Wisconsin governor’s race pits Trump versus Pence in one of four state primary contests Tuesday

Former Vice President Mike Pence is squaring off Tuesday against his old boss, President Trump, in a proxy battle of their endorsed rival candidates in Wisconsin’s gubernatorial Republican primary.

Mr. Pence is backing former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, and Mr. Trump has endorsed construction company owner Tim Michels. An Emerson College poll last week showed Ms. Kleefisch with a 2 percentage point lead — a statistical tie. 

Wisconsin is a battleground state that will likely play an important role again in the 2024 presidential election. Mr. Trump, who is weighing a third run for the White House, has repeatedly criticized state officials for failing to address his claims of a stolen election in 2020.

The high-profile primary in Wisconsin is among several contests Tuesday. Voters also will go to the polls in Vermont, Connecticut and Minnesota to pick candidates for November ballots. 

Minnesota also will hold a special election to fill a U.S. House seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Jim Hagedorn, a Republican who succumbed to kidney cancer in February.