Russ Feingold Looks To Take Wisconsin Back From The Kochs With 2016 Senate Run

Former Senator Russ Feingold has announced that he is ready for a rematch in Wisconsin for the seat that he lost to tea party Republican Sen. Ron Johnson. Feingold also echoed a populist anti-Koch message in his announcement.

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In his announcement video, Feingold said, “We need to get started fixing all of this. People tell me all of the time that our politics in Washington are broken, and that multi-millionaires, billionaires, and corporations are calling all of the shots. They especially say this about the U.S. Senate, and it’s hard not to agree. But what are we going to do, get rid of the Senate? Actually, no one I’ve listened to says that we should throw in the towel and give up, and I don’t think that either. Instead, let’s fight together for change. That means helping to bring back to the U.S. Senate strong independence, bipartisanship, and honesty. So today, I’m pleased to announce that I am planning to run for the United States Senate in 2016.”

Feingold indirectly went after Sen. Ron Johnson and the Koch brothers. Feingold’s push to bring independence and honesty back to the Senate was a reference to the Koch brothers giving Johnson a 100% perfect score on voting for their agenda during his first year in office. Johnson was one of the five Republican senators to get a perfect score on voting with the Kochs. The Koch brothers were also the top contributors to Johnson’s campaign to unseat Feingold in 2010.

Feingold begins the rematch leading according to the most recent Marquette University Law School Poll. Feingold leads Johnson 54%-38% with 9% undecided.

There are few Democrats in this country who are more suited to running an anti-establishment populist Senate campaign than Russ Feingold. The 2010 was swept out of office in the Republican wave of 2010, and will be campaigning in a more favorable environment in 2016.

Democrats need to pick up four seats to take back control of the Senate in 2016 if they win the presidential election. Russ Feingold’s candidacy in Wisconsin is a good first step towards meeting 25% of this goal.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association