Founded in 1991, the Republican Liberty Caucus works to advance the principles of limited government, free markets and individual liberty within the Republican Party.

Tomah Mayor Ed Thompson is running for State Senate in Wisconsin’s 31st district, a rural western Wisconsin district that is Democrat stomping grounds. Mr. Thompson was a Libertarian Party member from 1999 onward, and was the Libertarian Party candidate for Governor in 2002 (in which he gained 11.5%, a LP record), but decided to switch parties in 2009 after the state Republican Party smartly begged him to run as a Republican.

Wisconsin RLC Adviser Aaron Biterman, who worked on Ed Thompson’s 2002 campaign, praised the endorsement. “There isn’t anyone in Wisconsin who can wrestle District 31 away from the liberal Democratic machine, with the exception of Ed Thompson. He is a trans-partisan leader who is a true believer in the principles of our Founders and he brings a vision of a free society to the public consciousness,” said Biterman.

The Wisconsin chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus was founded in December, 2009. Thus far it has endorsed Terri McCormick for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th District, Rick Richard for State Senate in District 15, and Mr. Thompson. Said Michael S. Murphy, RLC Chairman, “We are proud to have Ed Thompson promoting our principles in western Wisconsin and look forward to hearing about his common sense vision when he crafts policy in the Wisconsin Senate.”