GOP Sen. Ron Johnson debates challenger Mandela Barnes in Milwaukee, draws boos, laughs

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and his Democratic challenger, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, held their second and final debate in Milwaukee on Thursday night. It was a pugnacious affair near the end of a tight race.
Barnes tried to paint Johnson as an out-of-touch millionaire who owes his fortune to "his business-in-law," the plastics company started by his wife's family. Johnson aimed to portray Barnes as an "actor" with limited private-sector job experience. They accused each other of wasting taxpayer money — Barnes on his security detail, Johnson on flights to his second home in Florida — sparred over who is more disrespectful to law enforcement, and drew largely symbolic lines on abortion rights.
The debate also featured a relatively substantive debate on Social Security and Medicare, focused on Johnson's proposal to make the popular entitlements part of the regular budget, to be authorized (or not) every year. "I want to save Social Security. I want to save Medicare," Johnson said. "I never said I wanted to cut or put Social Security on the chopping block." Barnes responded that Johnson "talks about making Social Security discretionary spending. That means he's coming for your retirement."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Both candidates supported arming Ukraine against Russia, Johnson with more caveats, and Barnes reminded viewers that the FBI had to warn Johnson in 2020 that the Kremlin was trying to turn him into a "Russian asset" — after Johnson returned from a 2018 visit to Moscow suggesting the U.S. rethink its sanctions, and popped up repeatedly in former President Donald Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine to find dirt on Democrats in exchange for U.S. arms.
"The FBI set me up with a corrupt — with a corrupt briefing, and then leaked that to smear me," Johnson said, drawing laughs from the audience. Barnes "is referring to corruption at the FBI, which I have been trying to uncover and expose." The FBI setup line is "common fare in right-wing media but impenetrable for most others," Reid Epstein explains at The New York Times.
At the end of the debate, both candidates were invited to say something they admire about their opponent. Johnson's reply earned boos.
Laughs and jeers notwithstanding, neither candidate "committed any significant errors," and the debate is "unlikely to change the course of the election," Epstein writes. And that benefits Johnson, "who has risen in the polls as he and his allies have launched the most expensive TV ad campaign in Wisconsin's history."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Russia’s war games and the threat to Nato
In depth Incursion into Poland and Zapad 2025 exercises seen as a test for Europe
-
Eurovision faces its Waterloo over Israel boycotts
Talking Point Five major broadcasters have threatened to pull out of next year’s contest over Israel’s participation
-
What is Donald Trump’s visit worth to the UK economy?
In the Spotlight Centrepiece of the president’s trip, business-wise, is a ‘technology partnership’
-
Russian drone tests Romania as Trump spins
Speed Read Trump is ‘resisting congressional plans to impose newer and tougher penalties on Russia’s energy sector’
-
Kim Jong Un’s triumph: the rise and rise of North Korea’s dictator
In the Spotlight North Korean leader has strengthened ties with Russia and China, and recently revealed his ‘respected child’ to the world
-
‘Peak consumption has become the Holy Grail of the energy debate’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
Burkina Faso's misinformation war
Under The Radar The president of the West African country has quickly become the face of a viral, AI-powered propaganda campaign
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law