Sen. Ron Johnson said this week that he is committed to running for re-election in 2016, dismissing speculation that he might return to the private sector after a single term in Washington.
The Tea Party-affiliated Wisconsin Republican was one of the surprise winners of the 2010 GOP wave, defeating progressive darling Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold. Johnson, 59, had never sought or held political office before, and given his relative inattention to fundraising this past election cycle, some election observers wondered whether the wealthy businessman had had enough of politics after six years on Capitol Hill. The speculation persisted, despite Johnson previously signaling his intent to run.
During a brief interview with the Washington Examiner, Johnson sought to put a permanent end to the guessing game. He is set to become chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee when Republicans assume the majority in January, and suggested that the allure of what he can accomplish with the gavel — and a Republican president if the GOP wins the White House in 2016 — has motivated him to seek another term.
“I came here to actually solve problems, and with President Obama not being serious to do so, I’ll be here six years and not take any tough votes to fix these problems. So hopefully we can lay the groundwork using this chairmanship of Homeland Security to describe the problem for the American people — lay it out,” Johnson said. “The only way you’re going to solve problems, you have to first admit you have one, you have to properly define it, that’s what we’re trying to use the committee for. And, then hopefully we’ll get a serious president in 2017 that’ll actually start addressing these serious fiscal issues we’ve got.”
Johnson’s second campaign is likely to be more difficult than his first. Wisconsin leans Democratic in presidential elections, and Johnson is sure to be one of the Democrats’ top targets in their bid to regain the majority in 2016.
As of Sept. 30, Johnson reported $670,000 in cash on hand in his campaign account, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Records show Johnson raised $2.3 million during the 2014 election cycle, through the end of the third quarter of this year, with expenditures of $1.4 million.
Johnson had less cash in the bank as of Sept. 30 than other Republicans who are up for re-election in targeted states, including Sens. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire ($1.9 million); Mark Kirk of Illinois ($1.5 million); and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania ($5.4 million).
A Republican operative with Wisconsin ties conceded that Johnson’s off-year fundraising might not have been as aggressive as is typical for senators headed into a tough re-election bid. But this GOP insider said it’s just indicative of the fact that Johnson is not a career politician, and approaches the political aspects of his job a little differently than other members of Congress.
“We find it not normal,” the Republican operative said, of Johnson’s less than stellar 2014 fundraising numbers. “For him, he’s really in it for the cause. He’s very non-political — and non-political about this stuff.”
