If you’re keeping tabs on Wisconsin’s political circus, you’re probably asking: when is Ron Johnson up for re-election? Honestly, after the nail-biter that was the 2022 midterms, it’s a fair question. The short answer is that Senator Johnson’s seat won’t be on the ballot again until November 7, 2028.
That feels like a lifetime away in today's political climate.
Johnson is currently serving his third term in the U.S. Senate. He first landed the job back in 2010 after taking down Russ Feingold, and he’s been a polarizing figure in the Badger State ever since. Since Wisconsin is basically the ultimate purple state, every time he’s up for a vote, the entire country starts watching.
The 2028 Countdown: Why It Matters Now
The U.S. Senate is split into three "classes." Johnson is a Class III Senator. This means he and 33 other senators—like Marco Rubio and Chuck Schumer—are on the same cycle. They won their races in 2022, and since Senate terms are six years long, their time is up in early 2029.
Even though 2028 is the next big date, the prep for these races starts years in advance. In a state where elections are decided by one or two percentage points, the "permanent campaign" is a real thing.
A Look Back at the 2022 Results
To understand what 2028 might look like, you've gotta look at how he won last time. It was tight. Super tight.
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Johnson beat Mandela Barnes by just about 26,000 votes. That’s roughly a 1% margin. In a state with millions of voters, that’s basically a rounding error. It showed that while Johnson has a very loyal base, particularly in rural Wisconsin and the "WOW" counties (Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington), the state is still deeply divided.
Will He Actually Run Again?
This is the big "if."
Back in 2016, Johnson actually pledged he would only serve two terms. He changed his mind for the 2022 cycle, saying he felt he had to run because of the "direction of the country."
As of early 2026, he hasn't given a definitive "yes" or "no" for 2028. Recently, he's dropped hints that he might be ready to head back to Oshkosh. At a 2025 news event in Milwaukee, he told reporters he doesn't "covet the position" and would "rather go home." But we’ve heard that before. Politicians often wait until the last possible second to announce their retirement to avoid becoming a "lame duck" too early.
Potential Factors for 2028:
- His Age: Johnson was born in 1955. By the time the 2028 election rolls around, he’ll be 73. While that’s relatively young by current Senate standards, it’s still a factor in whether someone wants to sign up for another six-year grind.
- The Presidential Year: 2028 is a presidential election year. This usually means higher turnout, which can be a double-edged sword for a Republican in Wisconsin.
- The Political Climate: If the GOP is in power and he feels his work is done, he might bow out. If he feels the "country is in peril"—a phrase he uses a lot—he might stay in the fight.
What He’s Doing in the Meantime
While we wait for the 2028 cycle to heat up, Johnson isn't exactly sitting on the sidelines. He’s currently active on several powerful committees that keep him in the headlines.
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He’s a high-ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. He’s also on the Budget Committee and the Finance Committee. These aren't just "filler" assignments; they are where the real power over taxes, spending, and investigations lives.
He’s also been a loud voice on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Whether you love him or hate him, you can’t deny he uses his platform to dig into things like federal agency oversight and COVID-19 policies, which keeps his name circulating in the news.
The Wisconsin Political Landscape
Wisconsin is exhausting for political junkies. You have Ron Johnson (a staunch conservative) and Tammy Baldwin (a progressive Democrat) representing the same state. It’s a total contradiction.
When people ask when is Ron Johnson up for re-election, they are usually trying to figure out when the next massive wave of TV ads will start hitting their screens. In Wisconsin, "election season" never really ends; it just changes intensity.
Who Might Challenge Him?
If Johnson runs, Democrats will likely throw everything they have at him again. If he retires, the floodgates open. You might see:
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- Current House Members: Someone like Bryan Steil or even a Democrat like Gwen Moore (though she’s in a safe seat).
- Statewide Officials: Names like Attorney General Josh Kaul or even former candidates like Mandela Barnes often get floated.
- Outsiders: Johnson himself was a businessman before he was a politician. Wisconsin voters have shown a liking for "political outsiders" in the past.
Key Dates to Watch
If you're marking your calendar, here is how the timeline for the 2028 seat usually shakes out:
- Late 2026/Early 2027: This is when "speculation season" hits its peak. Potential candidates start forming "exploratory committees."
- Spring 2028: Candidates must officially file their paperwork to run.
- August 2028: The Wisconsin primary election. This is where the parties pick their champions.
- November 7, 2028: The General Election. This is the big day.
Actionable Insights for Wisconsin Voters
Regardless of where you stand on Ron Johnson, being an informed voter in a swing state means staying ahead of the curve.
First, check your registration status. Wisconsin has some of the most robust voting laws, but they do change. Visit the MyVote Wisconsin website to make sure your address is current, especially if you've moved recently.
Second, track his voting record now. Don't wait for the campaign commercials to tell you what he’s been up to. You can see every vote he casts on Congress.gov. Looking at his stance on things like the Social Security and Medicare debates or tax reform in 2026 will give you a much better idea of his priorities than a 30-second soundbite in 2028.
Finally, keep an eye on the 2026 midterms. Even though Johnson isn't on that ballot, the results of the 2026 House and State Assembly races in Wisconsin will be a huge "litmus test" for how the state is leaning. If the state swings hard in one direction, it might influence his decision to run or retire.
Understanding when is Ron Johnson up for re-election is just the first step. The real work is staying engaged with how your representatives are actually spending their time in D.C. before the next campaign cycle starts all over again.