Can Ron Johnson Ride ‘Election Integrity’ To Re-Election In Wisconsin?

The idea that the 2020 election was stolen is deeply rooted within certain elements of the GOP, but it’s unclear the issue will resonate with suburban voters.

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WASHINGTON COUNTY, Wisconsin—The Washington County Fair is a prime opportunity for politicians on the stump ahead of the state’s August 9 primaries.

With a backdrop of the sounds of chattering families, bustling food vendors, and live music, and the smells of deep frying meat, powdered sugar, and perspiration, candidates for state and local offices turn out to shake the hands of as many potential voters as possible and hear what is on their minds.

GOP Senator Ron Johnson dropped by the last week of July to do just this. On Tuesday, voters will weigh in on a consequential Senate contest and gubernatorial election. Down ballot, there is also the state assembly, attorney general, and secretary of state races.

Johnson, who is running unopposed, quickly attracted a crowd around the fair’s GOP booth. After posing for pictures, his campaign staff sent constituents away sporting green and white Ron Johnson stickers. Moments later, during his circuit around the rest of the booths, a couple came up for a picture, then lingered to voice some of their concerns.

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  1. Mathew A

    First great write up.

    Second "Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe responded by saying that individuals who attempted to obtain absentee ballots for others committed a crime and “does not demonstrate a flaw with MyVote.”"

    Yes it does. Being able to get ballots fraudulently absolutely is a flaw in the system.


    Finally, with such a closely divided state why not go after some of those moderates in the middle? Oh yeah, the primary system. The most extreme part of the electorate (on both sides) tends to vote in the primary, while the average lazy voter can't bother. Thus are country going to S**T

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    rlritt

    <<<<<"When you look at polling that shows 75 to 80 percent plus the American population thinks we’re on the wrong track,” >>>>>
    It's always been like that ever since I began looking at polls.

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    Joel Stewart

    Good to see that the voters in a critical swing state are considering such important factors as the 2020 election and the candidates' skin color.

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      Aylene Wright

      I doubt that guy would have voted for a Black candidate spouting the same nonsense as Johnson, though. Or that skin color is the only reason he's voting for the Democratic candidate. And as Johnson himself made comments implying Black rioters are more dangerous / scary than White rioters, I don't think his supporters whining "you're only voting based on skin color" will land well

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    Luke Sherman

    Great article, slight factual problem though. Johnson is not running unopposed, I was just reviewing my sample ballot for Tuesday and there is a challenger (albeit probably not one he takes seriously) in David Schroeder. Doing some looking at the guy's website, it looks like he is more of a classic Republican, but his main talking point is that he is not Ron Johnson. Given the weirdness of the GOP right now, hard to say how he will do, but Johnson is DEFINITELY not running unopposed.

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      Peter A

      I voted for Schroeder. It'd be nice to see some percentage voice their disapproval.
      I will vote for Johnson over Barnes. Which I consider a vote for McConnel and against Biden.
      I voted for Kleefisch because I could be called a Walker Republican.
      My radicalization moment was protestors outside Walker's home screaming the worst obscenities and burning effigies. I have voted for WI Republicans since. Trump is not a WI Republican.

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      1. BadgerBill

        Peter, it’s funny, I voted for Walker the first time as I voted for “normal” Republicans my whole life, and voted for him each time he ran. If Kleefisch wins, I will consider her, but Evers will likely get my vote.. If sequential loser and Trumpy carpetbagger Michels wins, Evers will get my vote. I was also “radicalized” by the mob at the Capitol and the clenched fist in the shape of the state of Wisconsin that said “this is what democracy looks like”, in other words, it looks like I’ll punch you in the face if you don’t agree with me.

        Only Trump could “unradicalize” me and open my eyes to how crazy the Republicans have become in Wisconsin. I’m proud to say I voted for both Hilary and Biden and will not vote for a Republican who supports Trump in any way, including talking about “election integrity”, which is nothing more than supporting the stolen election bs. The party must purge itself of that madness.

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          Peter A

          I understand voting for Evers. Especially since it means a split government. I didn't vote for Trump, and I am proud I didn't vote for Hillary or Biden (decades of habitual lying). It's your vote. Best of luck.

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        Luke Sherman

        It is scary the number of folks on the ballot tomorrow that are shouting from the rooftops about relitigating the 2020 election.

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          Peter A

          It's scary. I'm not convinced it's as bad as AZ.

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  5. Gerald Vork

    The one Democratic voter they cited was named Clarence Thomas?

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    Chris L

    I've said it before, I have sadly devolved into a single-issue voter. Namely, all candidates must be asked one question - did Joe Biden win the last presidential election? If your answer is anything other than, "Uh of course he did, why would you ask such a thing?" then you're disqualified. There is no room for equivocation on this. If you respond with, "Well, yes, but--"

    No. Stop right there. For reasons exhaustively reviewed over the past year-plus, you are actively undermining the basic concept of elections, and suggest that authoritarianism replaces suffrage. This is a preemptive violation of your oath of office and defense of the Constitution, and must therefore be barred from holding such an office.

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      Jon McKinney

      I had someone from the Kleefisch campaign stop at my house, before they could get a worked out of their mouth I asked if the candidate would say unequivocally that Joe Biden was the winner of the 2020 election. He couldn’t so I told him I couldn’t vote for her.

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      Collin

      That's a perfectly reasonable line to draw. It's funny to see the right who talked constantly about how Bush-era lefties were imbued with conspiratorial language (the Diebold voting machines) are now so replete with conspiracy mongers that the characteristic practically defines the movement.

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      DougAz

      Good for you!

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  7. BadgerBill

    Ugh. Blecch. Johnson us an absolute disgrace, and I voted for him twice. He promised to only run twice and broke that promise. That’s the smallest sin, however. His veering into the ditch on Covid and election “fraud” is unforgivable. He will not get my vote again.

    That said, the worst possible candidate to win for Democrats is Barnes. Endorsements by Booker and Warren and his clearly far left leanings makes him look unelectable, too.

    As a moderate, I have no good alternative here. If I were a betting man, I’d bet Wisconsin will continue its “purpleness” and re-elect Johnson and the Democrat, Evers, for governor.

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    1. Mathew A

      Yep, this is what our primary system is getting us because the majority of voters can't bother. So we are stuck with extremes from both parties:(

      Back to the smoke filled rooms! (or maybe ranked choice voting)

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        Scarlette Tarte

        Ranked choice is great.

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      Scarlette Tarte

      I don't know...I bet abortion puts Barnes in office.

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      1. BadgerBill

        Scarlette, could be. I was curious about Johnson’s position on abortion, and on the surface, it’s remarkably moderate. He claims he voted to support a 20 week abortion law, which is along the lines seen in Europe. The problem I have is he voted like that in the past, when it really had no meaning because of the Roe protections, but is no guarantee if he were a 51st vote to ban abortion nationwide if the Republicans controlled the Congress and presidency. It would seem his abortion position may not be radical. It’s the other despicable stuff he’s done that disqualifies him from getting my vote.

        Thanks for you thoughts on this. Your cat is really cute.

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          Scarlette Tarte

          Cookie cat says "thank you, I know".

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        2. Mathew A

          "but is no guarantee if he were a 51st vote to ban abortion nationwide" You need 60 votes to do that.

          Which even though I'm Pro-Life I think is a good thing. Big changes should have bi-partisan agreement

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          1. BadgerBill

            Not if you get rid of the filibuster.

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      Brian Levy

      I haven't gone full "never Johnson" for the sins you correctly identify, but yeah, it's sickening. The best thing he did was give that hidden interview where he admitted that the election wasn't stolen. He panders to the base shamelessly, but at least he really knows the truth. Agree Barnes is the worst candidate. I don't understand how we can get relative moderates for governor elected, but not our Senators.

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        rlritt

        Can't you not vote? Or write in.

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          Brian Levy

          Sure. I'll party like it's 2016.

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        Jon McKinney

        If Hamilton could support Jefferson over Burr, you can vote against Johnson. I am in the same boat as the two of you, I voted for Johnson in his last two elections. He has gone full conspiracy theorist and he was complicit in trying to overturn the duly elected president. The GOP will not change until they realize that we won’t put up with the lunatic fringe.

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        1. BadgerBill

          Jon, I’m almost there on voting for Barnes.

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            Jon McKinney

            I’m just glad we don’t have to hear “Alex Lasry built the Fiserv Forum with real progressive values…” commercials anymore.

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