Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) has a heavy decision weighing on his mind.
Should he stay or should he go?
In a recent interview, he hinted at the possibility that he may not return to Congress — a potentially devastating blow to Republican hopes of reclaiming control of the split Senate. Wisconsin is a battleground state, and elections tend to favor incumbents.
“We’re weighing the pros and cons.”
One of former President Donald Trump’s greatest allies, Johnson has notably been on the fence about serving a third term.
He’d “rather be doing something else,” he claims.
“I think that’s actually one of the things people that do support me in Wisconsin see in me. They realize I’d rather be somewhere else. I’d rather do something else. I don’t want—it’s not that I want to be a U.S. senator. I’m not seeking the title.”
It’s possible that he may be ready to hang up the gloves after being heavily scrutinized in the mainstream media for his opinion on vaccines and his support of Trump.
In the past, Johnson has both claimed he was “undecided,” and noted the way he has been treated by the liberal media.
“You see what the media’s doing to me,” he said at the time.
These aggressive media attacks have caused some doubts in Johnson’s mind, it seems.
In the past he’s admitted, he “may not be the best candidate.”
“I wouldn’t run if I don’t think I could win, if I don’t think I was the best person to be able to win.”
But despite the constant scrutiny and pressure, there’s of course one person in his corner hoping he’ll make a run.
Trump jumped the gun, giving Johnson his endorsement ahead of 2022 before the Wisconsin senator even knows whether or not he’ll run.
“Even though he has not yet announced that he is running, and I certainly hope he does, I am giving my Complete and Total Endorsement to Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. He is brave, he is bold, he loves our Country, our Military, and our Vets.”
“He will protect our Second Amendment, and everything else we stand for. It is the kind of courage we need in the U.S. Senate. He has no idea how popular he is.”
“Run, Ron, Run!,” Trump said in a statement.
Whether or not his endorsement carries the weight with Johnson as it once did when he was in the White House — that remains to be seen.
For the record, Johnson hears Trump loud and clear.
He told The Daily Caller that “I appreciate President Trump’s words of support and encouragement.”
The Horn editorial team