(The Center Square) – Bill Berrien says he’s got a shot at getting President Donald Trump’s endorsement in the race for Wisconsin governor.
Berrien was a guest on UpFront over the weekend and said despite his past criticisms of Trump, and his support for Nikki Haley in the last presidential race, he thinks he has a “great chance” of getting Trump’s support.
Berrian said he’s had conversations with “various members of [Trump’s] orbits” and said he is keeping the Trump team up to date, updated on where we’re going.”
Berrien is focusing on his career as a businessman, and his hope to strengthen Wisconsin’s manufacturing economy.
“I had the vision for making Wisconsin literally ground zero for the industrialization that he’s trying to leave in the country,” Berrien said. “We’ve got a 125-year-old manufacturing ecosystem. We have a highly trained, highly trainable workforce. You have the tariffs that are incentivizing businesses to consider investing in the country. And now you have the One
Big, Beautiful Bill Act that, it’s like a Black Friday sale, a factory expansion, no coupons required, between all the business incentives in manufacturing.”
Berrien also leaned on some of Trump’s themes in his campaign launch video.
But Berrien was a Nikki Haley backer in the 2024 election. He was vocal in both his support of Haley, and his criticism of Trump.
Berrien tried to walk that line over the weekend.
“To sort of set the record straight, since 2016, my wife and I have supported Donald Trump in every election — 2016, 2020, 2024,” Berrien said. “Voted for him and financially supported.”
Berrien is running against Washington County executive Josh Schoemann, though everyone expects at least one other Republican to jump into the 2026 race.
It remains to be seen which Democrat will be in the race. Gov. Tony Evers has not said whether he will run again next year.