MILWAUKEE _ Hoping to avoid an overheated endorsement fight that hurts the party's chances in the fall, Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate in Wisconsin said Wednesday they'll sign a unity pledge.
The question is, can it last through the August primary?
The move came as Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson was named by the Republican Party of Wisconsin to chair the grass-roots endorsement process at the 2018 state convention.
State Sen. Leah Vukmir of Brookfield and Delafield businessman Kevin Nicholson are the only announced candidates for the GOP nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin in the fall.
Madison businessman Eric Hovde, who finished second to former Gov. Tommy Thompson in the 2012 GOP senate primary, is also considering whether to enter the race.
"Kevin of course will sign the unity pledge and he hopes that all Republicans will unite behind our nominee to defeat Baldwin," a Nicholson spokesman said.
Vukmir said she was proud to sign the pledge, which was approved last month by the state party's executive committee.
"As a lifelong Republican, I've always supported the party nominee and you can bet I'll be doing everything I can this November to make sure Wisconsin has a senator who believes in the Wisconsin way," she said. "Senator Johnson certainly understands that the grassroots are the core of Wisconsin's Republican Party, a focus I have built my candidacy on."
According to a statement, the unity pledge commits the candidates "to a respectful pursuit of the endorsement of grass-roots conservatives at the state convention and the Republican nomination, running a campaign focused on defeating Senator Tammy Baldwin, and supporting whoever the Republican nominee is when the primary is over."
They're trying to avoid a repeat of what happened in Alabama, where former White House senior adviser Steve Bannon entered the fray in support of Republican Roy Moore, while President Donald Trump initially supported a different candidate in the GOP primary.
Moore ended up losing a solidly Republican seat to Democrat Doug Jones last month.
A super PAC tied to Bannon has endorsed Nicholson. Vukmir also tried to gain Bannon's backing.
"We've all witnessed what happens when Washington, D.C.-based 'political experts' of all kinds get involved in U.S. Senate races," Johnson said in issuing his call for the unity pledge.
"Here in Wisconsin, the grass roots have a track record of nominating candidates who reflect our values _ not Washington's _ and we can do it again to defeat Tammy Baldwin this fall."
It's not a sure thing that Republicans at this year's state convention will throw their support to a candidate. And even if they do, there will still be a primary.
But the endorsement can be important, as Johnson showed in 2010 when he received grass-roots backing before winning a party primary and defeating Democratic U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold.
"Wisconsin needs a person of integrity supported by the good folks of our state to help advance conservative reform and take on Washington's professional political class," Johnson said. "That person will need Wisconsin's conservative grass roots to win.
"The stakes are simply too high to let national outsiders meddle with our proven record of success. We must always remember that we are fighting for our freedom, and it is a fight we absolutely must win."
In signing the pledge, the candidates have to acknowledge and follow existing rules in the endorsement process. That will give the candidates access to the state party infrastructure, "including lists that will be crucial to earning the support of grass-roots conservatives at convention."
State Democrats were unimpressed by the pledge.
Brad Bainum, a spokesman, said in a statement: "The fact that Wisconsin Republicans need a unity pledge shows how nasty their primary has become, and it proves that _ no matter who the nominee is _ both Vukmir and Nicholson are willing to put their billionaire donors and special interests ahead of Wisconsin by driving up the cost of health care and working to cut Wisconsinites' Social Security and Medicare."
