Democrat Mandela Barnes to face Republican Ron Johnson for U.S. Senate

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WBAY) - Democratic Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes has won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Barnes will face two-term incumbent Republican Ron Johnson in the general election in November.

Barnes easily defeated his Democratic opponents in Tuesday’s primary. Three of the leading candidates had dropped out of the race prior to the election and endorsed Barnes.

“Only in Wisconsin would it be possible for the son of a third shift auto worker and a public school teacher who grew up on 26th and Locust to go on to become Lt. Governor and the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. Growing up, I didn’t see a lot of politicians that looked like me or had my lived experiences. I didn’t see a lot of candidates who had lived a working class life. Frankly, I still don’t.

“I don’t fit the bill of a normal politician, and it took me a little while to understand that that’s a good thing. Because the way we’ll change Washington is by changing the people we send to Washington. And that work starts today.

“Ron Johnson has spent his decade in Washington serving the special interests who donate millions to his campaign while he calls to repeal the Affordable Care Act and slash Social Security funding. Plain and simple: if it doesn’t support his wealthy donors or his own self-interests, you can’t count on Ron Johnson to support it.

“Wisconsin deserves to be represented by leaders who have a firsthand understanding of the challenges they’re facing and their hopes for the future. This isn’t about red or blue, or left or right. It’s about who’s been on top and the rest of us who Ron Johnson has consistently been left at the bottom. I’m so grateful to accept the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. Together, we’re going to move forward and fight for the better future we deserve.”

Sen. Johnson also easy defeated his primary challenger David Schroeder.

Action 2 News is with the Barnes campaign at their headquarters in Milwaukee and will have reports on Action 2 News at 10.

“The son of a public school teacher and a third shift auto worker, Mandela Barnes will fight for all Wisconsinites to have a fair shot at the American Dream. Mandela is running for Senate to represent Wisconsin’s working families in all corners of the state, and we are confident that will lead his campaign to victory in November,” says Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Gary Peters

National Democrats like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren have stated they believe Barnes is the candidate who can defeat incumbent Johnson in November.

“He is not going to slow down, he’s going to be campaigning all around the state. Leading with his positive message but also shining a spotlight on what Ron Johnson has gotten wrong for this state. Just last week, he said he wanted to attack social security and make it discretionary spending. That’s just not where Wisconsin voters are at,” said Maddy McDaniel, Mandela Barnes for Wisconsin.

• ACTION 2 NEWS ELECTION RESULTS: https://www.wbay.com/politics/election-results/

Johnson has referred to Barnes as a “radical left candidate.”

Johnson says he’s running a grassroots campaign to highlight inflation, gas prices and take on what he calls “disastrous Democrat governance.”

“Tonight it became official. The leaders of the Democrat party have chosen their most radical left candidate for the U.S. Senate race. It sure doesn’t seem like Wisconsin voters had much of a choice in the matter. These are the same elite leaders who want to “fundamentally transform” America. Unfortunately, now we all know what that means: Open borders, forty year high inflation, record gas prices, rising crime, the indoctrination of our children, and a baby formula shortage. Regardless of how Mandela Barnes and his allies in the mainstream media attempt to paint his views, Wisconsinites should not believe a word they say. The Lieutenant Governor will support all the destructive policies of President Biden and his enablers in congress. This is a contest between radical left socialism versus freedom and prosperity. It will also pit the lies and distortions of Democrats and the media versus the truth,” says Johnson.

Johnson previously said he wouldn’t seek another term in office but changed his mind saying he wanted to help Republicans take back the Senate.

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