Johnson keeps U.S. Senate seat in Republican hands

MADISON, Wis. (WBAY) - Ron Johnson will serve a third term as the Republican U.S. Senator from Wisconsin.

The Associated Press and multiple news organizations Wednesday called the race for Johnson over Democratic challenger Mandela Barnes, when Johnson had a 27,000 vote lead over his opponent with 99% of the vote reported and the only votes left to count were in Republican-leaning areas.

Johnson did not give a news conference or victory speech after the race was called in his favor, but he spoke on Fox News Wednesday night saying, “We won this campaign... we won this race because I told the truth.”

Whether Johnson will be in the party in power in the Senate remains to be seen as votes are still being counted in Nevada’s Senate race and the Georgia seat is going to a run-off on December 6.

Barnes spoke to supporters in Milwaukee Wednesday after the race was called for Johnson. He thanked his supporters and promised to continue fighting for people in Wisconsin.

“I did have a chance to talk to Sen. Johnson and I told him the same thing I’ve been saying all along, the same thing I’ve been saying to each and every one of you since the start of this campaign. I reminded him that every single person in this state deserves the chance to achieve their dreams. Whether that dream is being able to see your kids in a quality public school and knowing they’ll be able to come home safely at the end of the day; or having the funds to support starting that small business you’ve been thinking about for years now; or being able to pass your family farm to the next generation; and I also told him that I would continue to work to help make this state to know what it can be,” Barnes said.

“I’m in this for Wisconsin.”

Johnson defeated Barnes 51 percent to 49 percent. Johnson secured 1,334,680 votes and Barnes received 1,307,282 votes.

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While Democrat Tony Evers was re-elected governor, not everyone who voted for Evers also voted for Barnes. In Brown County, for example, Barnes received more than 2,400 fewer votes than Evers. In Door County, which Evers won, Barnes lost to Johnson by 75 votes.

Johnson released a statement earlier Wednesday morning saying that there was no path for Barnes to claim victory and promising to help unify the country after a divisive election season.

“There is no path mathematically for Lt. Gov. Barnes to overcome his 27,374 vote deficit. This race is over,” Johnson said. “Truth has prevailed over lies and the politics of personal destruction. I want to thank my family and everyone who supported me and worked so hard to save this U.S. Senate seat. I will do everything I can to help make things better for Wisconsinites and to heal and unify our country.”

Barnes did not concede to Johnson until the race was called by the media. The Associated Press determined there were no more votes left to count in Democratic-leaning counties like Milwaukee and Dane, and Barnes couldn’t catch up with the votes that were left to be tallied in the morning.

In no surprise, Barnes dominated the blue counties of Dane and Milwaukee in the southern part of the state. Red Northeast Wisconsin strongly backed Ron Johnson. The only blue county in our viewing area was Menominee County.

CLICK HERE for an interactive map of the Wisconsin U.S. Senate race.

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Johnson was first elected in 2010 and has served two six-year terms in the Senate. He previously said he would limit himself to two terms, but decided to seek a third.

Barnes, who served four years as Lt. Governor under Tony Evers, rose to the top of a large pack of Democrats looking to challenge Barnes. Opponents stepped down a head of the primary and backed Barnes.

The race was closely watched as the control of Congress is on the line. It will likely come down to the race in Georgia between Democrat Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker. That race is heading for a runoff.

Democrats picked up a seat in Pennsylvania where John Fetterman defeated Republican Mehmet Oz. That flips a red seat to a blue seat.

It was a big night for Democrats in Wisconsin. Gov. Tony Evers won a second term after defeating Republican businessman Tim Michels.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul is set to serve another term as the state’s “top cop.” Republican challenger Eric Toney conceded the race.