Apr 15, 2022

MADISON - The Wisconsin Republican race for governor is still up in the air four months away from the primary election as two potential candidates — a political icon and an owner of an international construction firm with personal wealth — decide whether to reshuffle the race. Tommy Thompson, who was elected governor four times, ran a federal agency, served in the state Assembly and most recently oversaw the University of Wisconsin System , is still considering whether he wants his old job back. "I haven't made a decision yet," Thompson, 80, said Wednesday. "I told everybody I'm not gonna be hurried into any decision making whatsoever." In the race are former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who announced her campaign for governor eight months ago, Pewaukee management consultant Kevin Nicholson, who launched his bid in January , and state Rep. Tim Ramthun, who announced his candidacy in February . Thompson met recently with potential candidate Tim Michels, a 59-year-old former U.S. Army Ranger and co-owner of his family's international infrastructure and energy construction corporation who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in 2004. Thompson said the meeting wasn't unusual because he "meets with everyone," but Republican sources told the Journal Sentinel they discussed only one likely entering the race. Michels declined to be interviewed. Thompson said he is sticking to his previously set deadline of the end of April to decide whether to get in the race. He traveled to Palm Beach, Florida earlier this month to meet with former President Donald Trump , Beloit billionaire and GOP benefactor Diane Hendricks and former White House chief of staff and Kenosha native Reince Priebus . Thompson said the meeting "went very well" but did not divulge details. "Like President Trump. I'm doing due diligence. I'm talking to everybody," he said. "It was just a discussion." Meanwhile, Madison businessman Eric Hovde said Thursday he would not get into the race for governor after considering a campaign for months. “I care deeply about the state but I've made the decision that I'm not going to get into the governor's race,” he said. Hovde, who lost a Republican primary for U.S. Senate in 2012, said he decided not to get in the governor’s race for family reasons and because of his concerns about how conditions are unfolding economically at a national level. He said he may run for U.S. Senate in 2024, when Democrat Tammy Baldwin’s term is up. “I'm going to be taking a very hard look at the Senate race. Absolutely,” Hovde said. Daniel Bice and Patrick Marley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report. Contact Molly Beck at molly.beck@jrn.com . Follow her on Twitter at @MollyBeck . Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal .