MADISON, Wis. – Republican Ryan Owens, a University of Wisconsin professor, dropped out of the race for attorney general amid GOP chatter that that he had criticized former President Trump in an online blog. In pulling out, Owens acknowledged that he had made less-than-friendly comments about Trump. The uproar among Trump loyalists began after right-wing WISN radio talk-show host Mark Belling in Milwaukee went after Owens for congratulating Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, for how he handled the coronavirus pandemic. Belling even savaged Owens for his name: “His name ‘Ryan’ is almost RINO” — a poke using the trendy GOP derogatory catch phrase to discredit party members who fail a purity test — “Republican in name only.” Criticism aimed at Owens exploded thereafter. In announcing Monday that he was dropping out, Owens blamed the reaction to his blog even though he had deleted the Trump slights weeks ago. “Politics,” said the professor, “is even more disgusting than I expected.”
Verbatim
Owens: “You can be prepped for it, but until it happens you do not know the true impact. I could not have foreseen how much the attacks would affect my family. Because I do not wish to put them through any more character assassinations I’m withdrawing my candidacy.”
Campaign finances
Owens attracted attention in July when he reported raising $300,000 in less than three months. His lone rival for the Republican nomination for attorney general, Eric Toney, raised only $27,000. The incumbent attorney general, Josh Kaul, a Democrat, raised $411,000.
Owens. In Wisconsin GOP politics, can a non-Trumper survive?