Republican Sen. Ron Johnson faces Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes in the Wisconsin Senate race

• Wisconsin GOP Sen. Ron Johnson is operating for reelection towards Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.
• Johnson has maintained a conservative voting file throughout his two phrases within the Senate.
• Barnes has sought to painting himself as a stronger advocate of the state’s working-class residents.

Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, who was first elected in the course of the conservative Tea Celebration wave in 2010, is operating for a 3rd time period and can face Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.

Wisconsin Senate candidates

Johnson, a former plastics govt and political ally of former President Donald Trump, has lengthy tacked to the appropriate in his voting file whereas representing Wisconsin — a swing state that nonetheless retains a sturdy conservative base.

Within the Senate, Johnson serves on the International Relations Committee, the Funds Committee, the Homeland Safety and Governmental Affairs Committee, and the Commerce Committee.

Johnson was one in all Trump’s most ardent legislative supporters of the 2017 tax reform invoice, which overhauled the tax code and repealed the Inexpensive Care Act’s particular person mandate.

Barnes, who in 2018 was elected as lieutenant governor on a ticket with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, has sought to painting Johnson as a champion of monied pursuits and has pledged to work with lawmakers to enact insurance policies that may profit working-class households, together with an growth of the kid tax credit score.

A win by Johnson would reaffirm the Wisconsin GOP’s energy in its suburban and exurban heartlands, whereas a Barnes victory put Democrats within the place to doubtlessly have a web acquire in Senate seats — and retain a majority — if they’ll additionally safe wins for susceptible incumbents and win tight open-seat races in states similar to Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Voting historical past in Wisconsin

Democrat Russ Feingold held the seat now occupied by Johnson from 1993 till he was defeated by the Republican in 2010.

Feingold ran for his previous seat in a 2016 rematch. However regardless of the ex-senator main in most public polling that yr, he went on to narrowly lose to Johnson as soon as once more.

On the presidential stage, Wisconsin has voted for the Democratic nominee in each election from 1988 to 2020 apart from 2016, when Trump narrowly defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton within the Badger State.

In 2020, now-President Joe Biden gained Wisconsin — by roughly 20,000 votes out of practically 3.3 million ballots solid.

The cash race

In accordance with OpenSecrets, Johnson has raised $29 million, spent $24.4 million, and has $4.5 million in money available, as of September 30. Barnes has raised practically $26.1 million, spent $22.7 million, and has $3.5 million within the financial institution, as of September 30.

Via mid-October, tremendous PACs, politically lively nonprofit organizations, and different non-candidate teams have in the meantime mixed to spend an extra $95 million advocating for or towards the candidates. 

What specialists say

The race between Johnson and Barnes is rated as “tilt Republican” by Inside Elections, a “toss-up” by The Prepare dinner Political Report, and “leans Republican” by Sabato’s Crystal Ball on the College of Virginia Middle for Politics.