Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., speaks throughout a Senate Overseas Relations Committee listening to final 12 months.
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Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., speaks throughout a Senate Overseas Relations Committee listening to final 12 months.
Alex Brandon/Pool/Getty Photos
Observe stay updates and outcomes from Election Day 2022 right here.
Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson will stay within the Senate after beating Democratic opponent Mandela Barnes, the state’s lieutenant governor.
Johnson’s seat was as soon as thought of to be one of the vital weak for the GOP this cycle, and he was polling intently with Barnes for months. However Barnes began to slide behind Johnson in latest polling, partly after being hit with a slew of adverts labeling Barnes as mushy on crime.
Johnson repeatedly introduced up crime in his marketing campaign, and focused Barnes for opposing the cash-bail system, saying Barnes is “the man who wrote the invoice to launch criminals with out bail.”
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Mandela Barnes, speaks to supporters at a rally exterior of the Wisconsin State Capital constructing in July.
Sara Stathas/The Washington Submit by way of Getty Photos
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Sara Stathas/The Washington Submit by way of Getty Photos
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Mandela Barnes, speaks to supporters at a rally exterior of the Wisconsin State Capital constructing in July.
Sara Stathas/The Washington Submit by way of Getty Photos
Barnes pushed again, telling NPR in October: “[Johnson] solely brings up Milwaukee when he talks about crime, however he is by no means proven as much as attempt to assist. He has prioritized the pursuits and the income of the gun foyer over the lives of our kids and our public security.”
Barnes additionally tried to point out Johnson as excessive and tried to maintain abortion in focus, pushing a message of “Ron Towards Roe.” And because the race tightened, Democrats even despatched in former President Barack Obama to stump for Barnes and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers.
Whereas Barnes outraised Johnson in marketing campaign funding, the race was additionally fueled by thousands and thousands of {dollars} from exterior teams who piled on in assaults adverts towards Barnes.
Johnson, a Trump supporter, has additionally repeatedly downplayed the Jan. 6 rebel. He stated it “did not appear as – like an armed rebel to me.”
Johnson, 67, had promised in 2016 that he wouldn’t search a 3rd time period within the Senate. However he instructed reporters not too long ago, “Issues change.”
