April 5, 2016 
Democratic National Committee

DNC Chair Statement on Wisconsin Primaries

WASHINGTON – DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued the following statement on today’s Wisconsin primaries, which were marred by long lines and delays after the Republican Governor and Republican-led state legislature reduced early voting opportunities and imposed a restrictive voter ID law:
 
“Today, across Wisconsin reports of long lines, worker shortages, and confusion over the state’s restrictive Photo ID law were made worse as polling locations ran out of ballots. Regrettably, this was the inevitable result of decisions made by Republican Gov. Scott Walker and the GOP-led legislature to intentionally make it harder for students, women, minorities, working parents, the elderly, and the poor to vote. And this is not an isolated incident. What we saw in Wisconsin today is business as usual for the GOP. 
 
“Time and again, all across the country, the Republican Party has worked to make it harder for the American people to exercise their fundamental right to vote. Just this week the Supreme Court rejected a conservative attempt to undermine the basic principle of ‘One Person, One Vote,’ and the Department of Justice launched an investigation into the decision by the Republican Recorder in Maricopa County to dramatically decrease the number of polling locations in Phoenix, where the vast majority of the state’s residents live.
 
“While even prominent Republicans have described the choice between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz as a choice between being shot and being poisoned, there’s no excuse for this type of partisan manipulation to deny Americans the right to vote. That’s not the way to win an election, and it’s a dramatic reminder that the Republican approach to governing is obstruction and government so small that it simply doesn’t work. We must elect leaders who protect the right to vote, and who recognize that restoring the Voting Rights Act and promoting participation in our democracy only makes our country stronger.
 
“To that end, I congratulate Senator Sanders on his victory tonight and applaud both him and Secretary Clinton for their commitment to unfettered voting rights and for continuing to run smart, substantive campaigns focused on the issues that matter to voters. That’s why today’s exit polls showed that about 7 in 10 Democrats said they are excited or optimistic about both of our candidates. We will have the strongest candidate in November.”

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American Bridge 21st Century

Anti-Establishment GOP Cruzes On To Convention Chaos

After an abysmal week on the trail for Donald Trump, Ted Cruz met long-held expectations with his victory in Wisconsin tonight. The win dramatically increases the probability of a messy contested convention for the Republican nomination in Cleveland. Tonight's win is a Pyrrhic victory for Cruz: the Texas senator astutely predicted that a contested convention would be "an absolute disaster." 

While the GOP establishment continues to wait on a Cruz apology for his past sins, including accusing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of telling a "flat out lie" on the Senate floor, their control of the nominating process continues to fade. Yesterday, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus reminded us that a chaotic vote for the vice presidential nominee also looms in Cleveland.

If this trend continues and no candidate clears the 1,237 delegate threshold to become the nominee, it's clear that the Republicans will have to settle for an extremist nobody likes. Or Donald Trump.
Correct the Record (pro-Clinton)

CTR STATEMENT ON CRUZ'S WISCONSIN WIN

Washington, DC – Correct The Record President Brad Woodhouse released the following statement in response to tonight's Republican primary results.

“Tonight, Senator Ted Cruz won the Wisconsin Republican primary; but make no mistake, this is still the Party of Trump," said Brad Woodhouse, President of Correct The Record. "Cruz might be the regrettable choice of the Republican establishment, but just like frontrunner Donald Trump, he espouses the same hateful, discriminatory rhetoric and supports the same extreme anti-women and anti-immigrant policies. No matter who they try to make their nominee, one thing is certain -- the Republican Party is following Trump's lead."