Former Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold is running for his old job, setting up a rematch with Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson.
Johnson defeated Feingold during the Tea Party wave of 2010.
In a video announcing his run, Feingold cited his fights against money-in-politics as a major reason for his campaign.
“People tell me all the time that our politics in Washington are broken and that multi-millionaires, billionaires and big corporations are calling all the shots. They especially say this about the U.S. Senate, and it’s hard not to agree,” he says.
In a statement, the National Republican Senatorial Committee called Feingold’s run “desperate.”
“After decades in politics, Feingold’s ego still can’t grasp that he was soundly defeated by Oshkosh job creator Ron Johnson in 2010,” said communications director Andrea Bozek. “Wisconsin families rejected Feingold’s broken promises and his liberal record once and they are going to do it again. Wisconsin voters know a desperate career politician when they see one and that is why they will re-elect their independent leader, Ron Johnson.”
Democracy for America PAC announced its endorsement for Feingold shortly after the announcement, calling the former Senator the “truth-teller” the country needs. “Over the next nineteen months, Democracy for America members in the Badger State and across the country will knock on every door, make every phone call, and raise every cent we can to return Russ to the U.S. Senate where he can continue his courageous fight for Wisconsin working families,” Chair Jim Dean said in a statement. This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com – msnbc editor Anna Brand contributed to this report
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