Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Joins Presidential Race
WASHINGTON, July 13 (UPI) — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker announced on Monday that he will run for the Republican nomination for president in the 2016 election.
“America needs new fresh leadership with big bold ideas from outside of Washington, actually get things done,” Walker said in a video announcing his campaign. “Now, I’m running for president to fight and win for the American people… we can make our country great again.”
Walker will present himself to voters as a Harley Davidson-riding, average American fiscal conservative who wants to lower taxes, cut government spending and reduce government assistance.
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Speculation for a presidential run followed Walker ever since he won three elections within four years. He won his first election in 2010, beat back a recall in 2012 and was re-elected in 2014.
After collecting more than 900,000 signatures, Walker’s opponents, who rallied against him for limiting collective bargaining rights for state employees, were able to force a recall election in 2012 between Walker and Democrat Tom Barrett, who ran against him in the first election. Walker won by a larger margin in the recall than in the first election — a significant victory to the governor.
But Walker has caused controversy in his own party. He has worked hard to pass a $250 million proposal using taxpayer money to pay for a new basketball arena for the Milwaukee Bucks, which confused and angered fiscal conservatives who usually support him, according to The Washington Post.
Walker joins a wide field of announced Republican presidential candidates.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former New York Gov. George Pataki, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former HP CEO Carly Fiorina, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and real estate tycoon and reality TV star Donald Trump have announced campaigns.
For the Democratic nomination, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley are in the running.
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