Posted on 01/09/2022 9:24:22 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
MILWAUKEE — In exactly 10 months, Wisconsin voters will decide who they want in the US Senate. Republican Ron Johnson officially announced today he wants the job again after initially indicating in 2016 he would not run for a third term.
"I am announcing I will continue to fight for freedom in the public realm by running for re-election. It is not a decision I have made lightly."
A lot has changed for Johnson and the country. For starters the pandemic has divided voters over what's best the country. Johnson has positioned himself as a critic of mandates and vaccines during the pandemic. He has made controversial comments that defy the science and medical professionals when it comes to fighting the virus.
Johnson did not specifically address the push back on that front in his announcement but said: "Having already experienced a growing level of vitriol and false attacks, I certainly don’t expect better treatment in the future."
The Oshkosh Republican rode the red wave to victory in 2010 by beating Russ Feingold, a three term Democratic maverick. Six years later it would be a repeat match and another come from behind win for Johnson.
It was also the same year Donald Trump stunned the state and country by turning Wisconsin red for the first time in 30 years. Johnson was one of the few Senate Republicans on the ballot in 2016 to outperform the top of the ticket with 70,000 more votes that President Trump.
The political landscape in 2022 will have some similarities to 2010. It’s another midterm election that historically favors the party that’s not in the White House. That’s good news for Johnson. But the two term senator is no longer a new comer and Democrats have had this race in 2022 circled on their calendar for a year.
“Wisconsin voters will relish the opportunity to fire Ron Johnson, who has used his senatorial power to enrich himself and his wealthiest donors at the expense of the middle class," said Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
Some of the challenges Johnson will face can be found in the most recent Marquette Law School Poll from last November.
42% view him unfavorably, 54% say they “trust him not much or not at all” for coronavirus information and 52% said they would vote for someone else. Marquette has yet to poll any Democratic challengers.
Several are already running to challenge Johnson, they include Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, Wisconsin Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, Milwaukee businessman Alex Lasry and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson.
Johnson does have the full support of former President Donald Trump who made it clear last April that he wants Johnson on the ballot by saying: Run Ron Run.
"Several are already running to challenge Johnson, they include Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, Wisconsin Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, Milwaukee businessman Alex Lasry and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson."
Um...WHO? Other than our DISASTROUS Lt. Governor, who has jumped ship and will not run again with Governor (D) Tony 'One And Done' Evers (as far as I know, so far) these people have NO name recognition - and Barnes' name recognition is NOT positive other than in the Socialist enclaves of Dane & Milwaukee Counties.
*PING*
Republican Ron Johnson officially announced today he wants the job again after initially indicating in 2016 he would not run for a third term.
Of course he would tell me this right after he changed his mind.....................................
Wisconsin needs him. All the Socialist Democrats have to say about him is that he ‘enriched himself’ while in office. Oh, and he’s a ‘flip-flopper’ now for deciding to run again, based upon how poorly Brandon is doing in the White House.
Not sure where that info is coming from; they guy was filthy rich to begin with. So, IOW, the Dems got NOTHIN’! ;)
I have disagreed with him on a few issues in the past, but he’s been doing a good job for Wisconsin and no Republicans are opposing him.
Consider the alternatives! Yeesh!
Johnson is one of only three GOP Senators up this cycle that deserve to be re-elected. Johnson, Paul and Kennedy.
Amnesty Senators Micro Rubio and John Hoeven need to be primaried out before they give amnesty to illegal aliens and a permanent majority to Democrats.
The rest of them need to be primaried, too, they are Assistant Democrats.
Consider the alternatives! Yeesh!
Mmmmmmm.....loving it.
Are the list of real conservatives in Wisconsin so short that there is no alternative to Johnson? He was, after all, elected with the promise he would serve only two terms.
It's not a question of changing his mind. He was elected in 2010 on the promise that he would serve only two terms. Does a wise man break his word often?
Can you say, “Leader Johnson?” This is great news!
It’s not a question of changing his mind. He was elected in 2010 on the promise that he would serve only two terms. Does a wise man break his word often?
One of the characteristics of a good leader is consistency, but that does not mean minds and tactics don’t change.
Why did he change his mind? New information, change in heart. Decisions are complex.
I change my mind quite often as I learn new things and explain why. I think he did that.
This is still to be determined.
-PJ
Geez, with all the backstabbing POS RINOS in our party I can’t tell anymore if this is good or bad. Is this good?
Ron Johnson is a great man, compared to most in the senate. We need not only him, but more like him there. This is very welcome news.
The main obstacle is him pledging to limit himself to two terms that could be used against him in ads, etc. But, who else would have been waiting in the wings to be a top tier candidate to run in his place?
Other than that, as a Republican incumbent who should be well funded and in a Republican-leaning year nationally he should be in good shape to be re-elected. And those potential Dem opponents appear to be less than impressive. He should start running some positive ads now to shore up his base of support and improve his favorables as he waits to find out who his opponent will be.
He didn't change his mind, he went back on his promise. And the reason he did it is obvious. He likes the perks and the attention that comes with being a Senator, same as all the rest of them.
Good news!
He didn’t change his mind, he went back on his promise.
I saw part of his interview on Maria Bartiromo’s program today (perhaps a re-broadcast) which was very good.
Quit bustin’ my CHOPS, Dawg! We are doing the best we can here in Wisconsin, and I’m happy Johnson is running again.
They guy got 70,000 votes last time around - MORE THAN TRUMP - when we flipped Wisconsin to RED in way too many years.
Which state are you living in, fat and happy? Spend some time on the ground in a Purple State, WORKING to make things BETTER.
THEN you can criticize my Senator. :)
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