Thread by @benwikler

Want to end Ron Johnson’s political career? Help the Democratic Party of Wisconsin make it happen. We’re 110 new monthly donors short of our February goal. Deadline is midnight tonight. We can’t wait till 2022—can you sign up, and/or share this thread? 1/
wisdems.org/Donate-Defeat-…

This week, Ron Johnson claimed “fake Trump supporters” were behind the 1/6 attack. Last week, he said it “didn’t seem like an armed insurrection.” Which lie is it? Doesn’t matter—what matters is, Johnson will say *anything* to please Trump & his sycophants. @Maddow has it right:

Johnson has been condemned by just about everyone who's paying attention. But it’s the people who *don’t* follow every up and down of the news cycle who wind up swinging elections one way or the other. In 2016 & 2010, those folks didn’t realize how bad Johnson was.

In 2016, Johnson (like Trump!) was way down in the polls for most of the race—and then surged in the final stretch to win reelection in Wisconsin. It was brutal. Part of what made it possible: so few people had their minds made up before October. politico.com/story/2016/11/…

Right now, Ron Johnson is a statewide (and national) disgrace, pariah, and laughingstock. But news cycles move on. If we sit on our hands, memories will fade. jsonline.com/story/news/sol…

So we have to take action—to sear Johnson’s words and deeds into public memory NOW, and keep reminding people in the next twenty months.

So when Ron Johnson tries to rewrite history and say the Jan 6 attack “didn’t seem like an armed insurrection” (despite 140 injured Capitol police, guns, bombs, enough ammo to shoot every member of Congress)—we call him out.

https://twitter.com/benwikler/status/1362443156806131721

In fact, @WisDems ran statewide television ads in January holding Johnson accountable for his lies and misinformation—the first TV ads of the 2022 election cycle. Because it’s our job to make sure people see who Ron Johnson really is, and remember it.

https://twitter.com/benwikler/status/1361388364335824896

This kind of rapid-response capacity is unusual in Democratic state parties, but it should be the norm. The challenge is how to sustain it for two years.

That’s where monthly donors make a critical, game-changing difference. Your help means we can sustain this kind of energy, and get these ads in front of more Wisconsin voters.

Communication and messaging is one track. Another, just as critical: We’re organizing and reaching out to voters year-round. Every election builds towards the next.

We have a spring election on April 6. We’re leaning in to elect a progressive champion for public education—and keep voters energized pre-2022.

https://twitter.com/benwikler/status/1362162495440437248

We’ll keep organizing—to fight for @GovEvers’ budget, to ensure his reelection (critical to the country, because his veto pen is the last line of defense against GOP voter suppression), & to win down-ballot. All of this builds energy for the Senate race. madison.com/wsj/news/local…

In the race to beat Ron Johnson, meanwhile, there will be a Democratic primary. That election is in August of 2022. So until then, @WisDems is carrying the torch to define Johnson. Which is a model we know works—because that’s what we did against Trump.

Our strategy to beat Trump in 2020 was to build a presidential-scale campaign through the state party before we even had a nominee, and then fully integrate with the nominee’s campaign after the primary was over. We’re going to do it again to beat Ron Johnson.

All of this takes early investment. And historically, Democrats have tuned out politics after the White House is won. We can’t do that this time. nbcnews.com/politics/elect…

Defending democracy is a year-round priority. So sign up to give every month—and you’ll know that you’re sustaining the kind of work that flipped Wisconsin, flipped Georgia, and is needed in states all over the map. wisdems.org/Donate-Defeat-…

If you become a monthly donor today, please let me know below! I want to personally thank you for your support 🙌

We just got our 57th new monthly donor, which means we're at a little over 50% of our goal!

Help us get to 110 by midnight: wisdems.org/Donate-Defeat-…

We're at 66% of our goal with just 6 hours left till midnight.

Will you ask at least 3 friends or family members to become a new @WisDems monthly donor today? 👇
wisdems.org/Donate-Defeat-…

@WisDems ⏰ Two hours till our midnight deadline! ⏰

Sign up to be a monthly donor:
wisdems.org/Donate-Defeat-…