Wisconsin Republican candidate Johnathan Wichmann has said he was "honored" to receive the endorsement of a QAnon podcast host.
Wichmann appeared on Jeff Pedersen's podcast on the July 30 episode titled Stand Up Without Fear,on which the host threw his support behind the gubernatorial hopeful.
During the podcast, Pedersen backed the "America First" candidate and offered his "full and total, complete endorsement," to which Wichmann replied he was "honored."
Pedersen also was heard using a number code that is associated with the QAnon conspiracy when encouraging listeners to donate money to Wichmann's campaign.
He said: "I would like to just think about a random number that we could donate from our show, so you know it's ours. How about $17? Let's try to see if we could get $17 donations to the future governor, 2022 Wichmann."
The number has been used by QAnon believers as it refers to the 17th letter of the alphabet, Q, which itself is the codename of a supposed high-level government insider whom they follow via "Q-drops".
Pedersen's ties with QAnon have been forged in the past few years, during which he has since positioned himself as an influential person within the conspiracy movement.
Previous guests on his show include disgraced former National Security advisor Michael Flynn, who swore a QAnon oath on July 4, 2020, and QAnon lawyer Lin Wood.
On the blog section of Pedersen's website, the podcast host shared posts that include the QAnon slogan WWG1WGA (where we go one we go all) and praised Q in a November 28, 2020 upload.
He also listed his attendance at last year's QCon Live events in Jacksonville, Florida, and Phoenix, Arizona.
Pederson appeared alongside his podcast co-host, who goes by the moniker Shadygrove, a self-described "truth analyst" who said he "discovered Q at the beginning of 2017" and has since been "fascinated with all of the drops and connections."
Wichmann later told Newsweek: "I do not believe in Q, but it is my policy to reach as many people as possible with my message. I was grateful that Jeff had me on the show to talk about my campaign.
"I have no regrets telling the people of Wisconsin about the truth."
Pedersen has been contacted for comment.
Wichmann is not the only GOP figure to speak with figures who have positioned themselves within QAnon circles.
Last week, Newsweek reported on four Republican politicians being listed as "special guests" at an upcoming QAnon event in Las Vegas.
Arizona State Senator Sonny Borrelli, Arizona House Representatives Leo Biasiucci and Mark Fincham as well as Republican former Nevada Assemblymember Jim Marchant were listed as attending the "For God & Country: Patriot Double Down" in October.
Each of those four named have been contacted for comment.
The "For God and Country: Patriot Double Down" weekend is organized by the Patriot Voice and is run by John Sabal, who goes under the name "QAnon John" on his Telegram channel which commands more than 42,590 subscribers.
"For God and Country: Patriot Double Down" uses a gambling logo fitting of Las Vegas, but the numbered symbolism of QAnon can again be easily found.
The logo, which includes two cards, a Queen and seven, and two dice, both make up the number 17.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) also flirted with the conspiracy before taking office but has since distanced herself from QAnon.
In its simplest explanation, QAnon is a conspiracy or a cult that claims "Q" sent out coded messages on 8Chan, which followers would then have to decipher.
Among the numerous predictions made by Q, include that the mass arrests of pedophiles and child abusers would be arrested under the orders of former President Donald Trump, a central figure in the QAnon mythos, in an event called "the storm."
The predicted storm was given several dates, including on January 20, the day of President Joe Biden's inauguration, none of which came to pass.
Another popular belief among the followers is that John F. Kennedy Jr did not actually die in 1999 and would join up with Trump on the campaign trail, another failed prediction.
But "Q" has been dormant following Biden's election victory in 2020 and has not shared a so-called "drop for months, leaving QAnon followers rudderless and fractured over what direction to take.
Figures such as Lin Wood have even flirted with distancing themselves from the conspiracy, with the embattled lawyer last month saying: "It doesn't matter whether Q is true."
