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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Mostly True

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Half True

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Mostly False

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Pants on Fire

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All Fact-checks for Wisconsin

stated on September 2, 2022 in News release

"Ron Johnson has voted against funding for law enforcement and recently opposed a plan to recruit and train new officers "

true

false

stated on September 10, 2022 in Public statement

“You know how many convicted felons Scott Walker let out during his eight years early on parole? Zero. Tony Evers is approaching 1,000 of these that he’s let out early."

true

pants-fire

stated on September 23, 2022 in Radio interview

On exceptions to Wisconsin’s abortion ban.

true

full-flop

stated on September 13, 2022 in Public statement

Says Ron Johnson "wants to put Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block every single year."

true

mostly-true

stated on September 2, 2022 in News release

Says under his plan to end cash bail "the Waukesha perpetrator wouldn’t have been released "

true

mostly-true

National Republican Senatorial Committee

stated on September 9, 2022 in News release

“Mandela Barnes…wants to release 50% of the prison population when 68% is classified as ‘violent offenders.’”

true

half-true

stated on September 6, 2022 in TV ad

Says Tim Michels' family foundation "funded an organization that tracks women when they get near abortion clinics … he wants to treat women like they're the criminals."

true

barely-true

stated on August 23, 2022 in Twitter

"Democrats' radical green energy policies caused record gas prices. "

true

barely-true

stated on August 17, 2022 in Twitter

“Ron Johnson just came out in favor of a federal abortion ban.”

true

barely-true

Republican Governors Association

stated on September 5, 2022 in Email

Says President Joe Biden “recently said that 48.8% of Wisconsin voters are threats to democracy.”

true

false

National Republican Senatorial Committee

stated on August 24, 2022 in News release

Says Mandela Barnes "supports stripping health care away from millions."

true

false

National Republican Senatorial Committee

stated on August 10, 2022 in News release

Says Democratic Senate candidate Mandela Barnes “supports abolishing ICE.”

true

barely-true

stated on August 7, 2022 in News release

"Last year the IRS audited Americans earning less than $25,000 a year at five times the rate of other groups."

true

mostly-true

League of Conservation Voters

stated on August 13, 2022 in Twitter

Says Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson “called climate change ‘bull----’ during a record heatwave” and “raked in over $700k in fossil fuel cash.”

true

true

stated on July 18, 2022 in Twitter

"With three months remaining in the Fiscal Year, (the border patrol) has already encountered more illegal immigrants along the Southwest border" than in any previous fiscal year.

true

mostly-true

stated on July 24, 2022 in TV interview

"We are number one in the country as far as our spending (COVID-19 relief) money on businesses as it relates to the percentage of federal funds that we receive."

true

half-true

stated on August 3, 2022 in a Facebook post

"Send your postcards to 5 key states to decertify fraud” in the 2020 election.

true

pants-fire

stated on August 1, 2022 in Public statement

On endorsing former President Donald Trump in 2024

true

half-flip

Republican Governors Association

stated on July 29, 2022 in Email

"Governor Tony Evers gave counties the green light to defund Wisconsin's police departments."

true

barely-true

stated on July 17, 2022 in Debate

“We have more oil and gas permits than ever before right now.”

true

mostly-true

PolitiFact Wisconsin 'High Five' for August 2022

PolitiFact Wisconsin 'High Five' for August 2022

By D.L. Davis • September 2, 2022

PolitiFact Wisconsin 'High Five' for July 2022

PolitiFact Wisconsin 'High Five' for July 2022

By D.L. Davis • August 4, 2022

Evers-O-Meter update of Evers promises, Part 2

Evers-O-Meter update of Evers promises, Part 2

By D.L. Davis • July 25, 2022

PolitiFact Wisconsin 'High Five' for June 2022

PolitiFact Wisconsin 'High Five' for June 2022

By Madeline Heim • July 8, 2022

Poll workers are short-staffed, under attack — and quietly defending democracy

Poll workers are short-staffed, under attack — and quietly defending democracy

By Amy Sherman • July 6, 2022

Evers-O-Meter update of Gov. Tony Evers campaign promises

Evers-O-Meter update of Gov. Tony Evers campaign promises

By D.L. Davis • July 5, 2022

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