A key US Senate race was called before midnight on Election Day, keeping Republicans in control as final tallies rolled in late.
Incumbent Ron Johnson held off his favored challenger, former Senator Russ Feingold, in the battleground state. The win bolstered presidential candidate Donald Trump’s hopes of stealing the state from Democrats.
Here’s how Fox News called it:
JUST IN: Fox News projects Ron Johnson wins #Wisconsin Senate race. #ElectionNight #Election2016 pic.twitter.com/nYH7hMgYOA
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) November 9, 2016
Less than an hour later Fox News called the Badger State for Trump:
BREAKING: Fox News projects @realDonaldTrump wins the battleground state of #Wisconsin. #ElectionNight #Election2016 pic.twitter.com/nklVoZ2CD2
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) November 9, 2016
From We Are Green Bay:
Sen. Johnson was elected in the 2010 Republican wave. The first-time politician was formerly the CEO of a polyester and plastic manufacturing company.
Johnson is one of four Republicans leading a bipartisan effort to deregulate corporate America–legislation that would undermine the authority of agencies overseeing banks, consumer protections, nuclear safety, and workplace rights, to name a few. Besides prioritizing business-friendly regulatory and budget issues, Johnson is also a vocal proponent of deploying American troops to Iraq and Syria to defeat ISIS.
He is the Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and also serves on several other committees that oversee the budget, foreign affairs, commerce, science and transportation.
Johnson’s victory is a big hold for the GOP in keeping the upper chamber in January. Earlier in the evening, Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth ousted Republican Sen. Mark Kirk in Illinois.