Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin has made a decision about his political future in the Senate.
Alex Brandon / AP
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Alex Brandon / AP
Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin has made a decision about his political future in the Senate.
Alex Brandon / AP
The mystery surrounding whether Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson will run for re-election is over. The Republican Party announced Sunday that he will run for a third term.
The race in the belt state is expected to be a tough one.
Johnson made the announcement in One The Wall Street Journal piece of opinion.
“I believe America is in danger,” he wrote. “Many times when I want a quiet retirement, I don’t feel like I should. Countless people have encouraged me to run for office, saying that they rely on me to be their voice, to speak clear facts. and clear. Other elected leaders shy away from expressing — truths that government elites, mainstream media, and Big Tech don’t want you to hear.”
Johnson has kept people guessing for months about his plans. A two-time Senate election winner, he is seen as the best chance Republicans have to keep the seat, which Democrats are hoping to topple this year. President Biden narrowly won Wisconsin in 2020, and all offices across the state are now held by Democrats.
The Wisconsin contest could determine which party controls the Senate, currently split 50-50.
As early as April 2021, former President Donald Trump encouraged Johnson to seek a third term, suggesting “totally agree”.
The conservative Republican is a polarizing figure in Wisconsin, because of his stances on COVID-19 vaccines and voter fraud. Johnson late last year floated the idea of state legislators take control of federal elections in Wisconsin.
His decision also means withdrawing from a campaign pledge he made in 2016 not to seek a third term if re-elected that year. In 2021, Johnson said his preference would be to keep that pledge, but he added that was based on the assumption that Democrats would not have control of the White House and Congress.
Several Democrats are vying to face him this fall, including Lieutenant General Mandela Barnes and State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski.
