2010 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

The 2010 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic Senator Russ Feingold lost re-election to a fourth term to Republican challenger Ron Johnson, a businessman and first-time candidate. Johnson was the first Republican to win a Senate election in Wisconsin since 1986. Feingold also became the fifth senator in a row from Wisconsin's Class 3 Senate seat to be defeated for re-election in the general election, and the seventh in a row overall to lose by a defeat in either the primary or general elections. Johnson was re-elected in 2016 in a rematch with Feingold.

Candidates

 * On the ballot
 * Stephen Finn, plumber
 * Ron Johnson, businessman
 * Dave Westlake, businessman


 * Declined
 * Ted Kanavas, state senator
 * Dick Leinenkugel (dropped out), former State Commerce Secretary
 * Tommy Thompson, former governor of Wisconsin
 * Terrence Wall (dropped out), real estate developer

Campaign
Former Republican Governor of Wisconsin Tommy Thompson 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 running for political office for the first time, was the frontrunner. In response to controversy over his ownership of stock in BP, Johnson 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 Club for Growth, a fiscally conservative advocacy organization; former Wisconsin Republican Lt. Governor Margaret Farrow; Republican U.S. Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina; and Wisconsin Republican U.S. Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner, Tom Petri and Paul Ryan. Businessman David Westlake was endorsed by the Republican Liberty Caucus. According to OpenSecrets, as of August 25, 2010, Johnson had invested $4.3 million of his own money into his campaign; this amount represented 71 percent of his campaign funds, while 27 percent of his campaign funds ($1.6 million) came from individual contributions.

Candidates

 * Russ Feingold (D), incumbent U.S. senator
 * Ron Johnson (R), businessman
 * Dave Rutowski (I)
 * Rob Taylor (I) self-described Constitution Party 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 drilling 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 manufacturers and accountants 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.

Debates

 * October 8 in Milwaukee
 * October 11 in Wausau
 * October 22 in Eau Claire on WQOW

Fundraising
Through December 31, 2010:

Counties that flipped Democratic to Republican

 * Barron (largest city: Rice Lake)
 * Brown (largest city: Green Bay)
 * Burnett (largest village: Grantsburg)
 * Clark (largest city: Neillsville)
 * Chippewa (largest city: Chippewa Falls)
 * Iron (largest city: Hurley)
 * Jefferson (largest city: Watertown)
 * Kewaunee (largest city: Algoma)
 * Langlade (largest city: Antigo)
 * Manitowoc (largest city: Manitowoc)
 * Marathon (largest city: Wausau)
 * Monroe (largest city: Sparta)
 * Oneida (largest city: Rhinelander)
 * Outagamie (largest city: Appleton)
 * Rusk (largest city: Ladysmith)
 * Washburn (largest city: Spooner)
 * Buffalo (largest city: Mondovi)
 * Columbia (largest city: Portage)
 * Door (largest city: Sturgeon Bay)
 * Dunn (largest city: Menomonie)
 * Forest (largest city: Crandon)
 * Grant (largest city: Platteville)
 * Jackson (largest city: Black River Falls)
 * Juneau (largest city: Mauston)
 * Kenosha (largest city: Kenosha)
 * Lafayette (largest city: Darlington)
 * Lincoln (largest city: Merrill)
 * Pepin (largest city: Durand)
 * Price (largest city: Park Falls)
 * Racine (largest city: Racine)
 * Richland (largest city: Richland Center)
 * Sawyer (largest city: Hayward)
 * Trempealeau (largest city: Arcadia)
 * Winnebago (largest city: Oshkosh)
 * Adams (largest city: Adams)
 * Polk (Largest city: Amery)
 * St. Croix (Largest city: Hudson)
 * Taylor (Largest city: Medford)