Wisconsin Rep. Timothy Ramthun, a Trump-backed Republican identified to tout election fraud claims, introduced his bid for governor on Saturday and vowed to conduct a "full forensic audit" of the 2022 race—no matter who wins.

Ramthun introduced his run with the endorsement of fellow Trump ally and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a keynote speaker in the course of the occasion. In his speech, the lawmaker careworn that election security and specializing in the 2020 presidential election can be a central a part of his gubernatorial marketing campaign.

"I will do a full forensic bodily cyber audit of the 2022 gubernatorial election, regardless of the end result of this yr's elections. I need all the things to be revisited and reviewed," Ramthun stated throughout his announcement.

It's unclear what he meant by a "full forensic bodily cyber audit," with consultants in election administration telling Rolling Stone that there isn't any such factor. Nevertheless, the outlet famous that he could as a substitute be referring to a guide recount of paper ballots or a assessment of voting machine gear that can be used in the course of the election, which falls in keeping with election safeguards that exist already in Wisconsin.

Ramthun's deal with election audits comes as he makes an attempt to guide an effort within the Wisconsin GOP to overturn the state's 2020 election leads to Trump's favor. Final month, he proposed a decision to "reclaim" and revoke Wisconsin's 10 electoral votes, which attorneys and consultants have stated can be an not possible feat.

"There are some who imagine—there's one who believes—that we one way or the other have the proper [to withdraw electoral votes] despite the fact that each lawyer that we've got labored with in Wisconsin says we can not undo the 2020 elections, " the state's Republican Meeting Speaker Robin Vos instructed the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel final month. Vos additionally moved to self-discipline Ramthun and strip him of his solely staffer for making false claims concerning the 2020 election consequence.

Nevertheless, Ramthun's dedication to Trump has not gone unnoticed by the previous president. Trump himself has made a number of cellphone calls praising Ramthun's efforts, telling him at one level that "you are my sort of man," in response to Rolling Stone.

Timothy Ramthun Governor
Trump-backed Republican, Timothy Ramthun, introduced his gubernatorial bid in Wisconsin on Saturday. Right here, former President Donald Trump is seen throughout a 'Save America' rally final month in Conroe, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Pictures

In accordance with some consultants, Wisconsin is "floor zero" within the struggle over elections. On Friday, the state's supreme courtroom dominated to permit a ban on using poll drop containers for an upcoming April election, marking the most recent in a string of restrictive voting practices proposed by Republicans throughout the nation.

In the course of the Saturday rally, Lindell stated that Ramthun can be the "greatest governor Wisconsin ever had" whereas including that the 2 Republicans would proceed their efforts to deal with elections.

"He will win—100%. It is not even going to be shut," the MyPillow CEO added, in response to the Journal Sentinel. "We will eliminate the [voting] machines. In Wisconsin, and nationwide, we're going county by county. And whenever you try this, now you are going to have elections that folks get one individual one vote."