2022, as part of the effort by The Gigafact Project in partnership with different state-level news outlets to combat misinformation in the 2022 midterm elections. Jacob has several years of experience as a fact checker and research assistant at a variety of organizations, including at The Gigafact Project. He holds a BA from Brown University and is pursuing a MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science.