By Scott Bauer | Related Press
MADISON, Wis. — Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson defeated Democrat Mandela Barnes within the midterm elections, preserving a seat in GOP palms whereas turning again Barnes’ try to make historical past as Wisconsin’s first Black senator.
The win for Johnson, certainly one of former President Donald Trump’s greatest backers, got here after Trump narrowly misplaced the state to President Joe Biden two years in the past.
“The votes are in,” Johnson stated in an electronic mail assertion. “There is no such thing as a path mathematically for Lt. Gov. Barnes to beat his 27,374 vote deficit. This race is over.”
Barnes didn't concede defeat early Wednesday. He deliberate a midday information convention in his hometown of Milwaukee.
“It doesn't matter what anybody says, we're dedicated to creating positive each vote is counted,” Barnes’ marketing campaign spokesperson Maddy McDaniel stated earlier Wednesday morning. “We are going to wait and see what the Wisconsin voters have determined in spite of everything their voices are heard.”
Johnson, in an interview on WISN-AM, accused Barnes of refusing to just accept the end result of the race after he had promised earlier within the marketing campaign he would.
“It’s simply crystal clear he has no path to victory right here,” Johnson stated.
The race was certainly one of a handful of tight Senate contests throughout the nation that would decide which celebration holds majority management.
Johnson stated he anticipated Republicans to do higher within the midterm election, saying Democratic insurance policies are “not good for America.”
“I’m shocked in Wisconsin my race was this shut, I'm,” Johnson stated.
Barnes, the present lieutenant governor, was in search of to turn into the primary Black senator from Wisconsin. Johnson was working for a 3rd time period.
Johnson has been a prime goal for Democrats in swing state Wisconsin. He was first elected in 2010, as a part of the tea celebration wave, and received reelection in 2016.
Johnson is certainly one of former President Donald Trump’s greatest backers. He ran this marketing campaign making an attempt to color Barnes as being weak on crime with a skinny resume who might be a rubber stamp for the nationwide Democratic agenda.
Barnes, like many Democrats nationally, tried to make the race about abortion, highlighting Johnson’s lengthy help for overturning Roe v. Wade, and arguing that the millionaire Johnson was out of contact with the issues of the center class.