APPLETON, Wis. — Republican lawmakers and delegates from across Wisconsin gathered in Appleton on Saturday for the Republican Party of Wisconsin’s State Convention.

What You Need To Know

  • Republican lawmakers and delegates from across Wisconsin gathered in Appleton on Saturday for the Republican Party of Wisconsin’s State Convention.
  • The convention was aimed at uniting Wisconsin Republicans under a common goal: to gain the upper hand in upcoming elections

  • Congressman Bryan Steil said the general feeling at the convention was that Republicans are ready to turn things around

  • Steil said the event was also a good opportunity to generate excitement for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July

Early in the day, attendees were encouraged to introduce themselves to each other. It was an effort to encourage unity, something Congressman Derrick Van Orden said the Republican Party needs.

“Republicans are independent thinkers,” he said. “We don’t march in lockstep. We come at a problem set from different perspectives.”

The convention was aimed at uniting Wisconsin Republicans under a common goal: to gain the upper hand in upcoming elections.

“Republicans are now taking the approach that we need to make sure that we have as many votes counted because when Republicans get out and work, and when Republicans actually vote, we win,” Van Orden said.

Congressman Bryan Steil said the general feeling at the convention was that Republicans are ready to turn things around.

“Wisconsin’s ready for a change,” Steil said. “People are frustrated with the inflationary policies that we’ve been experiencing. Under President Biden, everything is 20% more expensive than when he took office.”

Steil said the event was also a good opportunity to generate excitement for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July.

“Wisconsin is the center of the political storm this year. The next president of the United States is going to be decided here in the state of Wisconsin,” he said. “So, it’s a great opportunity for us to get our message out.”

Steil said he’s hopeful that along with their stance on inflation, Wisconsin Republicans will get to highlight their stances on immigration and foreign policy. He’s also running for re-election this year and plans to learn more about what Wisconsinites want on the campaign trail.

“I’m going to continue to go out and talk to people about the issues that are challenging everyone in the state of Wisconsin,” he said. “At the end of the day, when we look at the policies that matter to families, it is the fact that folks can’t afford the things that they need.”

Van Orden said he hopes the message of unity sticks with Republicans as they head to the polls in November.

“We have to get back to the place where we are Americans first, meaning we have to look out for our citizens,” he said. “How do we do that? We talk to every single American and get their opinions, try to find out what the problems are, and then work with the best solution across the board.”

Related Stories