As Republicans across the country seek the votes of Black Americans in November’s presidential election, U.S. Senator Sen. Ron Johnson took the stage Wednesday with Milwaukee radio host Tory Lowe for what was billed as a “powerful conversation.”
“We need to have this conversation because it’s political season, the (Republican National Convention) is coming to our city, this is the stage for the Republican Party to come into our community, and we can have these conversations about what the Republican Party of Wisconsin is. Partying in our neighborhoods, doing in our community,” said Lowe, host of 101.7 The Truth, the news-talk radio station that serves Milwaukee’s black community.
The Republican National Convention takes place downtown July 15-18, drawing tens of thousands of people to Milwaukee.
And in November, Wisconsin will again be a key swing state as former Republican President Donald Trump takes on Democratic President Joe Biden in a rematch of the 2020 election. The question of whether Black Americans will vote — and whether Republicans can attract enough of the reliable Democratic voting bloc — has focused the nation’s attention on cities like Milwaukee, with large populations of Black voters.
Asked why he thought there was so much focus on black voters, and especially black men, Johnson said: “It’s the reality on the ground first and foremost.”
Republicans, he said, have reached out to “the entire Milwaukee community, regardless of race,” but he also noted that the Republican Party has a headquarters on King Drive.
Still, Johnson faced criticism over whether the Republican Party is in touch with the black community.
“Just because someone’s skin color is black doesn’t mean they are the leader advocating for our community because if the black Republicans on your team are doing their job, there should be more black faces. in this room than what we see,” Liz Brown told Johnson during a question-and-answer portion with members of the public at the 3rd St. Market Hall downtown.
Johnson claimed that Republicans consistently talk about the three most important issues she believes affect members of the black community: the economy, business and education.
She then told the Journal Sentinel that the Republican Party has long been out of touch because the party doesn’t need black voters to win elections.
“We have a lot of conservative ideas, but I think if Republicans don’t get an idea soon, the energy will die out,” she said. “Because I think it’s just people in the black community, we’re just tired of politics because we’re not winning either way.”
The real question, she says, is whether black voters want to vote or skip the election.
Still, she said she applauded Johnson for coming to answer questions in an unscripted back-and-forth.
Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Senator Ron Johnson speaks with Milwaukee radio host Tory Lowe
