Candidate Comparison:

Wisconsin Senate

Mandela-Barnes

Mandela Barnes (D)

Ron-Johnson

Ron Johnson (R)

Wages

Barnes believes that “hard work needs to be respected with fair wages and opportunities to get ahead.” Barnes has said that “one of the best ways we can appreciate and support workers, is by passing a $15 minimum wage and ensuring they have the right to join a union and collectively bargain.”	Despite many opportunities, Johnson has not supported legislation to increase the federal minimum wage. [2]
Barnes said that a living wage is “on the ballot this November” and that “raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour would help over 32 million American workers.” [1]

Paid Time Off & Sick Leave

Barnes is committed to securing paid leave for working Wisconsinites, saying, “Paid leave is a national imperative – and the lack of it is a national embarrassment.” He also says he will fight for “robust paid family leave” and sick leave.	Johnson has voted against the expansion of paid leave on multiple occasions. Johnson voted against the American Rescue Plan Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response, FAMILY Act, Healthy Families Act, and the RESTAURANTS Act. [4]
Barnes successfully helped pass a paid leave ordinance in the city of Milwaukee. Barnes supports the Child Care for Working Families Act and wants to ensure that childcare will not cost families more than 7% of their income. [3]

Helping Essential Workers

Barnes recognizes the important contributions of essential workers, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, “The people still working at restaurants, grocery and retail stores are angels among us.” He also applauded the members of UFCW Local 1473, saying, “These workers have been on the frontline of the pandemic, making sure we all have access to food, medicine & so much more.” [5]	Johnson against the American Rescue Plan Act, which provided $1.9 trillion in COVID-19 relief and provided for pandemic-related worker protections. [6]

Health Care

Barnes plans to ensure that quality health care is affordable and accessible to Wisconsinites and has noted that “31 million Americans have health care because of the Affordable Care Act,” and said he will work to strengthen the law.	Johnson opposes the Affordable Care Act and has voted multiple times to dismantle it.
Barnes’ proposals to expand healthcare include enabling the federal government to negotiate lower drug prices, lowering the Medicare age of eligibility to 50, capping insulin prices, and expanding Medicaid. Barnes noted that expanding Medicaid “will save lives and money in helping all Wisconsinites thrive.” [7]	Johnson has used his position in Congress to protect an opioid drug manufacturer from being subpoenaed for its role in the opioid epidemic. Johnson voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowers prescription drug costs, protects the Affordable Care Act, and combats inflation. He also voted against capping the price of insulin, and against protecting Americans from surprise medical bills. [8]

Economic Insecurity & Inflation

During his tenure as lieutenant governor, the Evers-Barnes administration used the state’s budget surplus for inflation relief for Wisconsinites, including a $150 refund to every resident. Most recently the administration proposed using the surplus to deliver inflation relief by cutting taxes, especially for low- and middle-income households, increase access to childcare, cut gas prices, and cap the cost of insulin.	Johnson voted against the Inflation Reduction Act which will combat inflation by lowering the deficit, bringing down costs for hardworking men and women, and helping create good-paying jobs. It will invest in energy savings, lower prescription drug costs, create a 15% minimum tax on corporations with over $1 billion in income, and bring an estimated $4 billion of investment to Wisconsin.
To address inflation, Barnes’ plan includes tax cuts for middle-class families and ensuring the wealthy pay their fair share. Barnes plans to work to expand the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit.	Johnson voted against the American Rescue Plan Act, which included $1,400 direct payments to individuals, provided relief for multiemployer pensions, and expanded the child tax credit.
Barnes supports suspending the federal gas tax and will work to “hold oil and drug companies accountable and end subsidies for oil and gas companies that are using a crisis to make record profits.” of insulin. [9]	Johnson has crafted corporate tax breaks that benefited not only his largest donors, but the company he owns as well.
	Johnson opposes progressive taxation, “calling tax brackets that allow people with less money to pay less in taxes ‘absurd,’” and he endorsed a plan that would “raise taxes on the bottom. [10]

Unions & Labor

Barnes is a strong advocate for America’s unions and workers. Barnes has experienced the importance of unions firsthand, saying, “My story would not be possible without my dad’s UAW union membership.” His mother was a member of the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association. He said that “one of the best ways we can appreciate and support workers, is passing a $15 minimum wage and ensuring they have the right to join a union and collectively bargain.”	Johnson does not support unions and has stated that labor unions are “bankrupting states.”
Barnes voted against Wisconsin’s “right-to-work” legislation. Barnes supports the PRO Act, saying, “No one should be able to just replace workers in negotiation.”	Johnson failed to fight for workers when Oshkosh Defense’s moved 1,000 jobs from Wisconsin to South Carolina. [12]
Barnes has received extensive union support, including endorsements from United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1473, United Auto Workers, UAW Local 72, UAW Local 469, UAW Local 180, UAW Local 578, Brewery Workers Local 9, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 158, Communication Workers of America, CWA District 4, Teamsters Local 200, American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees Council 32, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council No. 37, Service Employees International Union Wisconsin State Council, WI AFL-CIO, Iron Workers Local 8, the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin, and AFT Local 212. [11]

Meatpacking & Agriculture Industries

Barnes will ensure transparency in the meatpacking industry by working to redefine “Product of the USA” standards so that corporations that process meat abroad and then package it in the United States do not mislead consumers. He will also work to remove barriers to entry for meat processors seeking to apply for grants. [13]	Johnson failed to protect Wisconsin’s meat packing workers during the pandemic. [14]

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