Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson was all but written off for most of his bid to defend his Senate seat. The first-term incumbent pulled out the eraser Tuesday night, and inked himself in for a return to the upper chamber in a shocking comeback victory over former Sen. Russ Feingold.
Fox News projected Johnson the winner of the Wisconsin contest late in the 10 p.m. hour, with 60 percent of the vote reporting and the GOP lawmaker ahead 52 to 45 percent. Given Feingold’s consistent grip on the race, the result marked the first upset in Senate showdowns across the country, as Republicans fought to protect a 54-46 majority.
Their efforts were made easier with Johnson’s triumph, offsetting the loss of Illinois incumbent Mark Kirk and providing an unexpected boost as GOP senators in battlegrounds like Missouri, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania tried to hang on. With the Wisconsin Republican’s victory, Rep. Todd Young’s defense of the GOP-held seat in Indiana, and Richard Burr’s successful hold in North Carolina, the party’s prospects were positive as the clock ticked toward midnight on the East Coast.
The WEEKLY STANDARD chronicled Johnson’s comeback bid last week:
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