Five Democrats vying to challenge Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) for a Senate seat took the stage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Sunday, and the Supreme Court’s recent reversal of Roe v. Wade became a major focus of the primary debate.
The debate held at Marquette University on Sunday was the first of the campaign season, and it pitted five Democrats looking to unseat Johnson, who is seeking his third term as Wisconsin’s Republican senator, against each other. Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry, Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson, and founder of nonprofit group Millennial Action Project Steven Olikara participated in the debate, each trying to convince voters that they were best positioned to defend abortion rights.
“As the only woman on this stage, I don’t need to be lectured by any men about how important the 2016 election was,” Godlewski, a former Hillary Clinton campaign women’s outreach director, said after being attacked by Nelson for not voting in the 2016 election won by Donald Trump.
“Where were you guys talking about reproductive rights at a UW forum when they asked you what your priorities were in the U.S. Senate? I was the only one talking about reproductive rights because for me this is not an afterthought,” Godlewski said.
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Barnes, the race’s front-runner, said, “We have to explore every possible option to make sure women get the reproductive healthcare they need and deserve.”
Barnes launched a television ad last week that featured his mother talking about an abortion she had.
Lasry touted his wife’s credentials as the chief of staff for Planned Parenthood Wisconsin on the debate stage.
Both Lasry and Barnes said they would support abolishing the Senate filibuster to pass a bill codifying Roe v. Wade.
“We need to make sure that we’re doing anything we can to make sure women can make their own health care decisions the way men can make their own health care decisions,” Lasry said.
Lasry, the son of the co-owner of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, received a $6.5 million campaign loan from his father but has only brought in $520,000 in outside donations.
Among the other candidates, Barnes has raked in $2.1 million in donations, Godlewski has raised $900,000 and loaned her campaign $600,000, and Nelson has collected $230,000, according to the Associated Press.
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The June Marquette University poll shows Barnes leading with 25% support, followed by Lasry with 21%, Godlewski with 9%, Nelson with 7%, and Olikara with less than 1%.
The Badger State will hold its primary on Aug. 9.
