United States Senate election in Wisconsin, 2010
Encyclopedia
The 2010 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held on November 2, 2010. Incumbent
Democratic
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold
ran for re-election to a fourth term, but was defeated by political newcomer Republican
Ron Johnson.
Declined
had expressed an interest in challenging Feingold, but ruled himself out of the race in April 2010.
Johnson, a millionaire manufacturer and Tea Party movement
favorite who was running for his first political office, was the front runner. In response to controversy over his ownership of stock in British Petroleum (BP), Johnston said he would sell it when market conditions were favorable and possibly use the proceeds to help finance his Senate campaign. Johnson was endorsed by the national GOP
establishment as well as the powerful conservative organization Club for Growth
. Former Wisconsin Republican Lt. Governor Margaret Farrow
and Republican U.S. Senator Jim DeMint
of South Carolina) endorsed Johnson, as did Wisconsin Republican U.S. Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner
, Tom Petri
and Paul Ryan
. Westlake was endorsed by the Republican Liberty Caucus
. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, as of August 25, 2010, Johnson had invested $4.3 million of his own money into his campaign, which represented 71 percent of his campaign funds, while 27 percent of his campaign funds ($1.6 million) came from individual contributions.
in the Great Lakes
. Johnson quickly countered Feingold with a television ad of his own. Feingold's logo was Moving Forward. In one ad he emphasized independence and called himself a "Penny Pincher." Johnson argued that his professions, manufacturer
and accountant
were underrepresented in the U.S. Senate, and there were too many lawyers (57 out of 100 members), including Feingold. Feingold received the endorsements of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
and the Green Bay Press-Gazette
. The Beloit Daily News
endorsed Johnson.
Official campaign websites
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold
Russ Feingold
Russell Dana "Russ" Feingold is an American politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin. He served as a Democratic party member of the U.S. Senate from 1993 to 2011. From 1983 to 1993, Feingold was a Wisconsin State Senator representing the 27th District.He is a recipient of the John F...
ran for re-election to a fourth term, but was defeated by political newcomer Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Ron Johnson.
Candidates
On the ballot- Stephen Finn, plumberPlumberA plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable water, sewage, and drainage in plumbing systems. The term dates from ancient times, and is related to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum." A person engaged in fixing metaphorical "leaks" may also be...
- Ron JohnsonRon Johnson (Wisconsin)Ronald Harold "Ron" Johnson is the junior United States Senator for Wisconsin, and a member of the Republican Party, and is associated with the Tea party movement....
, businessman - Dave Westlake, businessman
Declined
- Ted Kanavas, State Senator
- Dick LeinenkugelDick LeinenkugelRichard "Dick" Leinenkugel is an American politician and businessman in the State of Wisconsin. He as the Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce, and was vice president of sales and marketing for the Chippewa Falls Beer Company, which is a subsidiary of MillerCoors LLC. He was also group manager for...
(dropped out), former State Commerce SecretaryWisconsin Department of CommerceThe Wisconsin Department of Commerce was a department in the executive branch of the Government of Wisconsin. It was responsible for implementing and overseeing the economic development programs for Wisconsin through consultation, technical assistance, and relocation assistance... - Tommy ThompsonTommy ThompsonThomas George "Tommy" Thompson , a United States Republican politician, was the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin, after which he served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Thompson was a candidate for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, but dropped out early after a poor performance in polls...
, former Governor of WisconsinGovernor of WisconsinThe Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state... - Terrence WallTerrence WallTerrence Wall was a Republican primary candidate in the 2010 United States Senate election in Wisconsin. If he had won the race he would have faced incumbent Democratic Senator Russ Feingold.-Early life:...
(dropped out), real estate developer
Campaign
Former Republican Governor of Wisconsin Tommy ThompsonTommy Thompson
Thomas George "Tommy" Thompson , a United States Republican politician, was the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin, after which he served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Thompson was a candidate for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, but dropped out early after a poor performance in polls...
had expressed an interest in challenging Feingold, but ruled himself out of the race in April 2010.
Johnson, a millionaire manufacturer and Tea Party movement
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
favorite who was running for his first political office, was the front runner. In response to controversy over his ownership of stock in British Petroleum (BP), Johnston said he would sell it when market conditions were favorable and possibly use the proceeds to help finance his Senate campaign. Johnson was endorsed by the national GOP
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
establishment as well as the powerful conservative organization Club for Growth
Club for Growth
The Club for Growth is a politically conservative 527 organization active in the United States of America, with an agenda focussed on taxation and other economic issues, and with an affiliated political action committee . The Club advocates lower taxes, limited government, less government spending,...
. Former Wisconsin Republican Lt. Governor Margaret Farrow
Margaret Farrow
Margaret Farrow is a former state senator and former Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin. She was born and raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and attended Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois for one year before receiving her B.A...
and Republican U.S. Senator Jim DeMint
Jim DeMint
James Warren "Jim" DeMint is the junior U.S. Senator from South Carolina, serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party and a leader in the Tea Party movement. He previously served as the U.S. Representative for from 1999 to 2005.-Early life and education:DeMint was born in...
of South Carolina) endorsed Johnson, as did Wisconsin Republican U.S. Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner
Jim Sensenbrenner
Frank James Sensenbrenner, Jr. is an American politician who has been a member of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives since 1979, representing . The district, the state's richest, includes many of Milwaukee's northern and western suburbs, and extends into rural...
, Tom Petri
Tom Petri
Thomas Evert Petri is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1979. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes most of the east-central part of the state.-Early life, education, and early career:...
and Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan (politician)
Paul Davis Ryan is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999. He is a member of the Republican Party and has been ranked among the party's most influential voices on economic policy....
. Westlake was endorsed by the Republican Liberty Caucus
Republican Liberty Caucus
The Republican Liberty Caucus is a political action organization dedicated to promoting the ideals of individual liberty, limited government and free market economics within the Republican Party in the United States. It is part of the libertarian wing of the Republican Party...
. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, as of August 25, 2010, Johnson had invested $4.3 million of his own money into his campaign, which represented 71 percent of his campaign funds, while 27 percent of his campaign funds ($1.6 million) came from individual contributions.
Polling
| Poll Source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of Error |
Ron Johnson | Dave Westlake | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | June 26-27, 2010 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 49% | 11% | –– | 40% |
Results
Candidates
- Russ FeingoldRuss FeingoldRussell Dana "Russ" Feingold is an American politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin. He served as a Democratic party member of the U.S. Senate from 1993 to 2011. From 1983 to 1993, Feingold was a Wisconsin State Senator representing the 27th District.He is a recipient of the John F...
(D), incumbent U.S. senator - Ron JohnsonRon Johnson (Wisconsin)Ronald Harold "Ron" Johnson is the junior United States Senator for Wisconsin, and a member of the Republican Party, and is associated with the Tea party movement....
(R), businessman - Dave Rutowski (I)
- Rob Taylor (I) self-described Constitution PartyConstitution Party (United States)The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
candidate
Campaign
Feingold's first television ad was a positive ad released in March. In July 2010, Feingold's second 2010 television election ad attacked Johnson for alleged support for offshore drillingOffshore drilling
Offshore drilling refers to a mechanical process where a wellbore is drilled through the seabed. It is typically carried out in order to explore for and subsequently produce hydrocarbons which lie in rock formations beneath the seabed...
in the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
. Johnson quickly countered Feingold with a television ad of his own. Feingold's logo was Moving Forward. In one ad he emphasized independence and called himself a "Penny Pincher." Johnson argued that his professions, manufacturer
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
and accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
were underrepresented in the U.S. Senate, and there were too many lawyers (57 out of 100 members), including Feingold. Feingold received the endorsements of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. It is the primary newspaper in Milwaukee, the largest newspaper in Wisconsin and is distributed widely throughout the state...
and the Green Bay Press-Gazette
Green Bay Press-Gazette
The Green Bay Press-Gazette is a newspaper whose primary coverage is of northeastern Wisconsin, including Green Bay. It was founded as the Green Bay Gazette in 1866 as a weekly paper, becoming a daily newspaper in 1871. The Green Bay Gazette merged with its major competitor, the Green Bay Free...
. The Beloit Daily News
Beloit Daily News
The Beloit Daily News is a daily newspaper that has served Beloit, Wisconsin and the stateline area since 1848.-History:The Daily News grew out of a series of weekly and daily newspapers founded in the 1840s and 1850s. The Beloit Journal was first published in June 1848 as a weekly...
endorsed Johnson.
Debates
- October 8th in MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
- October 11th in WausauWausau, WisconsinWausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city. The city is adjacent to the town of Wausau.According to the 2000 census, Wausau had a population of 38,426 people...
- October 22nd in Eau ClaireEau Claire, WisconsinEau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
on WQOW
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Cook Political Report Cook Political Report The Cook Political Report is an independent, non-partisan online newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns for the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, Governor's offices and the American Presidency. The Cook Political Report is led by a staff of five... |
Leans R | October 31, 2010 |
| Rothenberg Stuart Rothenberg Stuart Rothenberg is an American editor, publisher, and political analyst best known for his Washington-based, biweekly, self-proclaimed non-partisan political newsletter The Rothenberg Political Report... |
Leans R | October 28, 2010 |
| RealClearPolitics RealClearPolitics RealClearPolitics is a political news and polling data aggregator based in Chicago, Illinois. The site's founders say their goal is to give readers "ideological diversity." They have described themselves as frustrated with what they perceive as anti-conservative, anti-Christian media bias, and... |
Leans R | October 31, 2010 |
| Rasmussen Reports Rasmussen Reports Rasmussen Reports is an American media company that publishes and distributes information based on public opinion polling. Founded by pollster Scott Rasmussen in 2003, the company updates daily indexes including the President's job approval rating, and provides public opinion data, analysis, and... |
Leans R | October 30, 2010 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball Sabato's Crystal Ball Sabato’s Crystal Ball is a free, nonpartisan weekly online newsletter and comprehensive website in the United States that analyzes the current American political scene and predicts electoral outcomes for U.S House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, governors, and U.S. president races... |
Leans R | October 28, 2010 |
| CQ Politics Congressional Quarterly Congressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress... |
Leans R | October 31, 2010 |
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Russ Feingold (D) |
Ron Johnson (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen Reports | May 25, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 46% | 44% | 3% | 6% |
| Rasmussen Reports | June 21, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 46% | 45% | 3% | 6% |
| Public Policy Polling | June 26-27, 2010 | 638 | ± 3.9% | 45% | 43% | –– | 12% |
| Rasmussen Reports | July 13, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 46% | 47% | 2% | 6% |
| University of Wisconsin, Madison | July 15, 2010 | 500 | ± 3.9% | 33% | 28% | –– | 44% |
| Magellan Strategies | July 20, 2010 | 1,145 | ± 2.9% | 45% | 43% | 3.7% | 8% |
| Rasmussen Reports | July 27, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.0% | 46% | 48% | 2% | 5% |
| Rasmussen Reports | August 11, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 46% | 47% | 2% | 5% |
| Rasmussen Reports | August 24, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 46% | 47% | 1% | 5% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 15, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 44% | 51% | 1% | 4% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 18-19, 2010 | –– | ± 3.8% | 41% | 52% | –– | 7% |
| CNN/Time/Opinion Research | September 17-21, 2010 | 963 | ± 3.0% | 45% | 51% | 2% | 2% |
| McClatchy/Marist | September 26-28, 2010 | 806 | ± 3.5% | 45% | 52% | 1% | 3% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 29, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 42% | 54% | 2% | 2% |
| We the People | September 29-Oct. 4, 2010 | 400 | ± 5.0% | 41% | 49% | –– | –– |
| We the People/Ispos | October 8, 2010 | 400 | ± 5.0% | 44% | 51% | –– | –– |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 11, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 45% | 52% | –– | 2% |
| CNN/Time/Opinion Research | October 8-12, 2010 | 1,506 | ± 2.5% | 44% | 52% | 1% | –– |
| St. Norbert College/WPR | October 12-15, 2010 | 402 | ± 5.0% | 47% | 49% | –– | 4% |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 25, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 46% | 53% | 0% | 1% |
| We the People | October 24-27, 2010 | 400 | ± 5.0% | 44% | 48% | –– | 6% |
| Public Policy Polling | October 26-28, 2010 | 1,372 | ± 2.6% | 44% | 53% | –– | 3% |
| Marist College | October 26-28, 2010 | 811 | ± 4.5% | 45% | 52% | 1% | 2% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of Error |
Russ Feingold (D) |
David Westlake (R) |
Other | Unde- cided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | June 26-27, 2010 | 638 | ± 3.9% | 45% | 38% | -- | 17% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | June 21, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 47% | 41% | 4% | 7% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | May 25, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 47% | 38% | 7% | 8% |
| Public Policy Polling Public Policy Polling Public Policy Polling is an American Democratic Party-affiliated polling firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina. PPP was founded in 2001 by businessman and Democratic pollster Dean Debnam, the firm's current president and chief executive officer... (report) |
March 23, 2010 | 700 | ± 3.7% | 48% | 31% | — | 21% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | March 16, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 51% | 35% | 5% | 10% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | February 17, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 47% | 37% | 6% | 10% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | November 20-22, 2009 | 767 | ± 3.5% | 47% | 32% | — | 21% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of Error |
Russ Feingold (D) |
Tommy Thompson (R) |
Other | Unde- cided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling Public Policy Polling Public Policy Polling is an American Democratic Party-affiliated polling firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina. PPP was founded in 2001 by businessman and Democratic pollster Dean Debnam, the firm's current president and chief executive officer... (report) |
March 23, 2010 | 700 | ± 3.7% | 47% | 44% | — | 9% |
| Rasmussen Reports Rasmussen Reports Rasmussen Reports is an American media company that publishes and distributes information based on public opinion polling. Founded by pollster Scott Rasmussen in 2003, the company updates daily indexes including the President's job approval rating, and provides public opinion data, analysis, and... (report) |
March 16, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 45% | 47% | 3% | 4% |
| WPRI (report) | March 9, 2010 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 39% | 51% | — | 9% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | February 17, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 43% | 48% | 3% | 5% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | January 26, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 43% | 47% | 6% | 4% |
| Public Policy Polling Public Policy Polling Public Policy Polling is an American Democratic Party-affiliated polling firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina. PPP was founded in 2001 by businessman and Democratic pollster Dean Debnam, the firm's current president and chief executive officer... (report) |
November 20-22, 2009 | 767 | ± 3.5% | 50% | 41% | — | 10% |
| WPRI (report) | September 27-29, 2009 | 700 | ± 3.8% | 39% | 43% | — | 18% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of Error |
Russ Feingold (D) |
Terrence Wall (R) |
Other | Unde- cided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling Public Policy Polling Public Policy Polling is an American Democratic Party-affiliated polling firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina. PPP was founded in 2001 by businessman and Democratic pollster Dean Debnam, the firm's current president and chief executive officer... (report) |
March 23, 2010 | 700 | ± 3.7% | 48% | 34% | — | 18% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | March 16, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 49% | 40% | 3% | 9% |
| WPRI (report) | March 9, 2010 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 47% | 32% | 6% | 7% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | February 17, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 47% | 39% | 6% | 7% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | November 20-22, 2009 | 767 | ± 3.5% | 48% | 34% | — | 19% |
Fundraising
Through 12/31/2010| Candidate (Party) | Net Receipts | Disbursements | Beginning Cash | Latest Cash On Hand | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russ Feingold (D) | $13,947,563 | $15,544,093 | $2,516,119 | $919,585 | $0 |
| Ron Johnson (R) | $15,509,297 | $15,316,651 | $0 | $192,646 | $8,708,465 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission | |||||
Results
External links
- Elections & Voting at the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board
- U.S. Congress candidates for Wisconsin at Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- Wisconsin U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com
- Campaign contributions from Open SecretsOpen SecretsOpen Secrets is a book of short stories by Alice Munro published by McClelland and Stewart in 1994. It was nominated for the 1994 Governor General's Award for English Fiction.-Stories:* "Carried Away"* "A Real Life"...
- 2010 Wisconsin Senate General Election: All Head-to-Head Matchups graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
- Election 2010: Wisconsin Senate from Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports is an American media company that publishes and distributes information based on public opinion polling. Founded by pollster Scott Rasmussen in 2003, the company updates daily indexes including the President's job approval rating, and provides public opinion data, analysis, and...
- 2010 Wisconsin Senate Race from Real Clear Politics
- 2010 Wisconsin Senate Race from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Race profile from The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
- Election 2010 news coverage at the Milwaukee Journal SentinelMilwaukee Journal SentinelThe Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. It is the primary newspaper in Milwaukee, the largest newspaper in Wisconsin and is distributed widely throughout the state...
Official campaign websites