(The Center Square) – Kirk Bangstad is not backing away from the controversy that got him national headlines last month.
Bangstad says his social media post that said a “brother or sister in the Resistance needs to work on their marksmanship” was satire.
“Remember, there was another half of that post that said, ‘Or Donald Trump is trying to fake an assassination attempt to get a better news cycle,'” Bangstad said during an appearance on UpFront. “The first part was satire that was trying to set off the second part. I meant it as satire. I’ve said that all along, and I think it was taken out of context in order to create a feeding frenzy by the media, which it did, and allow Republicans to paint Democrats as politically violent.”
That post got Bangstad an interview with the Secret Service. It also got him a lot of national attention.
And it is that attention that Bangstad said is his biggest strength in the crowded Democratic race for governor.
“I’ve got oodles of money in Facebook followers and Substack, or the equivalent of that in my being able to reach people and give them my message,” Bangstad said.
Many Wisconsin Democrats have distanced themselves from Bangstad, and it remains to be seen in Bangstad will be invited to next month’s Democratic convention.
On Sunday he said he will be at the convention and will speak to voters no matter what.
“I’d speak anyways, but speak outside the front door,” Bangstad said. “And if they try to not let me speak, they’re going to put me in office. Let’s be honest, if they restrict my speech as a fellow Democrat, they are going to do so much harm to their appearance, and they’re going to do so much harm to the other candidates. I will win the primary if they don’t let me speak. I guarantee you that.”
UpFront also featured a conversation with candidates David Crowley and Missy Hughes.
Hughes said that she is “normal” is her strength.
“The leading candidate [in the primary] is ‘undecided.’ I think Wisconsinites are starting to pay attention after the spring elections, they’re getting excited about who our next governor is,” Hughes said. “So, I’m making sure that they hear my message. And as soon as they do, they’re like ‘Oh, she’s normal. She knows how the state runs. She knows what runs the state. Let’s do it.’”
Hughes is currently polling at 1% in the Democratic race, far behind the leader Francesca Hong.
