Ron Johnson#Politics

Johnson was born in Mankato, Minnesota, the son of Jeanette Elizabeth (née Thisius) and Dale Robert Johnson. His father was of Norwegian descent and his mother of German ancestry.{{cite web|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/johnsonron.htm|title=Ron Johnson ancestry|work=ancestry.com|access-date=12 August 2016|archive-date=September 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927080358/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/johnsonron.htm|url-status=live}} Growing up, Johnson delivered newspapers, worked as a caddy at a golf course, baled hay on his uncle's dairy farm, and worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant.Almanac of American Politics 2014, p. 1822. He attended Edina High School but skipped his senior year{{cite news |last1=Glauber |first1=Bill |title=Ron Johnson's six-year journey |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/10/15/ron-johnsons-six-year-journey/92142180/ |access-date=27 January 2021 |publisher=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=October 15, 2016 |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215002952/https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/10/15/ron-johnsons-six-year-journey/92142180/ |url-status=live }} and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in business and accounting. He continued his studies but did not receive a graduate degree.{{cite web|title=Biography|url=https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography|website=ronjonhnson.senate.gov|publisher=Office of Senator Ron Johnson|access-date=18 November 2014|archive-date=August 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817105533/https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography|url-status=live}}

In 1979, Johnson moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with his wife, Jane.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography |title=Ron Johnson's Senate biography |access-date=November 16, 2017 |archive-date=August 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817105533/https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography |url-status=live }} He worked for his wife's family's plastics company,{{Cite news|last1=Gabriel|first1=Trip|last2=Epstein|first2=Reid J.|date=2021-03-21|title=Assaulting the Truth, Ron Johnson Helps Erode Confidence in Government|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/21/us/politics/ron-johnson-wisconsin-misinformation.html|access-date=2021-03-21|issn=0362-4331}} PACUR, an abbreviation of "Pat Curler", Jane's brother. Curler created the company with funding from his and Jane's father, Howard Curler. Howard Curler had been named CEO of the plastics giant Bemis Company in 1978, and for the first several years of PACUR's existence, Bemis was the company's only customer.{{cite web |last=Bollier |first=Jeff |url=http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20101003/OSH0101/101005107/Johnson-s-Pacur-LLC-began-as-Curler-family-enterprise |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020011954/http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20101003/OSH0101/101005107/Johnson-s-Pacur-LLC-began-as-Curler-family-enterprise |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 20, 2010 |title=Johnson's Pacur LLC began as Curler family enterprise |newspaper=The Oshkosh Northwestern |date=October 5, 2010 |access-date=November 1, 2011 }}

According to his campaign biography, Johnson worked as PACUR's accountant and a machine operator. The company later expanded into specialty plastics used in medical device packaging, which involved hiring salespeople and exporting products to other countries. In the mid-1980s, Pat Curler left PACUR and Johnson became its CEO. In 1987, the Curler family sold PACUR to Bowater Industries for $18 million; Johnson remained the company's CEO. In 1997, he purchased PACUR from Bowater; he remained CEO until he was elected to the Senate in 2010.{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/06/sen-johnsons-10-million-payday-057709|title=Sen. Johnson's $10 million payday|work=Politico|first=Reid J.|last=Epstein|date=June 24, 2011|access-date=August 29, 2018|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806174914/https://www.politico.com/story/2011/06/sen-johnsons-10-million-payday-057709|url-status=live}}

{{main|2010 United States Senate election in Wisconsin}}

[[File:2010 United States Senate election in Wisconsin results map by county.svg|thumb|alt=Final results by county| Final results by county in 2010:

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| title = {{legend|#E27F7F|Ron Johnson}}|{{legend|#D72F30|70–80%}}|{{legend|#D75D5D|60–70%}}|{{legend|#E27F7F|50–60%}}|{{legend|#ffb2b2|40–50%}}

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| title = {{legend|#7996e2|Russ Feingold}}|||{{legend|#3933e5ff|80–90%}}|{{legend|#6674de|60–70%}}| {{legend|#7996e2|50–60%}}

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The 2010 U.S. Senate campaign was Johnson's first run for elected office. According to The New York Times, Johnson said he "did kind of spring out of the Tea Party" and is glad to be associated with it, although he did not join the Senate Tea Party Caucus following his election.{{cite news|url=http://www.milwaukeemag.com/2013/08/01/TheRiseofRonJohnson|title=The Rise of Ron Johnson|work=Milwaukee Magazine|first=Larry|last=Sandler|date=August 1, 2013|access-date=April 27, 2016|archive-date=May 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530232119/http://www.milwaukeemag.com/2013/08/01/TheRiseofRonJohnson/|url-status=live}} In the September 14, 2010, Republican primary, Johnson, running a largely self-financed campaign,{{cite news|last1=Camia|first1=Catalina|title=Wisconsin Sen. Johnson won't self-finance 2016 race|url=http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2014/11/19/ron-johnson-2016-self-finance-wisconsin|access-date=February 22, 2016|newspaper=USA Today|date=November 19, 2014}} defeated Watertown businessman Dave Westlake with 85% of the vote to Westlake's 10% and 5% for Stephen Finn.

As a candidate, Johnson opposed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. He launched his campaign by telling the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the United States "would have been far better off not spending any of the money and [letting] the recovery happen as it was going to happen." The newspaper later reported that the education council Johnson led considered applying for stimulus money in 2009, but ultimately elected not to. The Johnson campaign stated that nonprofits consider "many possibilities," but that the council "made no application" for stimulus funds.

Johnson's 2010 Senate campaign raised $15.2 million, $9 million of which was his own money.{{cite web|title=2010 Race: Wisconsin Senate|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=WIS2&cycle=2010| publisher=OpenSecrets}}{{cite news|last1=Opoien|first1=Jesse|title=Ron Johnson, Russ Feingold trade barbs on PACUR payment, PAC spending|url=http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/ron-johnson-russ-feingold-trade-barbs-on-pacur-payment-pac/article_f33cbe44-fd3e-56f5-b4ee-f23c4e4413bd.html|access-date=22 February 2016|newspaper=The Capital Times|date=June 23, 2015|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215002928/https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/ron-johnson-russ-feingold-trade-barbs-on-pacur-payment-pac/article_f33cbe44-fd3e-56f5-b4ee-f23c4e4413bd.html|url-status=live}} In June 2011, his financial disclosures showed that PACUR had paid him $10 million in deferred compensation in early 2011. The compensation covered the period from 1997 to 2011, during which he took no salary from PACUR. Johnson said that, as CEO, he had personally determined the dollar amount and that it was unrelated to the contributions he had made to his campaign.{{cite news |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|first=Daniel|last=Bice |title=Johnson proves to be a big spender – and taker: Firm pays him $10 million |date=June 23, 2011 |url=http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/124468318.html|access-date=October 26, 2020}}{{cite web|first1=Benjy |last1=Sarlin |first2=Susan |last2=Crabtree |url=http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/ron-johnson-ducks-tpm-questions-on-his-10-million-payday-its-a-private-company.php?ref=fpblg |title=Ron Johnson Ducks TPM Questions On His $10 Million Payday: 'It's A Private Company' |work=Talking Points Memo |date=June 28, 2011 |access-date=November 1, 2011}}

In the November 2 election, Johnson defeated Democratic incumbent Russ Feingold with 52% of the vote.

After being elected to the Senate, Johnson claimed that he sold his liquid assets to avoid a conflict of interest and also promised to place his assets in a blind trust.{{cite web|url=http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20110616/APC0101/106160570/Sen-Ron-Johnson-Oshkosh-cleans-up-stock-holdings |title= Sen. Ron Johnson of Oshkosh cleans up stock holdings|first=Larry|last=Bivins |newspaper= The Post-Crescent |date=June 16, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120324212535/http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20110616/APC0101/106160570/Sen-Ron-Johnson-Oshkosh-cleans-up-stock-holdings |access-date= August 3, 2020 |archive-date= March 24, 2012 |via= Wayback Machine}}{{cite news|url= https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/gop-sen-ron-johnson-first-target-new-democratic-congressional-integrity-n1235132 |title= GOP Sen. Ron Johnson is first target of new Democratic congressional 'integrity' group |work= NBC News |date= July 29, 2020 |last= Przybyla |first= Heidi |access-date= August 3, 2020 }}

File:Ron Johnson, official portrait, 112th Congress.jpg]]

{{main|2016 United States Senate election in Wisconsin}}

[[File:2016 United States Senate election in Wisconsin results map by county.svg|thumb|alt=Final results by county| Final results by county in 2016:

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| title = {{legend|#E27F7F|Ron Johnson}}|{{legend|#D72F30|70–80%}}|{{legend|#D75D5D|60–70%}}|{{legend|#E27F7F|50–60%}}|{{legend|#ffb2b2|40–50%}}

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{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#7996e2|Russ Feingold}}|||{{legend|#584CDE|70–80%}}|{{legend|#6674de|60–70%}}| {{legend|#7996e2|50–60%}}|{{legend|#a5b0ff|40–50%}}

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In March 2013, Johnson announced that he would seek reelection in 2016. In November 2014, he was again endorsed by the fiscally conservative Club for Growth;{{cite news|last1=Cahn|first1=Emily|title=Club for Growth Endorses 6 Senators for 2016|url=http://atr.rollcall.com/club-for-growth-endorses-six-senators-2016/|access-date=10 December 2014|work=Roll Call|date=November 12, 2014|archive-date=December 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229043617/http://atr.rollcall.com/club-for-growth-endorses-six-senators-2016/|url-status=live}} that month, he said he would not self-finance his reelection bid. In December 2014, the Washington Post rated Johnson the most vulnerable incumbent U.S. senator in the 2016 election cycle.{{cite news|last1=Cillizza|first1=Chris|last2=Blake|first2=Aaron|last3=Sullivan|first3=Sean|author-link1=Chris Cillizza|title=Why Republicans' Senate majority could be very short-lived|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/11/07/why-republicans-senate-majority-could-be-very-short-lived/|access-date=10 December 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 7, 2014}} In May 2015, Feingold announced that he would run to win the Senate seat back.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/apnewsbreak-wisconsins-feingold-run-us-senate-31039529|title=Wisconsin's Feingold to Run for US Senate|last=Bauer|first=Scott|website=ABC News|date=May 14, 2015|agency=Associated Press}}

In the November 8 general election, Johnson was reelected with 50.2% of the vote.{{cite news|title=Wisconsin U.S. Senate Results: Ron Johnson Wins|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/wisconsin-senate-johnson-feingold|access-date=17 November 2016|work=The New York Times|date=November 16, 2016}}

{{main|2022 United States Senate election in Wisconsin}}

[[File:2022 United States Senate election in Wisconsin results map by county.svg|thumb|alt=Final results by county| Final results by county in 2022:

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| title = {{legend|#E27F7F|Ron Johnson}}|{{legend|#D72F30|70–80%}}|{{legend|#D75D5D|60–70%}}|{{legend|#E27F7F|50–60%}}

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| title = {{legend|#7996e2|Mandela Barnes}}|||{{legend|#584CDE|70–80%}}|{{legend|#7996e2|50–60%}}

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Despite a pledge in 2016{{Cite web |last=Bauer |first=Scott |title=Wisconsin senator who pledged not to run again seeks reelection |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2022/01/09/wisconsin-senator-running-reelection-promise/49629255/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}} to retire after two terms in the Senate, Johnson announced in January 2022 that he would run for a third term.{{cite news|title=Source: U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson to run for reelection|website=wisn.com|url=https://www.wisn.com/article/source-ron-johnson-to-run-for-re-election/38697598|access-date=January 7, 2022}} He faced the Democratic nominee, Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, in the general election.{{Cite web |title=Barnes wins Democratic Senate primary in Wisconsin, finalizing showdown with Ron Johnson |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/barnes-wins-democratic-senate-primary-wisconsin-finalizing-showdown-ro-rcna42163 |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=NBC News|first=Adam|last=Edelman|date=August 10, 2022 |language=en}} Johnson debated Barnes in October 2022; when each was asked to say something favorable about his opponent, Barnes praised Johnson as a "family man", while Johnson said Barnes had a "good upbringing" and used that to question why Barnes had "turned against America".{{cite news |last1=Merica |first1=Dan |last2=Stracqualursi |first2=Veronica |title=Four takeaways from Wisconsin's Senate debate |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/13/politics/wisconsin-senate-debate-takeaways/index.html |access-date=October 23, 2022 |work=CNN |date=October 13, 2022}}

In the November 8 general election, Johnson defeated Barnes with 50.4% of the vote.{{cite news|title=Johnson wins reelection over Barnes in Wisconsin|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/09/ron-johnson-mandela-barnes-wisconsin-senate-race-results-2022-00064770|access-date=November 9, 2022|work=Politico|first=Katy|last=O'Donnell|date=November 9, 2022}}

• Committee on Foreign Relations
• Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation (ranking member)
• Committee on the Budget
• Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
• Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia
• Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information and International Security
• Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery and Intergovernmental Affairs
• Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

{{POV section|date=December 2021}}

In 2021, Johnson expressed support for "increasing the minimum wage to some extent" (the federal minimum wage had been $7.25/hour since 2009). In 2022, he said it was better for the "marketplace" to decide wages rather than having a government-mandated minimum wage.{{cite news |last1=Alabab-Moser |first1=Jacob |title=Does Ron Johnson favor letting the market set wages over having a federal minimum wage? |url=https://wisconsinwatch.org/2022/10/does-ron-johnson-favor-letting-the-market-set-wages-over-having-a-federal-minimum-wage/ |access-date=October 23, 2022 |work=WisconsinWatch.org |date=October 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221023061550/https://wisconsinwatch.org/2022/10/does-ron-johnson-favor-letting-the-market-set-wages-over-having-a-federal-minimum-wage/ |archive-date=October 23, 2022}}

Johnson was among the 31 Senate Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4031302-here-are-the-senators-who-voted-against-the-bill-to-raise-the-debt-ceiling/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602084725/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4031302-here-are-the-senators-who-voted-against-the-bill-to-raise-the-debt-ceiling/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 2, 2023|title=Here are the senators who voted against the bill to raise the debt ceiling|first=Aris|last=Folley|date=June 1, 2023|access-date=June 17, 2023|work=The Hill}}

Johnson rejects the scientific consensus on climate change, describing it in 2021 as "bullshit."{{Cite web|date=2021|title=GOP Sen. Ron Johnson mouths to GOP luncheon that climate change is 'bullsh*t'|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/06/politics/kfile-ron-johnson-climate-change/index.html|access-date=2021-07-06|website=CNN}} In a 2010 interview, he called attributing global warming to manmade causes "crazy," saying the theory is "lunacy," and attributed climate change to causes other than human activity. Johnson also suggested carbon dioxide was good for the environment, as it "helps the trees grow." In dismissing the effects of climate change, Johnson falsely claimed that Greenland was green when it was discovered and had become white and snow-clad over time as a result of cooling temperatures. In August 2015, Johnson baselessly claimed that "the climate hasn't warmed in quite a few years. That is proven scientifically," although record world temperatures were reached that year and in 2014.{{cite web|first=Tom|last=Kertscher|url=http://politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2016/aug/12/ron-johnson/no-climate-warming-quite-few-years-gop-sen-ron-joh/|title=No climate warming in quite a few years, Sen. Ron Johnson says -- but records were set in 2014, 2015|work=PolitiFact|date=August 12, 2016|access-date=August 12, 2016}} Johnson co-sponsored the Energy Tax Prevention Act, which would block the EPA from imposing new rules on carbon emissions.{{cite web |title=Energy |url=https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/energy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707065924/https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/energy |archive-date=July 7, 2015 |access-date=October 14, 2015 |website=Ronjohnsonforsenate.com}} In an October 7, 2022, Senate campaign debate, Johnson said, "The climate has always changed and always will change, so I don’t deny climate change",{{cite news |last1=Lakhani |first1=Nina |last2=Milman |first2=Oliver |title=Republican candidates on climate: 'fake science' to 'carbon is healthy' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/nov/04/republican-democrat-candidates-climate-crisis |newspaper=The Guardian|date=4 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104115008/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/nov/04/republican-democrat-candidates-climate-crisis |archive-date=4 November 2022 |url-status=live }} repeating a similar statement he made in February 2016.{{cite news|last1=Moore|first1=Greg|title=Johnson: Jobs, health care as important as terror fight|url=http://www.startribune.com/us-sen-ron-johnson-likely-to-discuss-security-at-town-hall/367786171/|access-date=19 February 2016|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Star Tribune|date=February 5, 2016|archive-date=March 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302170245/http://www.startribune.com/us-sen-ron-johnson-likely-to-discuss-security-at-town-hall/367786171/|url-status=dead}}

When asked about allowing additional drilling for oil in the continental US, including the Great Lakes if oil were found there, Johnson responded, "We have to get the oil where it is, but we need to do it responsibly. We need to utilize American ingenuity and American technology to make sure we do it environmentally sensitively and safely." After criticism from the Feingold campaign, Johnson said in July 2010 that his answer did not mean he supported drilling in the Great Lakes.

During Obama's presidency, Johnson was a fiscal hawk who called for federal spending cuts. He was involved in the deals to raise the debt ceiling in July 2011 and January 2013. Johnson argued that Congress could not keep raising the debt limit, and needed to prioritize spending.{{cite web|url=https://ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2011/6/the-daily-caller-op-ed-congress-can-t-keep-raising-the-debt-limit|title=Congress can't keep raising the debt limit|last=Johnson|first=Ron|date=June 20, 2011|website=ronjohnson.senate.gov|access-date=November 1, 2011}} Johnson called for open negotiations over the debt ceiling, saying that the closed-door talks were "outrageous" and "disgusting." He said that default should not have been a concern, because the government had plenty of funding to pay interest on debt, Social Security benefits, and salary for soldiers.{{cite web|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/sen-ron-johnson-closed-door-debt-ceiling-negotiations-outrageous-disgusting_576390.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710013644/http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/sen-ron-johnson-closed-door-debt-ceiling-negotiations-outrageous-disgusting_576390.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 10, 2011|title=Sen. Ron Johnson: Closed Door Debt Ceiling Negotiations "Outrageous," "Disgusting"|last=McCormack|first=John|date=July 7, 2011|work=The Weekly Standard|access-date=November 1, 2011}} In January 2013, Johnson voted for the fiscal cliff agreement that reduced pending tax increases and delayed spending cuts precipitated by the 2011 debt ceiling deal. When asked whether he would get rid of home mortgage interest deductions (claiming mortgage interest as a tax-deductible expense), he said he "wouldn't rule it out" as part of an effort to lower taxes and simplify the tax code.

During the Trump administration, Johnson defended tax cuts, falsely claiming that they reduced the deficit.{{Cite news|date=2017|title=GOP lawmaker uses fuzzy math to make case for small-business tax cuts|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Nicole|last=Lewis|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/11/27/gop-lawmaker-uses-fuzzy-math-to-make-case-for-small-business-tax-cuts/|access-date=January 1, 2021|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215002958/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/11/27/gop-lawmaker-uses-fuzzy-math-to-make-case-for-small-business-tax-cuts/|url-status=live}} He voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017,Jim Tankersley, Alan Rappeport, [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/01/us/politics/hand-scribbled-tax-bill-outcry.html A Hasty, Hand-Scribbled Tax Bill Sets Off an Outcry, The New York Times (December 1, 2017), retrieved July 23, 2022.] having conditioned his support on increasing tax cuts for pass-through companies. The tax cut benefited, among others, Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein and Diane Hendricks, who had contributed $20 million to Johnson's reelection campaign.{{cite news |title=Secret IRS Files Reveal How Much the Ultrawealthy Gained by Shaping Trump's "Big, Beautiful Tax Cut" |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/secret-irs-files-reveal-how-much-the-ultrawealthy-gained-by-shaping-trumps-big-beautiful-tax-cut |access-date=17 March 2023 |publisher=ProPublica |date=11 August 2021}}

During the economic recession that coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson voted for the CARES Act in March 2020, but staunchly opposed further stimulus.{{Cite web|last=Hart|first=Megan|date=2020-04-03|title=Wisconsin's Congressional Delegation Discusses CARES Act, Possible Fourth Coronavirus Bill|url=https://www.wpr.org/wisconsins-congressional-delegation-discusses-cares-act-possible-fourth-coronavirus-bill|access-date=2021-01-01|website=Wisconsin Public Radio|language=en}} In December 2020, he sought to block a bipartisan proposal to provide $1,200 in COVID-19-related stimulus checks, citing the national debt.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-18|title=Senator Ron Johnson blocks $1200 stimulus checks, citing national debt and 'our children's futures'|url=https://wtmj.com/homepage-showcase/2020/12/18/senator-ron-johnson-blocks-1200-stimulus-checks-citing-national-debt-and-our-childrens-futures/|access-date=2020-12-18|website=WTMJ|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Axios|title=Sen. Ron Johnson blocks Hawley bill proposing $1,200 stimulus checks, citing national debt|url=https://www.axios.com/ron-johnson-hawley-stimulus-checks-e5bff298-9207-407e-bcc2-79caa833c37c.html|access-date=2020-12-18|website=Axios|date=December 18, 2020 |language=en}}

In March 2021, Johnson sought to obstruct and delay passage of the American Rescue Plan Act.{{Cite news|first=Riley |last=Vetterkind|newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal|title=Ron Johnson: No decision on 2022 run, but leaving office is 'probably my preference now'|url=https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/ron-johnson-no-decision-on-2022-run-but-leaving-office-is-probably-my-preference-now/article_aa0160e1-c81e-5c2c-8bdb-7333c6b3e09c.html|date=March 6, 2021|access-date=March 6, 2021|language=en}}{{Cite web|first=Riley|last=Vetterkind|newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal|title=Sen. Ron Johnson pledges to set up roadblocks for $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill|url=https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/sen-ron-johnson-pledges-to-set-up-roadblocks-for-1-9-trillion-covid-19-relief/article_baa6a6c6-491f-54cf-9f9f-d7d3dcc3fffa.html|date=March 5, 2021|access-date=March 6, 2021|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Cochrane|first=Emily|date=March 5, 2021|title=Action on Stimulus Bill Halts as Senate Clerks Read All 628 Pages Aloud|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/04/us/politics/stimulus-senate.html|access-date=March 6, 2021|issn=0362-4331}} Breaking from Senate norms, he forced a 10-hour reading of the bill on the grounds that the Senate did not have enough time to read the bill.{{Cite web|date=11 March 2021|title=PolitiFact - Johnson flips position on last-minute bills now that Dems are in charge|url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/mar/11/ron-johnson/johnson-flips-position-last-minute-bills-now-dems-/|access-date=2021-03-17|website=PolitiFact|language=en-US}}

In August 2022, Johnson criticized the federal Social Security and Medicare programs for contributing to debt by being "on automatic pilot": "If you qualify for the entitlement, you just get it no matter what the cost"; he proposed instead to "turn everything into discretionary spending", which would result in programs needing to be approved by Congress every year.{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Amy |title=Sen. Johnson suggests ending Medicare, Social Security as mandatory spending programs |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/08/03/ron-johnson-medicare-social-security/ |access-date=October 23, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220806003508/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/08/03/ron-johnson-medicare-social-security/ |archive-date=August 6, 2022}} Johnson also called Social Security an unsustainable "Ponzi Scheme".{{Cite web |author=Johnson |first=Shawn |date=February 9, 2023 |title=US Sen. Ron Johnson stands by Medicare, Social Security remarks after being called out by President Joe Biden |url=https://www.wpr.org/us-sen-ron-johnson-stands-medicare-social-security-remarks-after-being-called-out-president-joe |access-date=February 15, 2023 |work=Wisconsin Public Radio |quote='We’ve got to put everything on-budget so we’re forced to prioritize spending,' Johnson said. 'That doesn’t mean putting on the chopping block. That doesn’t mean cutting Social Security. But it does mean prioritizing.'}}

In 2013, Johnson was a cosponsor of S. 570, a bill that would prohibit the Department of Justice from tracking and cataloging the purchases of multiple rifles and shotguns. In April 2013, Johnson was one of 12 Republican senators to sign a letter threatening to filibuster any newly introduced gun control legislation. That month, Johnson joined 45 other senators in defeating the Manchin-Toomey Amendment, which would have required background checks on all sales of guns, including between individuals.{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00097 |title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 113th Congress – 1st Session: On the Amendment (Manchin Amdt. No. 715) |work=Legislation & Records |publisher=United States Senate |access-date=2013-07-30 |archive-date=August 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809104556/http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00097 |url-status=live }} Johnson had received about $1.2 million in contributions from firearms interests since his 2010 Senate campaign. His 2022 campaign had a radio spot produced that began, "The latest mass murder in America didn't involve guns." It equated the recent accidental deaths of 53 immigrants in Texas during President Joe Biden's tenure with mass homicide. Before it aired, the campaign hastened to pull it, as the broadcasts would have followed the July 4, 2022, Highland Park parade shooting too closely. Seven people died and 46 were wounded in the shooting. The alleged shooter then drove directly to Madison, Wisconsin, allegedly intending to continue his rampage at that city's Independence Day parade.[https://theintercept.com/2022/07/07/mass-shooting-guns-ron-johnson-campaign/ Ron Johnson campaign scrambled to pull "mass murder" ad after 4th Mass Shooting], The Intercept, Ken Klippenstein, July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/07/06/highland-park-shooter-madison-knives/ Suspect confessed to mass shooting, considered 2nd attack, authorities say], Washington Post, Kim Bellware, Shawn Boburg, Mark Berman, Susan Berger, and Marisa Iati, July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022. Days after a Texas 18-year-old killed 19 elementary school students and two teachers on May 24, 2022, Johnson said he opposed passing new firearms laws.{{Cite web |last=Cillizza |first=Chris |title=Analysis: This Republican senator thinks 'wokeness' is the cause of mass shootings |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/27/politics/ron-johnson-school-shooting-wokeness-comments/index.html |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=CNN|date=May 27, 2022 }} Johnson told Fox News correspondent Neil Cavuto that the failure to teach "values" in schools had led to the school massacre, a remark Governor Tony Evers called "breathtaking."[https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/tony-evers-ron-johnsons-comments-linking-wokeness-to-school-shootings-are-breathtaking/article_b73b950b-3b99-555a-931b-613bf78f6079.html Tony Evers: Ron Johnson's comments linking 'wokeness' to school shootings are 'breathtaking'], Wisconsin State Journal, Mitchell Schmidt, May 28, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2022. Cavuto countered Johnson's claim during the interview, saying that such shootings had "been going on long before CRT and wokeness."[https://www.newsweek.com/ron-johnson-takes-heat-linking-school-shootings-wokeness-1711136 Ron Johnson Takes Heat for Linking School Shootings to 'Wokeness'], Newsweek, Xander Landen, May 28, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2022.

Johnson opposes the Affordable Care Act (ACA or "Obamacare") and has voted to repeal it.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2017/09/26/ron-johnson-wont-give-up-his-quest-repeal-and-replace-obamacare/706721001/|title=Ron Johnson won't give up in his quest to repeal and replace Obamacare|first=Bill|last=Glauber|website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|access-date=2019-05-07|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215002924/https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2017/09/26/ron-johnson-wont-give-up-his-quest-repeal-and-replace-obamacare/706721001/|url-status=live}} In 2013, Johnson declined to support efforts to tie funding the federal government to defunding ACA, noting that such efforts were highly unlikely to succeed given Obama's opposition.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/08/14/sen-ron-johnson-opposes-obamacare-defunding-effort/|title=Sen. Ron Johnson opposes Obamacare defunding effort|last1=Blake|first1=Aaron|date=14 August 2013|access-date=14 August 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215002931/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2013/08/14/sen-ron-johnson-opposes-obamacare-defunding-effort/|url-status=live}} In 2014, he criticized Congress's ability to continue using pretax employer contributions to help pay for their medical care and filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block ACA exemptions to members of Congress and their staff.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/06/ron-johnson-obamacare-lawsuit_n_4550398.html/|title=Senator Sues Obama Administration To Block His Own Health Care|date=January 6, 2014|work=HuffPost|first1=Michael|last1=McAuliff|first2=Shadee|last2=Ashtari|access-date=October 29, 2020}} The suit was dismissed for lack of standing, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upheld the dismissal on appeal.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/14/ron-johnson-obamacare-lawsuit_n_7064688.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592|title=Appeals Court Rejects GOP Senator's Obamacare Challenge|date=April 14, 2015|work=HuffPost|first=Jonathan|last=Stempel|access-date=October 30, 2020}}{{cite journal|url=https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/forefront.20140723.040353|title=Implementing Health Reform: Senator Rebuffed In Challenge To Congressional Participation In ACA Exchanges|journal=Health Affairs Forefront|first=Timothy|last=Jost|date=July 23, 2014|doi=10.1377/forefront.20140723.040353}}

In an August 2017 interview, Johnson said of Senator John McCain's "thumbs-down" vote that killed the Republican bill to repeal the ACA, "He has a brain tumor right now. The vote occurred at 1:30 in the morning. So some of that might have factored in."{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/arizona-treatment-john-mccain-attends-diamondbacks-game-wife/story?id=49150968|title=John McCain attends Diamondbacks game with wife, daughter|date=2017-08-11|work=ABC News|first=David|last=Caplan|access-date=2017-08-11}} A McCain spokesman called the statements "bizarre and deeply unfortunate." Johnson later said he was "disappointed I didn't more eloquently express my sympathy for what Sen. McCain is going through."{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/09/politics/kfile-ron-johnson-john-mccain/index.html|title=Sen. Johnson walks back remarks on McCain's brain cancer|first1=Andrew|last1=Kaczynski|first2=David|last2=Wright|author-link=Andrew Kaczynski|website=CNN|date=August 17, 2017|access-date=August 11, 2017}}

In 2022, Johnson said that Republicans should repeal the ACA if they take control after the 2022 elections.{{Cite news |title=Sen. Ron Johnson says Obamacare should be repealed if GOP wins power back |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/07/sen-ron-johnson-obamacare-repeal-gop-majority-midterms-2024/ |access-date=2022-03-08 |issn=0190-8286}}

In 2011, Johnson co-sponsored a federal bill that would grant all fetuses the same rights and protections as people, with no exceptions for fetuses arising from rape or incest.{{cite news |last1=Shur |first1=Alexander |title=Ron Johnson supports abortion exceptions, but 2011 bill would have banned all procedures |url=https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/ron-johnson-supports-abortion-exceptions-but-2011-bill-would-have-banned-all-procedures/article_6f593ef6-2732-59f9-810f-665436030d11.html |access-date=October 23, 2022 |work=Wisconsin State Journal |date=October 13, 2022}} From 2013 to 2021, he supported bills that banned abortion after 20 weeks of conception except in cases of incest, rape, or when the mother's life is in danger. In 2021, Johnson also supported a request for the Supreme Court to uphold a Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks, with exceptions for "severe fetal abnormality" or medical emergency, but none for rape and incest.

Johnson opposes funding research that uses embryonic stem cells. He has said he disagrees with it morally and that eliminating funding for the research would help balance the federal budget. He supported Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, calling it a "victory for life."{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Ron |url=https://twitter.com/SenRonJohnson/status/1540351313204092931 |title=Sen. Johnson statement on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|website=Twitter |access-date=26 June 2022 |language=en |date=24 June 2022}} Johnson said did not see that decision "as a huge threat to women's health" and suggested that those who did not like it "can move" from Wisconsin to another state.[https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/06/democrats-see-ron-johnsons-abortion-record-as-their-path-to-victory "Women are fed up": Democrats see Ron Johnson's abortion record as their path to victory], Vanity Fair, Abagail Tracy, June 20, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.

{{main|COVID-19 pandemic in the United States}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson voted against the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which passed the Senate on March 18, 2020, by a vote of 90–8.{{cite web |title=Roll Call Vote 116th Congress - 2nd Session: On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 6201)|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=2&vote=00076#position|website=senate.gov|access-date=October 30, 2020}} In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Johnson said he was aware "what a nasty disease COVID-19 can be, and how it's obviously devastating to somewhere between 1 and 3.4 percent of the population... [b]ut we don't shut down our economy because tens of thousands of people die on the highways. It's a risk we accept so we can move about. We don't shut down our economies because tens of thousands of people die from the common flu". His comments were met with criticism that he was "playing down" the threat of COVID-19. Johnson responded that he was "just trying to look at this very realistically".{{cite web |last1=Gilbery |first1=Craig |title=Sen. Ron Johnson is telling people to keep coronavirus in perspective |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/analysis/2020/03/18/coronavirus-sen-ron-johnson-says-keep-outbreak-perspective/5074145002/ |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |access-date=19 March 2020 |date=March 18, 2020}}

Johnson used his position as chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee to invite witnesses to hearings to promote fringe theories about COVID-19.{{Cite news|last=Qiu|first=Linda|date=2020-12-17|title=The election is over, but Ron Johnson keeps promoting false claims of fraud.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/16/technology/the-election-is-over-but-ron-johnson-keeps-promoting-false-claims-of-fraud.html|access-date=2020-12-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101110135/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/16/technology/the-election-is-over-but-ron-johnson-keeps-promoting-false-claims-of-fraud.html|archive-date=1 January 2021|issn=0362-4331}} The witnesses promoted unproven drugs, made dubious claims about COVID-19 spread and pushed skepticism about vaccines.{{Cite news|last=Qiu|first=Linda|date=December 9, 2020|title=A Senate hearing promoted unproven drugs and dubious claims about the coronavirus|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/technology/a-senate-hearing-promoted-unproven-drugs-and-dubious-claims-about-the-coronavirus.html|access-date=2021-08-12|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721095737/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/technology/a-senate-hearing-promoted-unproven-drugs-and-dubious-claims-about-the-coronavirus.html|archive-date=21 July 2021|url-status=live}} Johnson called pulmonologist Pierre Kory{{cite web |first=Beatrice|last=Dupuy |date=11 December 2020 |website=AP News |agency=Associated Press |title=No evidence ivermectin is a miracle drug against COVID-19 |url=https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-afs:Content:9768999400}} to testify about his experiences with Ivermectin, as well as a medical doctor who "has cast doubts on coronavirus vaccines and has pushed for the use of hydroxychloroquine", and a cardiologist (Ramin Oskoui) who disagrees with "settled science".{{cite news |last1=Edmondson |first1=Catie |last2=Fandos |first2=Nicholas |title=Elevating Fringe Theories, Ron Johnson Questions Virus Science |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/07/us/politics/ron-johnson-coronavirus.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209011103/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/07/us/politics/ron-johnson-coronavirus.html|archive-date=December 9, 2020}} After the FDA revoked the emergency use authorization from hydroxychloroquine in June 2020, Johnson and two other senators wrote the agency in August for an explanation of why the FDA was unresponsive to Trump administration officials' calls to reauthorize the drug as a COVID-19 treatment.[https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Panel-details-pressure-campaign-for-unproven-17395134.php Panel: Trump staffers pushed unproven COVID treatment at FDA], Associated Press, Matthew Perrone and Kevin Freking, August 24, 2022.

In early 2021, Johnson was skeptical about COVID-19 vaccines.{{Cite news|title=Analysis {{!}} Four Pinocchios for Ron Johnson's campaign of vaccine misinformation|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/07/16/four-pinocchios-ron-johnsons-campaign-vaccine-misinformation/|access-date=2021-07-16|issn=0190-8286}} Asked about COVID-19 vaccines in March 2021, he refused to say whether they were safe (as medical experts had determined) or to encourage people to get vaccinated. In April 2021, he downplayed the need for widespread COVID-19 vaccinations.{{Cite web|title=Sen. Johnson on others getting shots: 'What do you care?'|url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-entertainment-health-talk-radio-government-and-politics-323d9ae666dc438bcd52c6ba0a5207a7|access-date=2021-04-26|website=AP News|date=April 23, 2021 }}{{Cite web|title='What is the point?': Republican Sen. Ron Johnson questions Covid-19 vaccine push|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/what-point-republican-sen-ron-johnson-questions-covid-19-vaccine-n1265151|access-date=2021-04-26|website=NBC News|date=April 23, 2021 |language=en}} Johnson has falsely suggested that people who have contracted COVID do not need to be vaccinated, and that there is no need for young people to be vaccinated. These claims contradict known science and the recommendations of health officials, who note that herd immunity is the most effective to halt COVID-19's spread and severity. In December 2021 he recommended mouthwash as a treatment for the coronavirus during a town hall meeting, immediately drawing criticism. A dental-professional-focused website run by Listerine, one of the world’s most widely used mouthwash products, specifically says the evidence is not strong enough to conclude that it is helpful against COVID-19.Jeong, Andrew. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/12/09/ron-johnson-mouthwash-covid/ A GOP senator suggested gargling mouthwash to kill the coronavirus. Doctors and Listerine are skeptical.] Washington Post 9 December 2021.

In May 2021, Johnson falsely claimed that thousands of deaths were connected to COVID vaccinations. He also falsely stated that there was a risk of death for people previously infected with COVID who received the vaccine.{{Cite web|last1=Lybrand|first1=Holmes|last2=Subramaniam|first2=Tara|date=10 May 2021|title=Fact-checking Sen. Ron Johnson's anti-vaccine misinformation|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/07/politics/ron-johnson-vaccine-misinformation-fact-check/index.html|access-date=2021-05-10|website=CNN}} YouTube suspended Johnson from posting videos on the platform for seven days over his remarks touting unproven treatments for COVID-19.{{cite web |last1=Axelrod |first1=Tal |title=YouTube suspends Ron Johnson for 7 days |url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/558056-youtube-suspends-ron-johnson-for-7-days/ |website=The Hill|access-date=June 11, 2021 |language=en |date=2021-06-11}}

After Twitter suspended Alex Berenson for making false claims about the pandemic and vaccines, Johnson praised him as "a courageous voice of reason" and encouraged people to continue reading Berenson's writing on another site.{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/565922-ron-johnson-praises-conservative-author-bashed-by-fauci/|title=Ron Johnson praises conservative author bashed by Fauci|first=Dominick|last=Mastrangelo|date=August 2, 2021|website=The Hill}}

In an October 2021 interview on Tucker Carlson Tonight, Johnson falsely claimed that ivermectin was being suppressed as a COVID-19 treatment in favor of expensive COVID-19 drugs developed by the pharmaceutical industry, and that "the Pfizer vaccine available in the U.S. is not FDA-approved" because it was not the "Comirnaty version".{{cite news |last=Blake |first=Aaron |date=October 5, 2021 |title=Ron Johnson takes 2 covid conspiracy theories from fever swamps to Fox News prime time |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/10/05/ron-johnson-takes-2-covid-conspiracy-theories-fever-swamps-fox-news-primetime/ |access-date=October 5, 2021}} "Comirnaty" is the United States Adopted Name that was assigned to the Pfizer vaccine after it the FDA approved it. Doses produced before the approval contain no formulaic differences from those produced afterward, and are interchangeable.{{Cite web |title=What's in a name? Louisiana lawmakers wrongly say name change scuttles FDA COVID-19 vaccine approval |url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/oct/07/10-louisiana-lawmakers/whats-name-louisiana-lawmakers-wrongly-say-name-ch/ |access-date=2022-01-08 |website=PolitiFact|language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=2021-08-30 |title=The false claim that the fully-approved Pfizer vaccine lacks liability protection |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/30/false-claim-that-fully-approved-pfizer-vaccine-lacks-liability-protection/ |access-date=2022-01-08}}

In September 2024, Johnson wrote a letter to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration calling on them to review the 1-year and 2-year mortality rates for those who got a second dose of the Spikevax and Comirnaty vaccines in 2021. He also urged them to review the 1-year mortality rate ratio for mRNA vaccines between those who died in high COVID months and in low COVID months. He wrote that Spikevax increased all-cause mortality, citing studies by Steve Kirsch and Clare Craig on COVID vaccination and mortality rates in Czech Republic.[https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/09/05/exclusive-sen-ron-johnson-pushes-fda-cdc-to-review-covid-19-vaccine-mortality/ Exclusive: New Data Prompts Sen. Ron Johnson to Seek Answers on COVID-19 Vaccine Deaths] Fred Lucas, Sep 5, 2024, Daily Signal{{unreliable source|date=February 2025}}

Johnson supported Trump's decision to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which he said was unconstitutional and "created incentives for children from Central America to take great risks to enter America illegally." Trump's decision made eligible for deportation, after a six-month waiting period, the approximately 800,000 unauthorized immigrants who entered the country as minors and had temporary permission to stay in the country.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/9/6/us-reacts-to-trumps-move-to-scrap-the-daca-programme|title=US reacts to Trump's move to scrap the DACA programme|work=Al Jazeera|date=September 6, 2017|access-date=September 6, 2017}}

In 2021, Johnson lent credence to the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory promoted by white supremacists that holds that white people are being purposely replaced by nonwhite people in the West.{{Cite web|title=Sen. Johnson may offer insight into GOP's 2022 positioning|url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-capitol-siege-race-and-ethnicity-senate-elections-wisconsin-5a6bfac4f1e9ea86944561b933a97bcf|access-date=2021-05-11|website=AP News|date=April 25, 2021 }} On conservative media broadcasts, Johnson repeatedly referred to the supposed "Democrat grand plan," endorsing the theory, saying, "I've got to believe they want to change the makeup of the electorate."{{Cite web |date=2022-05-17 |title=Republican Senate candidates promote 'replacement' theory |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/republican-senate-candidates-promote-replacement-theory |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=PBS NewsHour |language=en-us}}

Johnson is one of the Senate Republicans who favored the "nuclear option" of ending the filibuster "to speed up consideration of President Trump's nominees" because changing the Senate's rules to a simple majority vote would "ensure a quicker pace on Trump's court picks".{{cite web|last1=Bolton|first1=Alexander|title=GOP faces internal battle over changing Senate rules|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/386233-gop-faces-internal-battle-over-changing-senate-rules/|website=The Hill|access-date=24 May 2018|date=May 6, 2018|archive-date=October 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031171454/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/386233-gop-faces-internal-battle-over-changing-senate-rules|url-status=live}}

In 2022, Johnson blocked a Biden administration nominee, William Pocan, from serving as a federal district court judge in Wisconsin. The previous year, Johnson and Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin jointly recommended Pocan. In justifying blocking Pocan, Johnson referenced the Mayfair Mall shooting in Wauwatosa. Pocan had no involvement in the Wauwatosa shooting.{{Cite news|last=Raymond|first=Nate|date=2022-02-16|title=GOP senator won't back Biden judicial pick, potentially dooming nominee|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/gop-senator-wont-back-biden-judicial-pick-potentially-dooming-nominee-2022-02-16/|access-date=2022-02-16}}

In March 2015, Johnson voted for an amendment to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to allow all employees in the country to earn paid sick time.{{Cite news |title=Senate passes budget after lengthy, politically charged 'Vote-a-rama' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-senators-are-using-vote-a-rama-to-score-political-points-for-2016/2015/03/26/0e8d3970-d3f6-11e4-ab77-9646eea6a4c7_story.html |date=March 27, 2015 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 9, 2015 |first=Sean |last=Sullivan |archive-date=April 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417085118/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-senators-are-using-vote-a-rama-to-score-political-points-for-2016/2015/03/26/0e8d3970-d3f6-11e4-ab77-9646eea6a4c7_story.html |url-status=live }} In 2015, Johnson was one of 11 Senate Republicans to vote to allow same-sex spouses to have access to federal Social Security and veterans' benefits.{{cite web|author=Johnson, Chris|url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/03/27/11-senate-republicans-vote-for-benefits-for-same-sex-couples/|title=11 Senate Republicans vote for benefits for same-sex couples|work=Washington Blade|date=March 27, 2015|access-date=September 20, 2020|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807032401/https://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/03/27/11-senate-republicans-vote-for-benefits-for-same-sex-couples/|url-status=live}}

In July 2022, Johnson initially expressed support for the Respect for Marriage Act, which would codify same-sex marriage into federal law.{{cite web | url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/07/21/ron-johnson-supporting-same-sex-marriage-act-pushed-democrats/10121093002/ | title=Ron Johnson signals support for Respect for Marriage Act to codify same-sex marriage }} Johnson reversed his stance in September 2022, saying he "would not support it in its current state".{{cite web | url= https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/09/07/senator-ron-johnson-says-he-wont-back-respect-for-marriage-act-bill-current-form/8007007001/ | title=Ron Johnson says he won't support same-sex marriage bill in its current form, indicates the 2015 ruling was 'wrongly decided' }} He voted against the act in November 2022.{{Cite web |title=Ron Johnson opposes bill to codify same-sex marriage, despite attempt to address concerns over religious freedoms |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/11/16/ron-johnson-wisconsin-wont-support-respect-for-marriage-act-codifying-same-sex-marriage/69653361007/ |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |language=en-US}}

Johnson has a "D" rating from NORML for his voting record on cannabis-related matters.{{cite web|title=Ron Johnson (R - WI)|url=https://vote.norml.org/politicians/126217|access-date=December 21, 2017|language=en-us}}

In January 2010, before holding elective office, Johnson opposed a Wisconsin bill that would have eliminated the time limit for future child sexual abuse victims to bring lawsuits while allowing an additional three years for past victims to sue. He testified before the Wisconsin Senate that "punishment for the actual perpetrators should be severe", but questioned whether it would be just for employers of perpetrators to be financially affected by lawsuits.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU43UkT7ZbU |title=Ron Johnson Testifies Against child Abuse Victims, Opposed Child Victims Act in wisconsin |publisher=YouTube |date=September 24, 2010 |access-date=November 1, 2011 |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215002914/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU43UkT7ZbU |url-status=live }} He added that the bill, if enacted, might reduce the reporting of child sexual abuse. At the time of his testimony, Johnson was on the Finance Council of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay.

In June 2010 he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "I can't think of a penalty that would be too harsh for these guys", and in late September 2010 said that the legislation would have financially crippled organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs and that the punishment for child sexual abuse should be "severe and swift." He also addressed reports about his testimony, saying, "I sought to warn legislators of those consequences in order to correct legislative language so that any bills that passed would punish the perpetrators and those that protect them, not honorable organizations that do so much good for our communities. We must rid our society of people who prey on children."{{cite web|last=Stiles |first=Andrew |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/battle10/248221/wisc-sen-race-takes-ugly-turn-andrew-stiles |title=Wisc Sen Race Takes An Ugly Turn |work=National Review |date=September 29, 2010 |access-date=November 1, 2011}}

In November 2018, Johnson was one of 12 Republican senators to sign a letter to Trump requesting the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement be submitted to Congress by the end of the month to allow a vote on it before the end of the year, as they were concerned that "passage of the USMCA as negotiated will become significantly more difficult" if it had to be approved by the incoming 116th Congress.{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/21/trade-senate-republicans-trump-canada-mexico-1010053|title=GOP senators seek quick passage of Mexico-Canada trade deal|first=Burgess|last=Everett|work=Politico|date=November 21, 2018|access-date=October 30, 2020|archive-date=January 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109011931/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/21/trade-senate-republicans-trump-canada-mexico-1010053|url-status=live}}

In an April 2025 interview with Benny Johnson, Ron Johnson said the Senate should hold hearings into an alleged U.S. government coverup regarding the September 11 attacks. He suggested that World Trade Center Building 7 had been destroyed by a controlled demolition, and praised "Calling Out Bravo 7", a film endorsing 9/11 conspiracy theories. He also said the NIST investigation that concluded that World Trade Center Building 7 collapsed as the result of a prolonged fire was "corrupt". Johnson said that former congressman Curt Weldon, who had claimed in an interview with Tucker Carlson a week earlier that the U.S. government covered up its role in the attacks, should be included as a part of the proposed investigation.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/5259111-senator-ron-johnson-9-11-hearings/|title=Ron Johnson says he thinks Senate could hold hearings on 9/11 conspiracies

|first=Elizabeth|last=Crisp|work=The Hill|date=April 21, 2025|access-date=April 22, 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/21/ron-johnson-wants-more-911-hearings-in-congress-repeats-conspiracy/83200389007/|title=Ron Johnson suggests more congressional hearings into 9/11, spreads conspiracy theory|first=Hope|last=Karnopp|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=April 21, 2025|access-date=April 22, 2025}}

Johnson has been an unwavering supporter of President Donald Trump, and attacked Senator Mitt Romney for his vote to allow witnesses in a Trump impeachment trial.{{Cite web|title=Ron Johnson gambles his political future on Trump|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/15/ron-johnson-trump-political-future-445871|access-date=2020-12-18|website=Politico|date=December 15, 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-11-06|title=Sen. Johnson says half of the country won't accept a Biden win|url=https://www.tmj4.com/news/election-2020/sen-johnson-says-half-of-country-wont-accept-a-biden-win|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111052741/https://www.tmj4.com/news/election-2020/sen-johnson-says-half-of-country-wont-accept-a-biden-win|archive-date=November 11, 2020|access-date=2020-11-07|website=TMJ4|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Leonard|first=Ben|title='Blame you': Johnson and Romney get heated after vote for impeachment witnesses|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/13/johnson-romney-impeachment-witnesses-468991|access-date=2021-02-13|website=Politico|date=February 13, 2021 |language=en}} Asked subsequently about the confrontation with Romney, Johnson told reporters, "those are private conversations," continuing, "That's grotesque you guys are recording," with a reporter noting the press is permitted to witness the proceedings. Johnson dismissively remarked that an impeachment vote would simply "inflame the situation".

As chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Johnson launched multiple investigations into Trump's political opponents, including Joe Biden. In September 2020, after saying for months that he was undertaking an investigation that would demonstrate Biden's "unfitness for office", Johnson released a report that found no evidence of wrongdoing by Biden in relation to Ukraine. Johnson's report reiterated unproven allegations, many of which had been elements of Russian disinformation campaigns meant to smear Biden.{{Cite news|last=Fandos|first=Nicholas|author-link=Nicholas Fandos|date=2020-09-23|title=Republican Inquiry Finds No Evidence of Wrongdoing by Biden|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/23/us/politics/biden-inquiry-republicans-johnson.html|url-status=live|access-date=2020-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924004731/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/23/us/politics/biden-inquiry-republicans-johnson.html|archive-date=September 24, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}

In January 2018, Johnson said he had an informant with information that the FBI and Department of Justice had conspired against Trump in the 2016 presidential election; Johnson called it a "secret society" and said there was "corruption at the highest levels of the FBI".{{Cite news|last=Conradis|first=Brandon|date=2018-01-23|title=GOP senator claims to have informant alleging secret anti-Trump meetings|work=The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/370397-gop-senator-claims-to-have-informant-on-secret-anti-trump-meetings/|access-date=2018-01-24}} Later that day, Johnson said he had based these claims on FBI agents Peter Strzok and Lisa Page's text messages, but conceded that he could not fully ascertain the messages' meaning.{{Cite web|date=2018-01-24|title=Ron Johnson Walks Back FBI 'Secret Society' Claim|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/ron-johnson-walks-back-fbi-secret-society-claim|access-date=2018-01-24|work=The Daily Beast}} In February 2018, Johnson further suggested that a text message between Strzok and Page raised questions about "the type and extent of President Obama's personal involvement" in the investigation into Hillary Clinton's email server.{{Cite news|last=Wilber|first=Del Quentin|date=2018-02-07|title=Text From 2016 Shows Obama's Interest in FBI Employees' Work|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/texts-from-2016-show-fbi-employees-preparing-obama-briefing-on-russia-1518036629|access-date=2018-02-08|issn=0099-9660}} But the message in question, which said, "Potus wants to know everything we're doing", referred to the FBI investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, not the Clinton email investigation, which had concluded months earlier.

In April 2019, Johnson defended Trump's statement that some high-level FBI agents were "scum",{{Cite web|publisher=Midwest Communications|title=Sen. Johnson Defends Trump's FBI Comments|url=https://wsau.com/news/articles/2019/apr/30/sen-johnson-defends-trumps-fbi-comments/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190507103948/https://wsau.com/news/articles/2019/apr/30/sen-johnson-defends-trumps-fbi-comments/|archive-date=2019-05-07|access-date=2019-05-07|website=WSAU}} and said "I think there's a proven fact there was definitely corruption at the highest levels of the FBI." In 2021, Johnson confirmed reporting that the FBI warned him (in August 2020) that he was a target of Russian disinformation.{{cite news |last1=Nakashima |first1=Ellen |last2=Harris |first2=Shane |last3=Hamburger |first3=Tom |title=FBI was aware prominent Americans, including Giuliani, were targeted by Russian influence operation |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/rudy-giuliani-fbi-warning-russia/2021/04/29/5db90f96-a84e-11eb-bca5-048b2759a489_story.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220802174142/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/rudy-giuliani-fbi-warning-russia/2021/04/29/5db90f96-a84e-11eb-bca5-048b2759a489_story.html |access-date=October 23, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=August 2, 2022 |date=May 1, 2021}} In 2022, Johnson described the August 2020 warning as that the "FBI set me up with a corrupt briefing and then leaked that to smear me".{{cite news |last1=Andrea |first1=Lawrence |title=Ron Johnson said, 'The FBI set me up.' Here is what's behind the comment made during Wisconsin's Senate debate. |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/10/14/wisconsin-sen-ron-johnson-said-during-debate-fbi-set-him-up/10495277002/ |access-date=October 23, 2022 |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=October 14, 2022}}

{{further|Trump–Ukraine scandal}}

{{further|Impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump}}

File:Volodymyr Zelensky 2019 presidential inauguration 39 cropped.jpg

Johnson became an important figure in the 2019 controversy surrounding U.S. aid to Ukraine. He joined the U.S. delegation at the inauguration of the new president of Ukraine in May with National Security Council official Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman and the "Three Amigos" (U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, and then-special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker).{{cite news|last1=Viebeck|first1=Elise|last2=Bennett|first2=Dalton|date=October 28, 2019|title=Sen. Johnson, ally of Trump and Ukraine, surfaces in crucial episodes in the saga|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sen-johnson-ally-of-trump-and-ukraine-surfaces-in-crucial-episodes-in-the-saga/2019/10/28/40b9e44c-f684-11e9-8cf0-4cc99f74d127_story.html|access-date=October 30, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post}}

In August 2019, Sondland told Johnson that military aid for Ukraine was linked to Trump's push for Ukraine to investigate the origins of special counsel Robert Mueller's probe.{{Cite web|last=Shuham|first=Matt|date=2019-10-04|title=GOP Sen.: US Official Told Me In August That Ukraine Aide Was Tied To Push For 2016 Probe|url=https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/gop-sen-us-official-told-me-in-august-that-ukraine-aide-was-tied-to-push-for-2016-probe|access-date=2019-10-04|website=Talking Points Memo}} In October 2019, amid the impeachment inquiry into Trump, Johnson asserted that Trump had told him in August that he might withhold aid to Ukraine "because of alleged corruption involving the 2016 U.S. election. Johnson stood by the president, saying he was sympathetic to his concerns and didn't see any bad motives on his part".{{Cite web|last1=Beck|first1=Molly|last2=Marley|first2=Patrick|last3=Litke|first3=Eric|date=October 4, 2019|title=Ron Johnson says he was blocked by President Trump from telling Ukraine foreign aid was coming|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2019/10/04/ron-johnson-says-trump-blocked-him-assuring-ukraine-aid/3862948002/|access-date=October 4, 2019|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel}} Johnson has said that he asked Trump whether the aid to Ukraine was linked to the launch of the Biden investigation, and that Trump replied that it was not and asked him who had said that. Johnson replied that it was Sondland, and Trump asserted that "he barely knew him."{{cite web|last1=Marley|first1=Patrick|last2=Gilbert|first2=Craig|date=November 18, 2019|title=In a letter to House Republicans, Ron Johnson gives most detailed account yet of his Ukraine involvement|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2019/11/18/ron-johnson-gives-account-his-involvement-trump-ukraine/4231905002/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215003002/https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2019/11/18/ron-johnson-gives-account-his-involvement-trump-ukraine/4231905002/|archive-date=February 15, 2021|access-date=November 19, 2019|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel}}

In November 2019, at the request of House Intelligence Committee ranking member Devin Nunes and temporary member Jim Jordan, Johnson provided a detailed timeline of his involvement in the Ukraine situation. In February 2016, he was one of eight senators who signed a letter to then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko urging reforms in the office of the Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin.{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Hayley|date=October 3, 2019|title=Republicans Signed Letter Supporting The Ukraine Reforms Biden Was Pushing|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/joe-biden-republican-support-letter-ukraine_n_5d960e2ee4b0da7f6622ccc5|access-date=March 14, 2021}} On October 3, 2019, Johnson told reporters he did not recall signing the letter, which contradicts Trump's allegations that Biden had improperly pushed for Shokin's removal.{{cite news|last=Budryk|first=Zack|date=October 3, 2019|title=GOP senator says he doesn't remember signing 2016 letter urging 'reform' of Ukraine prosecutor's office|newspaper=The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/464302-gop-senator-says-he-doesnt-remember-signing-2016-letter-urging-reform-of/|access-date=March 14, 2021}}

The same day, Johnson also said that there was nothing wrong with Trump asking China, in October 2019, to start an investigation into Joe and Hunter Biden,{{cite news|last=Vetterkind|first=Riley|date=October 4, 2019|title=Ron Johnson: Nothing wrong with Trump asking China to investigate Joe Biden|work=Wisconsin State Journal|url=https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/ron-johnson-nothing-wrong-with-donald-trump-asking-china-to/article_0b669f54-9ddc-586d-858e-3c01d7cf4b62.html|url-status=live|access-date=October 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215002926/https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/ron-johnson-nothing-wrong-with-donald-trump-asking-china-to/article_0b669f54-9ddc-586d-858e-3c01d7cf4b62.html|archive-date=February 15, 2021}} although there is no evidence of any wrongdoing by the Bidens in China. Johnson has been one of the few Republican senators to defend Trump's efforts to get Ukraine and China to investigate Biden (then a potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidate) and his son.{{cite web|last=Gilbert|first=Craig|date=10 October 2019|title=Ron Johnson emerges as vocal Trump defender while many GOP senators lie low|url=https://eu.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/10/09/ron-johnson-emerges-vocal-trump-defender-amid-impeachment-inquiry/3919587002/|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel}} Sondland told the House Intelligence Committee, "I shared concerns of the potential quid pro quo regarding the security aid with Senator Ron Johnson."{{cite web|last=Pappas|first=Alex|date=November 21, 2019|title=Sondland implicates top officials on Ukraine, but says he 'never heard' quid pro quo from Trump|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sondland-denies-rogue-diplomacy-in-ukraine-talks-acknowledges-potential-quid-pro-quo-with-aid-holdup|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215002916/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sondland-denies-rogue-diplomacy-in-ukraine-talks-acknowledges-potential-quid-pro-quo-with-aid-holdup|archive-date=February 15, 2021|access-date=November 22, 2019|work=Fox News}}

Johnson went to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's inauguration. Meeting later with Trump, he discussed Zelensky and the aid to Ukraine Trump had withheld, urging him to release it. He approached Trump after a U.S. diplomat informed him that its release was contingent on Ukraine's willingness to conduct investigations Trump sought regarding the 2016 election. He said he was disturbed by any linkage of the actions or the existence of a quid pro quo but became satisfied after Trump personally denied to him that the release was tied to political investigations. On November 26, however, the New York Times reported that Trump had been briefed about a whistleblower complaint involving a quid pro quo before releasing the withheld military aid to Ukraine.{{cite web|last=Basu|first=Zachary|date=November 26, 2019|title=NYT: Trump was briefed on whistleblower complaint prior to releasing Ukraine aid|url=https://www.axios.com/trump-whistleblower-complaint-ukraine-aid-freeze-c08a86e5-53fb-4929-9c5f-6f7e56149718.html|access-date=November 1, 2020|work=Axios}}

Johnson also met in 2019 with Ukraine diplomat Andrii Telizhenko about Ukraine's alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.{{cite web|last1=Marley|first1=Patrick|last2=Gilbert|first2=Craig|date=October 29, 2019|title=Ron Johnson and Ukraine: Senator will not recuse himself|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/10/29/ron-johnson-and-ukraine-senator-not-recuse-himself/2498348001/|access-date=November 23, 2019|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel}} The State Department revoked Telizhenko's visa in October 2020, and CNN reported the U.S. government was considering sanctioning him as a Russian agent.{{cite news|last1=Atwood|first1=Kylie|date=October 5, 2020|title=US revokes visa of Giuliani's Ukrainian ally who spread conspiracy theories about the Bidens|publisher=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/05/politics/telizhenko-visa-revoked/index.html}} Johnson has promoted conspiracy theories that the FBI and CIA have sabotaged Trump.{{Cite web|last=Tenbarge|first=Kat|date=October 6, 2019|title=GOP Senator Ron Johnson had a 'Fox News conspiracy' meltdown on 'Meet the Press' and changed his story on Ukraine|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/senator-ron-johnson-ukraine-quid-pro-quo-meet-the-press-2019-10|access-date=2019-10-13|website=Business Insider}}{{Cite web|title=Sen. Ron Johnson gets in a combative exchange on 'Meet the Press' while defending Trump|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/10/06/Ron-Johnson-Meet-the-Press-Chuck-Todd-Trump-Ukraine-sen-Wisconsin/stories/201910060224|access-date=2019-10-24|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Stieb|first=Matt|date=October 6, 2019|title=Ron Johnson Goes Conspiracist Route Defending Trump, Attacks Intel Community|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/10/senator-ron-johnson-goes-conspiracist-route-defending-trump.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215002929/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/10/senator-ron-johnson-goes-conspiracist-route-defending-trump.html|archive-date=February 15, 2021|access-date=October 24, 2019|work=New York|language=en-us}}

In November 2019, he suggested that Vindman, who testified about Trump's phone call to Zelensky, might have participated in efforts to oppose Trump's policies and remove him from office, saying it was "entirely possible."{{Cite web|last=LeVine|first=Marianne|date=November 18, 2019|title=Ron Johnson goes after witness set to testify in impeachment inquiry|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/18/johnson-credibility-vindman-impeachment-inquiry-071400|access-date=November 19, 2019|work=Politico|language=en}} Michael Volkov, Vindman's lawyer, called Johnson's attack "such a baseless accusation, so ridiculous on its face, that it doesn’t even warrant a response."{{cite web|last1=Hamburger|first1=Tom|last2=Leonnig|first2=Carol D.|last3=Bade|first3=Rachael|date=November 19, 2019|title=Lt. Col. Vindman to describe his alarm over president's call with Ukrainian leader, girding for Republican attack|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/both-democrats-and-republicans-look-to-lt-col-alexander-vindman-as-key-impeachment-witness/2019/11/18/3369cb94-09c7-11ea-bd9d-c628fd48b3a0_story.html|access-date=November 19, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post}}

Vindman's widowed father brought him and his twin brother to the U.S. when they were three years old. He is a decorated veteran from the Iraq war, having received a Purple Heart after being wounded in an IED blast. He is fluent in Russian and Ukrainian.{{Cite news|last1=Hakim|first1=Danny|date=October 29, 2019|title=Army Officer Who Heard Trump's Ukraine Call Reported Concerns|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/28/us/politics/Alexander-Vindman-trump-impeachment.html|url-status=live|access-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210131635/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/28/us/politics/Alexander-Vindman-trump-impeachment.html|archive-date=December 10, 2019}}{{Cite web|last=Kitman|first=Carol|title=The Vindman Twins|url=http://carolkitman.com/Artist.asp?ArtistID=20867&AKey=twlnv9g5&ajx=1#!pf116792|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215002938/https://carolkitman.com/artist.asp?ArtistID=20867&AKey=twlnv9g5&ajx=1&rs=1#!pf116792|archive-date=February 15, 2021|access-date=November 19, 2019}}{{Cite web|last=Rempfer|first=Kyle|date=October 29, 2019|title=Purple Heart, Ranger tab, FAO: Meet the Army officer testifying about Trump's Ukraine|url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2019/10/29/purple-heart-ranger-tab-fao-meet-the-army-officer-testifying-about-trumps-ukraine-call/|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20191119174608/https://www.armytimes.com/news/your%2Darmy/2019/10/29/purple%2Dheart%2Dranger%2Dtab%2Dfao%2Dmeet%2Dthe%2Darmy%2Dofficer%2Dtestifying%2Dabout%2Dtrumps%2Dukraine%2Dcall/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 19, 2019|access-date=November 19, 2019|work=Army Times}}{{Cite news|last=Stolberg|first=Sheryl Gay|author-link=Sheryl Gay Stolberg|date=2019-11-19|title=Who Is Alexander Vindman? A Ukrainian Refugee Turned White House Official Testifies in the Impeachment Inquiry|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/us/politics/who-is-alexander-vindman.html|access-date=2019-10-29}} He was previously posted to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.{{cite web|last=Siu|first=Benjamin|date=November 19, 2019|title=Who is Alexander Vindman, the Army officer defying the White House to testify about Trump's Ukraine call?|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/alexander-vindman-army-officer-defying-white-house-testify/story|access-date=November 22, 2019|work=ABC News}} The Washington Post wrote, "Johnson's letter intensified a campaign of attacks on Vindman from Trump and his allies, which has included speculation about the decorated war veteran's patriotism from conservative commentators and a White House statement on Friday criticizing his job performance."{{cite news|last1=Viebeck|first1=Elise|last2=Stanley-Becker|first2=Isaac|date=November 18, 2019|title=Attacking witnesses is Trump's core defense strategy in fighting impeachment|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/attacking-witnesses-is-trumps-core-defense-strategy-in-fighting-impeachment/2019/11/18/6ad8e660-07e1-11ea-8ac0-0810ed197c7e_story.html|access-date=November 19, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post}}

Johnson criticized Trump for firing Sondland, calling Sondland "a patriot".{{Cite web|last=Lippman|first=Daniel|date=February 9, 2020|title=Johnson details effort to shield Sondland from Trump's retaliation|url=https://www.politico.com/amp/news/2020/02/09/johnson-shield-sondland-trump-retaliation-112994|access-date=February 10, 2020|website=Politico}} After Trump fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick and replaced him with an ally, Johnson said, "I'm not crying big crocodile tears over this termination."{{Cite web|last=Beavers|first=David|date=May 17, 2020|title=Ron Johnson 'not crying' over Trump's firing of State Department watchdog|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/17/ron-johnson-state-department-watchdog-263575|access-date=2020-05-17|website=Politico|language=en}}

After Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election and Trump's subsequent refusal to concede, Johnson agreed with several of Trump's false claims of widespread electoral fraud. While ballots were counted during the 2020 election, he said that half the country would not accept a Biden win, and made unsubstantiated claims of "voter fraud that the mainstream media and, unfortunately, many officials just simply ignore." He made further baseless claims that Democrats had "gamed the system" in Wisconsin. A former Wisconsin Republican Party official claimed that Johnson had confided in a November phone call that he knew the election was legitimate but did not say so publicly for fear of political backlash from the party's pro-Trump faction.{{cite news|last1=Becker|first1=Mark|date=2 December 2020|title=My Call With Ron Johnson: He Knows Biden Won But Won't Admit It|work=The Bulwark|url=https://www.thebulwark.com/my-call-with-ron-johnson-he-knows-biden-won-but-wont-admit-it/|access-date=31 August 2021}} Johnson denied the allegations, calling the article a "a political hit piece".{{cite news|last1=Schneider|first1=Doug|date=2 December 2020|title=Ex-GOP official: Ron Johnson admits Trump lost election but keeps implying voter fraud by Democrats|work=Green Bay Press-Gazette|url=https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2020/12/02/ex-gop-official-says-sen-ron-johnson-admits-trump-lost-biden/3792982001/|access-date=31 August 2021}}

Johnson refused to acknowledge Biden's victory until December 16, when he acknowledged that the election was legitimate and said he would not raise an objection to the counting of the electoral votes.CNN's Jake Tapper reacts to Republicans' refusal to acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden's victory, {{YouTube|h3KUVrt3mII|'Chilling to hear': Tapper reacts to Pompeo's refusal to acknowledge Biden win}}, CNN / 11 November 2020, minutes 1:55–2:04.Craig Gilbert, [https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/12/15/ron-johnson-calls-election-legitimate-and-acknowledges-biden-victory/3905876001/ Ron Johnson calls election legitimate and acknowledges Biden victory but still plans hearing on alleged 'irregularities'], Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (December 15, 2020).[https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-electoral-college-elections-2536f3bee412b46345b5b41617ed7f02 Johnson says election was legitimate, Biden won], Associated Press (December 15, 2020). After doing so, Johnson, as chairman of the Homeland Security committee, argued "that there was some unknown incidence of fraud, but it hadn't been shown to have occurred on a scale that would have changed the outcome".{{Cite news|title=Ron Johnson's last hearing as chair of the Senate homeland security committee unfolds in post-election acrimony|language=en-US|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|url=https://eu.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/12/16/senate-hearing-election-leads-acrimony-over-fraud-allegations/3923137001/|url-status=live|access-date=2020-12-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215002932/https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/12/16/senate-hearing-election-leads-acrimony-over-fraud-allegations/3923137001/|archive-date=February 15, 2021}} Nevertheless, in January 2021, he announced his intention to object to the certification of the Electoral College results. Ultimately, however, Johnson reversed this stance and voted against both of the objections raised during the 2021 Electoral College vote count.{{Cite web|last=Glauber|first=Bill|title=U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson from Wisconsin to join 10 others from GOP in refusing to certify Electoral College results|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/01/02/ron-johnson-oppose-certifying-joe-bidens-electoral-college-win/4113042001/|access-date=2021-01-02|website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|language=en-US}} Regardless, the day after the count was interrupted by the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called for Johnson, as well as other members of the so-called "Sedition Caucus", such as Representatives Scott Fitzgerald and Tom Tiffany, to resign or be expelled from Congress.{{Cite web|title=Editorial: Ron Johnson, Scott Fitzgerald and Tom Tiffany should resign or be expelled for siding with Trump against our republic|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/solutions/2021/01/07/ron-johnson-scott-fitzgerald-tom-tiffany-must-resign-expelled/6585447002/|access-date=2021-01-09|website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|language=en-US}}

{{main|2021 United States Capitol attack}}

The House Select Committee on the January 6, 2021, Capitol Attack revealed that Johnson's aide Sean Riley texted Chris Hodgson, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, to request that Johnson personally give Pence an envelope containing alternate electors for Michigan and Wisconsin, which were later determined to be fraudulent. Hodgson refused to do so.{{cite news |last1=Mordowanec |first1=Nick |title=Pence Staffer Rejected Ron Johnson Fake Electors on Jan. 6, Texts Show |url=https://www.newsweek.com/pence-staffer-rejected-ron-johnson-fake-electors-jan-6-texts-show-1717838 |publisher=Newsweek|date=21 June 2022}} In March 2022, Johnson's campaign hired Pam Travis as a full-time aide, although she had signed a statement as one of Wisconsin's ten "fake electors," who challenged the legitimacy of the state's delegation to the Electoral College.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/08/31/alaska-palin-house-native-american/ Noted: One of Wisconsin’s ‘fake electors’ is working for Ron Johnson’s reelection campaign], Washington Post, August 31, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022. While walking outside the Capitol and pretending to be on a phone call, Johnson claimed he was not aware of the contents of the envelope.{{cite news |last1=Porter |first1=Tom |title=A GOP senator got caught pretending to be on his phone to avoid questions about the Jan. 6 insurrection |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/gop-sen-johnson-pretends-phone-dodge-jan-6-questions-video-2022-6 |date=22 June 2022}}

In February 2021, Johnson suggested that Nancy Pelosi sought a second impeachment of Trump to "deflect" from "what [she] knew and when [she] knew it".{{Cite web |last=Aleem |first=Zeeshan |date=2021-02-07 |title=Trump's impeachment trial is imminent. GOP senators are working to cast it as a Democratic plot. |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2021/2/7/22271351/senate-impeachment-republicans-ron-johnson |access-date=2021-02-13 |website=Vox |language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Brewster|first=Jack|title=Republicans Shift Blame To Pelosi, Schumer As They Blast Impeachment Trial As 'Partisan Farce'|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackbrewster/2021/02/07/republicans-shift-blame-to-pelosi-schumer-as-they-blast-impeachment-trial-as-partisan-farce/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215002916/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackbrewster/2021/02/07/republicans-shift-blame-to-pelosi-schumer-as-they-blast-impeachment-trial-as-partisan-farce/|archive-date=February 15, 2021|access-date=2021-02-13|website=Forbes|language=en}} Johnson voted for a measure declaring that Trump's impeachment over his role in inciting the storming of the Capitol was unconstitutional. He later voted to acquit Trump.{{Cite web|last=Gilbert|first=Craig|title=Baldwin votes guilty, Johnson not guilty as Wisconsin's senators continue to be polar opposites on impeachment|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/02/13/wisconsins-senators-remain-polar-opposites-impeachment-end/4474074001/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215002930/https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/02/13/wisconsins-senators-remain-polar-opposites-impeachment-end/4474074001/|archive-date=February 15, 2021|access-date=2021-02-14|website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|language=en-US}} After Trump's acquittal, Johnson downplayed the storming of the Capitol on a conservative talk show, saying of the attack, "To call that an armed insurrection, it was the most pitiful armed insurrection anybody could ever possibly imagine."{{Cite web|date=2021-02-15|title=Wisconsin GOP senator downplays attack on U.S. Capitol|url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-capitol-siege-wisconsin-talk-radio-impeachments-0e5df285da88c32008819d4e3ddeb559|access-date=2021-02-17|website=AP News}}{{Cite web|last=Beck|first=Molly|title=Ron Johnson on Jan. 6 Capitol attack: 'This didn't seem like an armed insurrection to me'|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/15/ron-johnson-questions-whether-armed-insurrection-occurred-capitol/6753376002/|access-date=2021-02-19|website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|language=en-US}} PolitiFact rated Johnson's statement a "Pants on Fire" falsehood.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=15 February 2021|title=PolitiFact - Yes, Jan. 6 Capitol assault was an "armed insurrection"|url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/feb/15/ron-johnson/yes-jan-6-capitol-assault-was-armed-insurrection/|access-date=2021-02-17|website=PolitiFact|language=en-US}}

Although 140 police officers were injured in the attack, Johnson added in a March 2021 radio interview that he hadn't been concerned for his safety when rioters stormed the Capitol because they "loved their country", but that he might have been concerned if the rioters had been from Black Lives Matter or Antifa.{{Cite news|last=Beck|first=Molly|date=March 13, 2021|title=Ron Johnson says Capitol attackers 'love this country' but he would have felt unsafe if Black Lives Matter stormed building instead|language=en-US|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2021/03/12/wisconsin-senator-ron-johnson-comment-capitol-black-lives-matter-called-racist/4674016001/|access-date=March 13, 2021}} Responding to bipartisan criticism of his comment as racist, Johnson said, "I completely did not anticipate that anybody could interpret what I said as racist. It’s not."{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Marty|date=March 15, 2021|title=Ron Johnson: 'No racism involved' in comments about Capitol riot|work=The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/543265-ron-johnson-no-racism-involved-in-comments-about-capitol-riot/|access-date=28 March 2021}}

In May 2021, Johnson voted against creating the January 6 commission.{{cite news|date=May 28, 2021|title=Which senators supported a Jan. 6 Capitol riot commission|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/january6-commission-senators-vote/}}

Repeating a conspiracy theory, in August 2021, Johnson suggested that the FBI must have had more foreknowledge than has been disclosed about the Capitol attack. A spokesperson for Johnson said, "the revelation of the depth of the FBI's involvement in the Governor Whitmer plot raises questions as to whether it had infiltrated January 6 agitator groups as well".{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/566045-johnson-suggests-fbi-knew-more-about-jan-6-planning-than-has-been-revealed/|title=Johnson suggests FBI knew more about Jan. 6 planning than has been revealed: report|first=Dominick|last=Mastrangelo|date=August 3, 2021|website=The Hill}}

Johnson has been one of the leading figures calling for an investigation into Hunter Biden's connections to Ukraine. He has accused Biden of soliciting prostitutes and potential involvement in sex trafficking.

House Republicans have spoken about opening such an investigation into Biden. Despite his support, Johnson denies wanting to "target individuals".{{Cite web |date=2023-01-16 |title=Republican targeting Hunter Biden says: 'I don't target individuals' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/15/i-dont-target-individuals-republican-ron-johnson-hunter-biden-jared-kushner |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=Wisconsin U.S. Senate Republican primary 2010}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate=Ron Johnson

|votes=500,925

|percentage=84.7%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate=Dave Westlake

|votes=61,303

|percentage=10.4%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party= Republican Party (US)

|candidate=Stephen Finn

|votes=29,005

|percentage=4.9%

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=Wisconsin U.S. Senate election 2010}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Ron Johnson

|votes = 1,125,999

|percentage = 51.86%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| |party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Russ Feingold (incumbent)

|votes = 1,020,958

|percentage = 47.02%

}}

{{Election box gain with party link without swing

|winner = Republican Party (US)

|loser = Democratic Party (US)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=Wisconsin U.S. Senate Republican primary 2016{{cite web |title=Canvass Results |url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Statewide%2520Summary%2520Results.pdf |website=Wisconsin Elections Commission |access-date=14 November 2024}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Ron Johnson (incumbent)

|votes = 248,754

|percentage = 99.5%

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=Wisconsin U.S. Senate election 2016}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Ron Johnson (incumbent)

|votes = 1,479,262

|percentage = 50.2%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| |party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Russ Feingold

|votes = 1,380,496

|percentage = 46.8%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| |party = Libertarian Party (US)

|candidate = Phil Anderson

|votes = 87,531

|percentage = 3.0%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing

|winner = Republican Party (US)

|loser = Democratic Party (US)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=Wisconsin U.S. Senate Republican primary 2022{{cite news |title=Candidate Tracking by Office |url=https://elections.wi.gov/elections-voting/elections |publisher=Wisconsin Elections Commission |access-date=June 1, 2022 |archive-date=June 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604182136/https://elections.wi.gov/elections-voting/elections |url-status=dead }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Ron Johnson (incumbent)

|votes = 563,227

|percentage = 83.7

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = David Schroeder

|votes = 109,748

|percentage = 16.3

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=Wisconsin U.S. Senate election 2022{{cite web |title=Wisconsin Election Results |url=https://results.decisiondeskhq.com/2022/general/states/Wisconsin |website=Decision Desk HQ}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Ron Johnson (incumbent)

|votes = 1,337,185

|percentage = 50.4%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| |party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Mandela Barnes

|votes = 1,310,467

|percentage = 49.4%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing

|winner = Republican Party (US)

|loser = Democratic Party (US)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Johnson and his wife Jane live in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. They have three children. He is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.{{cite web|url=http://metrolutheran.org/2011/02/112th-congress-opens-with-new-and-returning-lutheran-representation/|title=112th Congress opens with new and returning Lutheran representation|work=Metro Lutheran|first=Bob|last=Hulteen|date=February 8, 2011|access-date=12 August 2016|archive-date=November 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103022739/http://metrolutheran.org/2011/02/112th-congress-opens-with-new-and-returning-lutheran-representation/|url-status=live}}

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em|refs=

{{cite news|url= http://www.fox21online.com/news/senate-candidate-johnson-defends-position-child-sex-crimes|title=Senate candidate Johnson defends position on child sex crimes|date=September 30, 2010|first=Patty|last=Murray|work= Wisconsin Public Radio|publisher=Fox21|access-date=February 27, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006073058/http://www.fox21online.com/news/senate-candidate-johnson-defends-position-child-sex-crimes|archive-date=October 6, 2010}}

{{cite news | first=Dave|last=Umhoefer|title = Feingold, Johnson spar over oil drilling | newspaper = Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel | date = July 15, 2010| url = http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/98475739.html| access-date =February 27, 2011}}

{{cite news|title=Johnson willing to 'horse trade' mortgage interest deduction|url=http://www.wkow.com/global/story.asp?s=13019976|publisher=WKOW |location=Madison, WI|date=August 20, 2010|first=Bob|last=Schaper|access-date=February 27, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131114227/http://www.wkow.com/global/story.asp?s=13019976|archive-date = January 31, 2016}}

{{cite news|url=http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/106377128.html|title=Johnson's PIE inquired about federal funds|first=Don|last=Walker|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date= October 30, 2010|access-date=February 27, 2011}}

{{cite web|url=http://ronjohnsonforsenate.com/home/meet-ron/|title=Meet Ron Johnson|publisher=Ron Johnson for Senate|date=June 10, 2010|access-date=February 27, 2011|archive-date=March 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304070526/http://ronjohnsonforsenate.com/home/meet-ron/|url-status=dead}}

{{cite news|url=http://www.htrnews.com/article/20101002/MAN0101/10020500/Johnson-opposes-funding-for-embryonic-stem-cells |newspaper=The Herald Times Reporter|first=Dinesh|last=Ramde |date=October 2, 2010 |title=Johnson opposes funding for embryonic stem cells |location=Manitowoc, WI |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012212058/http://www.htrnews.com/article/20101002/MAN0101/10020500/Johnson-opposes-funding-for-embryonic-stem-cells |archive-date=October 12, 2010 }}

{{cite news| url=http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/primaries/wisconsin | work=The New York Times | title=Wisconsin Primary Results|date=September 14, 2010|access-date=February 27, 2011}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/wi/wisconsin_senate_feingold_vs_johnson-1577.html|title=Wisconsin Senate – Feingold vs. Johnson|work=RealClearPolitics|access-date=February 27, 2011}}

{{cite news|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=June 10, 2010|first=Daniel|last=Bice|url=http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/95740094.html|title=Ron Johnson's record includes opposition to victims' bill|access-date=February 27, 2011|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215003018/https://archive.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/95740094.html/|url-status=live}}

{{cite news|url=http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/wisconsin|title=Election 2010 Wisconsin Results|work=The New York Times|date=November 3, 2011|access-date=February 27, 2011}}

{{cite news|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/100814454.html|title=Sunspots are behind climate change, Johnson says|first=Steve|last=Schultze|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=August 16, 2010|access-date=February 27, 2011}}

{{cite news |last=Zernike |first=Kate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/10/15/us/politics/tea-party-graphic.html |title=Where Tea Party Candidates Are Running – Interactive Feature |work=The New York Times |date=October 14, 2010 |access-date=February 27, 2011 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107113018/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/10/15/us/politics/tea-party-graphic.html |url-status=live }}

{{cite web|website=OpenCongress.org|url=http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s570/show|title=S.570: A bill to prohibit the Department of Justice from tracking and cataloguing the purchases of multiple... OpenCongress|access-date=January 15, 2013|archive-date=January 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122212701/http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s570/show|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|work=Politico|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/rand-paul-gun-control-filibuster-89694.html |title=12 GOP senators back Paul on guns|first=Jonathan|last=Allen|date=April 6, 2013|access-date=May 1, 2013}}

}}

{{commons}}

• [https://ronjohnson.senate.gov/ Senator Ron Johnson] official U.S. Senate website
• [https://ronjohnsonforsenate.com/ Ron Johnson for Senate]
• {{CongLinks | congbio=J000293 | votesmart=126217 | fec=S0WI00197 | congress=ron-johnson/2086 }}
• {{C-SPAN|62835}}
• [http://www.bemis.com/ Bemis] business website
• {{ballotpedia|Ron_Johnson_(Wisconsin)|Ron Johnson}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20210506134840/http://www.ronjohnsonsenate.com/ Related U.S. Senate website]

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