MILWAUKEE — Will he or won't he run is a question many are asking when it comes to Republican Sen. Ron Johnson in 2022.
But it's also a question many Democrats are thinking about as well - no matter what Johnson decides.
One name that keeps coming up is Alex Lasry. TMJ4's Charles Benson talked with the Milwaukee Bucks executive and Democratic supporter about his plans.
The high-profile presidential race in battleground Wisconsin is barely in the rear-view mirror and already there is a lot of chatter about the 2022 U.S. Senate race.
Benson: "Are you on this journey to decide what you want to do in 2022?"
Alex Lasry: "I've had a number of people call me and reach out to me and asked me to take a look, and so I'm looking at it."
Lasry is no stranger to politics, but he has never run for office. He played a key role in helping Milwaukee land the Democratic National Convention last year. The New York native also worked in the Obama Administration.
Lasry is best known in Milwaukee for his role as Senior Vice President with the Milwaukee Bucks - where his father, Marc, is a co-owner.
Benson: "I know that you like politics, but is there something in your future, you think, for running for office?"
Alex Lasry: "I don't know. I think that's something I want to talk to my family about, people around this state about."
Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson is the only declared Democratic candidate. On his website, he writes: "I'm ready to retire Ron Johnson and bring Wisconsin's progressive values and leadership to Washington."
Other potentials include Wisconsin Treasurer Sarah Godlewski and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who would also be up for reelection in 2022.
"I've been approached by a few people and it's something that I have given consideration to," Barnes tells TMJ4. "For now, my energy will be focused on working with the governor as we go into budget season, with the Biden Administration on COVID recovery for Wisconsin."
Wisconsin Treasurer Sarah Godlewski says she's also being encouraged to run for the U.S. Senate in 2022. In a statement, Godlewski tells TMJ4, "I’ve been fighting for working people throughout my life, and I’m considering entering this race because we need a fighter for Wisconsin’s working people in the Senate.”
"Whether it's me or anyone else, we need, we deserve someone who's going to actually bring results for Wisconsin," said Lasry
No word yet on if Sen. Ron Johnson is running, but TMJ4 reached out to a spokesperson for a response to news of potential challengers.
"Ron Johnson is focused on delivering results for Wisconsin, not Democrats' political jockeying," according to a statement from his Office.
