Wisconsin
Johnson, Barnes polished in 1st Wisconsin Senate debate
Republican Sen. Ron Johnson and his Democratic challenger Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes caught to their scripts — and their closing dates — as they met for a debate Friday night in a hotly contested race that might decide social gathering management of the U.S. Senate.
In battleground Wisconsin, it was a welcome probability for each candidates to make clear their positions on quite a lot of points, and although they disagreed on most topics, their feedback have been just like these they’ve made on the marketing campaign path. Listed below are the important thing takeaways:
The financial system
Inflation is among the points most felt by voters this midterm, with noticeable will increase within the costs of on a regular basis bills like groceries, lease and utilities. It’s additionally among the many prime points Wisconsin voters are involved about, current polling has proven.
Johnson was hesitant to decide to supporting will increase within the minimal wage, saying he would “probably take into account it.” The incumbent additionally blamed Democrats for inflation, saying jobs and the financial system have been higher below former President Donald Trump.
Barnes reiterated his assist for a $15 minimal wage in addition to an strategy to job creation that features technical and commerce training. Johnson questioned a number of references Barnes made to his working-class background, saying he was unaware of what expertise the lieutenant governor has within the non-public sector aside from his dad and mom’ jobs as a schoolteacher and a manufacturing facility employee.
Do you know that MPR Information is supported by Members? Presents from people energy the headlines, readability and context discovered right here. Give through the Fall Member Drive to change into a Member at this time.
Abortion
Barnes, who has made assist for abortion rights central to his marketing campaign, stated he would “completely vote to codify Roe v. Wade” into federal legislation as a senator.
Johnson once more voiced assist for a statewide referendum on abortion — an possibility that appears unlikely after the state Legislature shortly ended a particular session referred to as by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers earlier this week to think about permitting poll measures. Barnes accused Johnson of operating from his report of supporting anti-abortion laws, saying the senator is aware of a referendum received’t occur.
A 173-year-old legislation bans abortions in Wisconsin besides to save lots of the lifetime of the mom. Docs stopped offering abortions after the Supreme Court docket handed down its resolution overturning Roe v. Wade in June. Polling has proven {that a} majority of individuals in Wisconsin assist abortion rights.
Crime
A flurry of assault adverts have from Johnson and different Republicans have branded Barnes as “harmful” and displayed the lieutenant governor towards footage of violent crime. Such adverts are a probable motive the lead Barnes held over Johnson in midsummer has since eroded. Barnes helps ending money bail, however he was clear Friday evening that his plan wouldn’t permit harmful offenders out of jail.
“Senator Johnson could not have encountered an issue he can’t purchase his method out of, however that’s not the case for almost all of individuals in Wisconsin,” stated Barnes, sneaking a jab in on the incumbent, who can also be a multimillionaire and former businessman.
Johnson hit again by highlighting Barnes’ statements on police funding and accusing him of inciting riots throughout protests towards racism in 2020. “He says it pains him to see totally funded police budgets,” stated Johnson. Barnes doesn’t assist defunding the police, however he has expressed assist for redirecting police funding in direction of various neighborhood security applications.
The candidates additionally addressed gun management. “If gun management have been the answer, it will’ve already been solved,” stated Johnson, who pinned the blame for gun violence on an absence of social and spiritual values. Barnes, a Milwaukee native, took the chance to decry gun violence and speak about his private connections to victims.
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., left, and his Democratic challenger Mandela Barnes await begin of a televised debate, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, in Milwaukee.
Morry Gash | AP
Local weather change
“The local weather has all the time modified, all the time will change,” stated Johnson, denying that local weather change is a matter. The senator additionally stated the federal authorities ought to fear much less about carbon emissions and extra about “actual air pollution” just like the state’s ongoing points with a bunch of chemical substances often called PFAS.
Barnes accused Johnson of defending particular pursuits within the fossil gasoline business and referenced his conversations with native farmers. Rural voters are a key group in Wisconsin that Barnes has been struggling to achieve the assist of.
When talking about renewable vitality, Johnson stated wind and photo voltaic vitality “make our grid very unreliable” and as an alternative advised, “For those who’re involved about local weather change, you have to be supporting nuclear energy.”
Jan. 6 Assault
The incumbent senator has downplayed the assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, saying it “didn’t appear to be an revolt to me.” On Friday, Johnson additionally downplayed his function in trying to ship a slate of false electors to former Vice President Mike Pence after the 2020 election.
“From my standpoint, this can be a non-issue,” Johnson stated, claiming he had no data of an alternate slate of electors. Each candidates stated they believed Pence did the precise factor whereas certifying the outcomes of the 2020 election.