Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde was banned from walking in the once rock-solid conservative city’s 4th of July parade Thursday because the parade supposedly has a rule that only incumbent politicians can participate, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
However, social media posts and the city’s livestream show at least one Democratic non-incumbent, Congressional candidate Ben Steinhoff, was allowed to walk in the parade.
In fact, Hovde had to walk on the sidewalk and shake hands there instead, one of the sources told WRN exclusively. In addition, parade officials wouldn’t let anyone with a Hovde shirt walk in the parade, either, that source said. The livestream posted by the city confirms Hovde was not in the parade. Meanwhile, the parade’s livestream shows a person walking with the Democrat Party holding a Tammy Baldwin sign aloft.
“Eric (Hovde) walked with the (GOP) party at Menomonee Falls yesterday and New Berlin today but was pulled out of the Waukesha lineup right before hitting the route,” the source told WRN.
“His group showed up and were right next to multiple parade officials that confirmed his location with Waukesha GOP,” the source added. “Right before things got going, a parade official stopped Eric and wouldn’t let him walk in the parade. She said only incumbents are allowed, not any candidates, even though Julian Bradley’s Dem opponent was in the parade and is not an incumbent.”
According to the source: “Eric walked the sidewalk but a parade official wouldn’t let anybody in a Hovde shirt or Eric walk in the parade.”
Steinhoff, a Democrat running against GOP Congressman Scott Fitzgerald, faced a different reception in Waukesha.
“Happy Independence Day! We had a great time marching in the parade with our Waukesha County Democratic Party friends before firing up the grill. Hope you’re all having a great 4th of July!” Steinhoff wrote on Facebook. The livestream showed a large Steinhoff contingent in the parade, and Steinhoff posted pictures showing him walking in the parade. You can see him walking in the live stream, too.
Democrat Megan Lach, who is running against incumbent Republican Bradley, posted photos at the parade on social media, although we could not confirm through the livestream that she actually marched in it. Bradley was allowed to participate in the parade because he is a sitting elected official. The parade’s livestream shows a person walking with the Democrats, pulling a cart with a Megan Lach sign.
We did spot a lone woman with a Hovde sign with the small brigade marching with the Waukesha GOP section in the livestream – but no Hovde or Hovde campaign volunteers. A single Hovde sign was also affixed to the side of the Waukesha GOP vehicle toting an elephant. Again, though – no candidate.
The sources did not know the name of the parade official who ousted Hovde and his team from the parade.
Wisconsin Right Now has reached out to Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly, who walked in the parade, for comment. Republican-rich and populous Waukesha County is a very important area for Hovde as he squares off with Democrat Tammy Baldwin in a hotly contested U.S. Senate race.
Here is the city’s livestream. It shows a wide range of people and groups walking in the parade, from the Waukesha Common Council members to children’s groups to veterans to an LGBT contingent.
Other local parades, such as Hartford’s, allowed non-incumbent candidates to walk in their 4th of July parade.
Hovde posted pictures from other 4th of July parades. “Glad you guys received such a warm reception in New Berlin!” a supporter wrote on his Facebook page. “Celebrating the greatest country on earth in Waukesha County. Happy Independence Day!” Hovde wrote.
Meanwhile, Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin posted pictures showing she was in Minocqua on Independence Day, as well as walking in a parade in Ashland.
Here’s the social media post of Julian Bradley’s Democratic opponent:
“Join us for our hometown Independence Day Parade! This year’s theme is ‘Through the Decades!’ The parade will begin on Barstow Street at the Lee Sherman Dreyfus State Office Building (141 NW Barstow Street), proceed down Main Street, turn onto Maple Avenue and end at Wisconsin Avenue,” the city’s website proclaims.
