• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind

2

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock

3

Scott Bessent casually says the U.S. has more than $1 trillion in gold—and that it doesn’t matter for the dollar

1

The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind

2

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock

3

Scott Bessent casually says the U.S. has more than $1 trillion in gold—and that it doesn’t matter for the dollar
Leadership

Why Donald Trump’s Attack on the ‘Cheesehead Revolution’ Is Failing

By
Claire Groden
Claire Groden
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Claire Groden
Claire Groden
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 1, 2016, 12:04 PM ET
Donald Trump in Appleton, WI.
The Washington Post/Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Donald Trump handily walloped Wisconsin governor Scott Walker when the two were competing for the Republican nomination. But in the days leading up to next week’s Wisconsin Republican primary, he’s now on Walker’s turf. And this time, in the battle for Wisconsin, the governor seems to be exacting his revenge.

In a Marquette Law School poll released Wednesday, Ted Cruz leapfrogged into the frontrunner position in Wisconsin, winning the support of 40% of likely voters, while Trump topped out at 30%. The same poll found that more than half of all likely voters in the state said they would be “very uncomfortable” with a President Trump.

At first blush, Wisconsin may look like an easy Trump win, with its sizable pockets of blue-collar and rural voters. But the brash Manhattanite has found himself less welcome in the Rust Belt state than he likely expected.

Wisconsin’s leadership has not been welcoming to Trump. Unlike in Arizona, where the frontrunner picked up endorsements from former Governor Jan Brewer and Sheriff Joe Arpaio, he has been unable to garner any support from influencers in Wisconsin. Indeed, even before Trump’s first campaign event in the state, he blundered through an interview with conservative talk show host Charlie Sykes, who he learned was a vocal member of the Republican #NeverTrump movement while on air. Trump was also snubbed by Governor Scott Walker, who officially endorsed Ted Cruz as “best positioned by far” to win the GOP nomination and general election.

It’s worth remembering that Wisconsin is the home turf of two of the most powerful mainstream Republicans, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus, not to mention Governor Walker, who has been considered a rising GOP star. The trio have become known as the “Cheesehead Revolution” for their shared roots and leading roles in the direction of the Republican Party—at least, until Trump came along and threw the party into turmoil. In fact, in 2012, during Ryan’s vice presidential campaign, one party operative told The Atlantic that Wisconsin is the new Texas due to its ability to incubate Republican leaders. And Donald Trump is anything but mainstream Republican.

Ryan, Priebus, and Walker have built reputations as aggressive—but Wisconsin-nice—reformers who are obsessed with fiscal conservatism. Their consistent brand of aw-shucks frugality defines their public personas, with Walker bragging about buying $1 sweaters at Kohl’s and Ryan sleeping in his Capitol Hill office (rather than renting an apartment) when Congress is in session. With some estimates that Trump’s tax plan would increase the federal deficit by somewhere between $10 trillion and $12 trillion over the next decade, it’s safe to say the businessman is not a fiscal conservative.

Governor Walker may not have the love of the historically progressive state, but he has earned the approval of Wisconsin’s Republican voters. In fact, 80% of GOP members likely to vote in the primary next week approve of his work. He has crushed public sector unions. He’s slashed taxes, cut school funding, banned abortions without exception after 20 weeks, loosened campaign finance law, relaxed environmental standards, and cut the state’s food stamp program.

And that might be the rub for Trump, who continues to make the case to the state’s voters that Wisconsin is “in turmoil” under Walker. If he wants a fighting chance on April 5, Trump may need to change his tune quickly.

About the Author
By Claire Groden
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Leadership

sp
Big TechMarkets
Alphabet’s SpaceX stake fuels a $98 billion gain, beating estimates
By Barbara Ortutay and The Associated PressJuly 23, 2026
1 hour ago
Benjamin Franklin's experiment with the kite.
AIScience
The Trump administration is revamping the era of the ‘gentleman scientist.’ It’ll cost $200 billion
By Eva RoytburgJuly 23, 2026
3 hours ago
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos
SuccessBillionaires
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos could be the latest American billionaire to buy into European soccer clubs—he’s eyeing up a stake in Liverpool FC
By Emma BurleighJuly 23, 2026
3 hours ago
Sanae Takaichi
Successwork-life balance
Japan’s prime minister sleeps just ‘zero to three’ hours a night—even as Tokyo pushes a 4-day workweek to fight ‘death by overwork’
By Preston ForeJuly 23, 2026
3 hours ago
All hail London—whatever the U.K.’s new Prime Minister says 
EuropeLetter from London
All hail London—whatever the U.K.’s new Prime Minister says 
By Kamal AhmedJuly 23, 2026
5 hours ago
AI coding company Cursor, soon to be acquired by SpaceX, expands its CFO council
NewslettersCFO Daily
AI coding company Cursor, soon to be acquired by SpaceX, expands its CFO council
By Sheryl EstradaJuly 23, 2026
6 hours ago

Most Popular

The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
Real Estate
The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 22, 2026
1 day ago
Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
Success
Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 20, 2026
3 days ago
Scott Bessent casually says the U.S. has more than $1 trillion in gold—and that it doesn’t matter for the dollar
Economy
Scott Bessent casually says the U.S. has more than $1 trillion in gold—and that it doesn’t matter for the dollar
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 22, 2026
23 hours ago
'The man who dies rich dies disgraced': The last time America had such wealth inequality, Andrew Carnegie knew he had to give it all away
Success
'The man who dies rich dies disgraced': The last time America had such wealth inequality, Andrew Carnegie knew he had to give it all away
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 22, 2026
1 day ago
Mathematicians grapple with a ‘very rapid and very unsettling change’ as AI cracks yet another century-old problem
AI
Mathematicians grapple with a ‘very rapid and very unsettling change’ as AI cracks yet another century-old problem
By Eva RoytburgJuly 21, 2026
2 days ago
Despite a $156 million contract, Knicks star Jalen Brunson still calls his parents for financial advice any time he makes a big purchase
Success
Despite a $156 million contract, Knicks star Jalen Brunson still calls his parents for financial advice any time he makes a big purchase
By Emma BurleighJuly 21, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.