Senate debate: Wisconsin's Johnson, Barnes square off

Johnson, Barnes square off in US Senate debate

Ron Johnson and Mandela Barnes, Wisconsin's two candidates for U.S. Senate, took the debate stage Friday night, Oct. 7.

MILWAUKEE - Wisconsin's two candidates for U.S. Senate met on the debate stage for the first time Friday, Oct. 7 – the election a little more than one month away.

Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and Democrat challenger Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes answered 20 questions over roughly an hour's time. Here are some of the highlights:

On bail reform

Now that the trial of Darrell Brooks is underway, one of the first questions for the candidates was focused on bail reform. The candidates were asked if they agree that conditions of one's bail should depend on their threat to safety and not their ability to pay bail.

Barnes: "Under my plan, dangerous people don't get to buy their way out of prison. Now, Sen. Johnson may not have encountered a problem he can't buy his way out of, but that's not reality for the majority of people in this state."

Johnson: "If you want to reduce crime, first of all, you have to fully fund the police, and of course my opponent is opposed to fully funding police budgets. But we need to keep criminals in jail."

On crime

Johnson also spoke of Barnes and Gov. Tony Evers plan to reduce the state's prison population, noting the release of inmates convicted of violent crimes. A later question looked at the rise of crime. For a third year in a row, Milwaukee is on pace to set a new record for homicides.

Both candidates were asked for three specific actions they think the federal government could take to help communities deal with rising crime. Barnes' answer focused on nourishing the community as a whole, while Johnson focused first on support law enforcement.

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Barnes: "What we need to do is make sure that communities have the resources that they need to prevent that crime from happening in the first place. That means fully funding our schools. It also means making sure that there are good-paying jobs in communities, and we also invested $100 million into law enforcement, public safety and crime prevention initiatives through the American Rescue Plan."

Johnson: "Because of that 'defund the police' effort, it is very difficult to recruit. We are 1,000 officers below where we were in Wisconsin just from 2008, and people are having a very difficult time. Sheriffs are having a very difficult time recruiting new officers, where they may have had 100 recruits, they may have had a dozen.

On abortion

Noting the Wisconsin's law passed in 1849, the candidates were asked what, if anything, they would do regarding abortion on the federal level.

Barnes: "(Johnson) said that if women don't like the laws in their state, like the 1849 criminal abortion ban we have here, he said they can move. I can't think of a more callous, out-of-touch or extreme position to take. If I were in the U.S. Senate, I would absolutely vote to codify Roe v. Wade to protect the right to an abortion."

Johnson: "It shouldn't be decided by nine justices, not 535 members of Congress, and quite honestly, not even 132 members of the Wisconsin State Legislature. What we should do – and by the way, the most extreme position here would be no limits on abortion whatsoever. Allowing abortion right up to the moment of birth, which is what the lieutenant governor supports."

On gas prices

The candidates were not specifically asked about inflation, but both referenced it during several questions – including one on gas prices.

The national average for one gallon of gas Friday was $3.89, up 13 cents from a month ago. In Wisconsin, the average is just over $4 per gallon, up 50 cents from a month ago.

This week, OPEC announced its plan to cut oil production by two million barrels a day. Both candidates said it comes down to energy dependence, but differ on how to address it.

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Johnson: "We were energy independent under the last administration. If you're concerned about climate change, you should be supporting nuclear power, but most environmentalists oppose nuclear power. So, there's a solution here, it's just environmentalists like Lt. Gov. Barnes won't embrace the real solution.

Barnes: "We need to be more energy independent. We need to do more to generate renewable energy in this country, specifically right here in Wisconsin. Now, the senator's going to say that the path forward is fossil fuels. He's going to make every excuse for the industry. We need to hold them accountable."

The debate

The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association led the debate, which included questions from FOX6's Kim Murphy.

The race between Johnson and Barnes could decide which party takes control of the U.S. Senate.

Read more FOX6 News coverage about the candidates:

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.