PolitiFact | Wisconsin

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This partnership of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and PolitiFact helps you find the truth in Wisconsin politics. Scroll down to search through our fact checks and analysis.

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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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Pants on Fire

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All Fact-checks for Wisconsin

stated on May 27, 2022 in News release

Says U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, his prospective opponent, has received $1.2 million from the gun lobby.

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half-true

Rebecca Kleefisch

stated on June 8, 2022 in Campaign email

“Joe Biden’s margin of the less than 21,000 votes in Wisconsin was the tightest of any state in 2020.”

true

false

stated on June 13, 2022 in Campaign email

“Wisconsin's archaic abortion ban is older than 20 states."

true

true

stated on June 5, 2022 in TV interview

Waiting periods for gun purchases may not make a difference, because "If somebody's decided that they're gonna take their life, they're gonna take their life."

true

false

Democratic Party of Wisconsin

stated on May 2, 2022 in News release

Republican politicians are pushing a plan "that could raise taxes on almost one in three Wisconsinites and sunset Social Security and Medicare in five years."

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barely-true

stated on May 21, 2022 in Newsletter

"Nearly 60% of all student loan debt is held by the rich and upper-middle class," so forgiveness would give the wealthy a "financial windfall" but not really help low-income people.

true

half-true

stated on May 26, 2022 in Public statement

On disbanding the Wisconsin Elections Commission

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full-flop

Democratic Party of Wisconsin

stated on April 29, 2022 in News release

"The tax carve out (Ron) Johnson spearheaded overwhelmingly benefited the wealthiest, over small businesses."

true

true

stated on May 23, 2021 in a Facebook post

The sale of more than 600,000 Wisconsin deer licenses shows that Wisconsin’s hunters are the “eighth largest army in the world.”

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false

stated on May 11, 2022 in News release

In the immediate wake of a fire and vandalism at the Madison headquarters of an anti-abortion group, Democrats had not condemned “activists who are engaging in this repugnant illegal activity.”

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barely-true

Republican Party of Wisconsin

stated on May 2, 2022 in Newsletter

On Gov. Tony “Evers’ watch…the efficiency of the state crime lab has plummeted.”

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barely-true

Cavalier Johnson

stated on April 9, 2022 in TV interview

In a recent year, the Milwaukee Police Department "collected more guns per capita off the streets than in New York.”

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true

Rebecca Kleefisch

stated on April 30, 2022 in Public statement

Says Gov. Tony Evers is “a big proponent of this defund the police movement.”

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false

stated on April 26, 2022 in Twitter

“Title 42 has fueled the border crisis. In 2019, 7 percent of illegal border crossings were repeated crossings. Today the rate is 27 percent.”

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half-true

stated on February 18, 2022 in Twitter

The Biden administration has been "recklessly releasing potentially dangerous Afghans into our communities."

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barely-true

Kelda Helen Roys

stated on May 8, 2022 in TV interview

Due to U.S. Senate rules, Democrats need "more than a majority ... to codify Roe vs. Wade."

true

true

stated on April 14, 2022 in News release

The state crime lab under Attorney General Josh Kaul "is testing significantly less items than former AG Brad Schimel and is still taking longer to test many categories of key items in comparison to Schimel, including DNA."

true

true

stated on April 18, 2022 in Twitter

Says Gov. Tony Evers "wanted to increase your taxes by $1 billion just for heating your homes. Instead, Republicans cut your taxes by more than $2 billion."

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half-true

The Gateway Pundit

stated on April 24, 2022 in a blog post

“A STOLEN ELECTION: State totals minus illegal ballot trafficking numbers give President Trump decisive victories in AZ, GA, MI, PA, and WI.”

true

false

stated on April 11, 2022 in Twitter

Cannabis reform "is supported by the majority of the residents of our state, including a majority of Republicans."

true

true

PolitiFact Wisconsin 'High Five' for May 2022

PolitiFact Wisconsin 'High Five' for May 2022

By D.L. Davis • June 6, 2022

PolitiFact Wisconsin 'High Five' for April 2022

PolitiFact Wisconsin 'High Five' for April 2022

By D.L. Davis • May 3, 2022

PolitiFact Wisconsin abortion-related factchecks

PolitiFact Wisconsin abortion-related factchecks

By D.L. Davis • May 3, 2022

PolitiFact Wisconsin 'High Five' for March 2022

PolitiFact Wisconsin 'High Five' for March 2022

By D.L. Davis • April 5, 2022

'Zuckerbucks' for 2022 elections? Republicans say thumbs down

'Zuckerbucks' for 2022 elections? Republicans say thumbs down

By Amy Sherman • March 15, 2022

2022 candidates use ads vowing to be tough on China, or attacking rivals as too soft on China

2022 candidates use ads vowing to be tough on China, or attacking rivals as too soft on China

By Tom Kertscher • March 3, 2022

The battleground states where Republicans want to overhaul voting laws

The battleground states where Republicans want to overhaul voting laws

By Amy Sherman • January 31, 2022

What you need to know about the fake Trump electors

What you need to know about the fake Trump electors

By Amy Sherman • January 28, 2022

Same-day voter registration is on the Democrats’ wishlist. Why do some Republicans oppose it?

Same-day voter registration is on the Democrats’ wishlist. Why do some Republicans oppose it?

By Amy Sherman • January 19, 2022

Fact-checking claims about Kyle Rittenhouse, shooter in Kenosha, Wis., protests

Fact-checking claims about Kyle Rittenhouse, shooter in Kenosha, Wis., protests

By Tom Kertscher • November 17, 2021

Fact checking Kenosha shootings, violent protests one year later

Fact checking Kenosha shootings, violent protests one year later

By Vanessa Swales • August 24, 2021

Updating Evers' promises on tax cuts, education spending, expanding broadband and more

Updating Evers' promises on tax cuts, education spending, expanding broadband and more

By Madeline Heim • July 27, 2021

Are state legislators really seeking power to overrule the voters?

Are state legislators really seeking power to overrule the voters?

By Louis Jacobson • July 14, 2021

What Ron Johnson gets wrong about the COVID-19 vaccines

What Ron Johnson gets wrong about the COVID-19 vaccines

By Madeline Heim • April 23, 2021

Was ‘Democracy in the Park’ illegal?

Was ‘Democracy in the Park’ illegal?

By Eric Litke • March 10, 2021

Fact-checking Biden's Milwaukee visit

Fact-checking Biden's Milwaukee visit

By Eric Litke • February 17, 2021

A look back at our Act 10 fact checks

A look back at our Act 10 fact checks

By Eric Litke • February 9, 2021

Checking Evers' promises on Act 10, prisons, commissions

Checking Evers' promises on Act 10, prisons, commissions

By Eric Litke • January 22, 2021

9 key fact-checks about the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin

9 key fact-checks about the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin

By D.L. Davis • January 4, 2021

Pants on Fire in Review 2020 -- Wisconsin

Pants on Fire in Review 2020 -- Wisconsin

By Haley BeMiller • December 28, 2020