Feingold Faces Primary Challenger In Race for US Senate Seat

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Russ Feingold said he’s taking his primary election race on Tuesday very seriously.

The former U.S. senator is expected to easily defeat his opponent and newcomer Scott Harbach, a private detective who lives in Kenosha and has little name recognition.

But Feingold, who lives in Middleton and served in the U.S. Senate from 1993 to 2011, said he’s been taking nothing for granted.

“A week ago, we went to seven different cities across the state to make sure that in all the different media markets people first knew there was a primary and secondly that they could early vote,” Feingold said.

Harbach didn’t return a phone call from Wisconsin Public Radio requesting an interview. Harbach has previously donated money to Republican candidates and his campaign website emphasizes protecting religious freedoms for individuals, businesses and religious leaders.

Feingold would like to gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15 and is pushing for student loan refinancing and making college more affordable, according to his campaign website. Feingold also is opposed to trade deals that take jobs away from Wisconsin and the United States and is against the Trans-Pacific Partnership, according to his website.

Tuesday’s winner will face incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and Libertarian Phil Anderson in the general election on Nov. 8.