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With supporters and friends at her side, State Sen. Lena Taylor announces her candidacy for Milwaukee Mayor from her home Tuesday, September 3, 2019 (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photo) With supporters and friends at her side, State Sen. Lena Taylor announces her candidacy for Milwaukee Mayor from her home Tuesday, September 3, 2019 (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photo)

With supporters and friends at her side, State Sen. Lena Taylor announces her candidacy for Milwaukee Mayor from her home Tuesday, September 3, 2019 (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photo)

Eric Litke
By Eric Litke September 3, 2019

After four terms in the state senate, Democrat Lena Taylor has announced she will challenge incumbent Democratic Mayor Tom Barret for the city’s top office in 2020.

Seems like a logical time to check how the longtime lawmaker has fared on our Truth-O-Meter.

We’ve fact-checked the Milwaukee Democrat six times since 2011, yielding two ratings of Mostly False and one each of True, Mostly True, False and Pants on Fire.

Here they are:

April 2, 2019 — Says Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett did not want a juvenile facility in Milwaukee, "has never been to a juvenile facility," and "didn't want it to be done." (Mostly False)

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Nov. 25, 2016 — "Slavery is still allowable under Wisconsin law as long as it’s a punishment for a crime." (Mostly True)

March 18, 2015 — Polling shows that nearly 74 percent of National Rifle Association members "support requiring background checks for all gun sales." (True)

June 23, 2013 — "There is no statistical evidence that bail bonds increase the likelihood of those awaiting trial returning to court for their scheduled hearings." (False)

May 9, 2011 — "Gov. (Scott) Walker has yet to create a job, he gives away millions to his friends, and he raises taxes on working people." (Mostly False)

Feb. 22, 2011  — Hitler "abolished unions and that’s what" Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is "doing today." (Pants on Fire)

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