Just hours before the deadline Tuesday, four Democratic gubernatorial challengers turned in signatures to the Government Accountability Board to qualify for primaries that will be held May 8.
All nominees must turn in a minimum of 2,000 signatures supporting their candidacy in the race, according to rules set by the GAB. The board also set a 4,000 signature limit on how many the board is willing to accept from each candidate.
Former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, and Secretary of State Doug LaFollete all turned in more than 2,000 signatures to the board, meeting the deadline.
“As the exact number of signatures are tallied, the totals will be given at the GAB’s website,” GAB spokesperson Reid Magney said.
Michael Mangan, an energy engineer from Milwaukee, and Wisconsin resident Arthur Louis Kohl-Riggs, filed papers to run against Walker in a Republican primary. Mangan ran as an independent for governor in 1994, 1998 and 2002.
Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin President Mahlon Mitchell also filed enough signatures to get on the ballot for the lieutenant governor’s seat, according to a statement from the GAB.
Falk’s campaign was optimistic about her chances during the primary and recall.
“We turned in the maximum number of signatures allowed, which were gathered by more than 500 people from 150 different communities,” Falk’s campaign spokesperson Scot Ross said. “Kathleen has built a statewide grassroots campaign that’s necessary to beat Gov. Walker.”
Barrett’s campaign was also optimistic about turning in the signatures. Former Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, who helped Barrett’s campaign turn in the signatures, announced her endorsement for Barrett in a statement following the delivery of the signatures.
Six conservatives who have been working with the state’s GOP party and who are running as “fake” Democrats also turned in nomination papers Tuesday to run against Walker in the recall election. Gladys Huber will run for governor, Isaac Weix will run for lieutenant governor and Gary Ellerman, Tamara Varebrook, James Engel and James Buckley will run in the four state Senate recalls.
