RUSS FEINGOLD:
I ADMIRE WISCONSINSITES’S OPTIMISM AND DETERMINATION, AND MY DESIRE TO SERVE IS STRONGER THAN EVER. I’M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT I’M PLANNING TO GO RUN FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE IN 2016.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:
THIS WEEK ON “HERE AND NOW”, FORMER WISCONSIN SENATOR RUSS FEINGOLD IS LOOKING FOR A REMATCH AS HE ANNOUNCES ANOTHER RUN FOR THE U.S. SENATE. I’M FREDERICA FREYBERG. ALSO THIS WEEK, MADISON POLICE OFFICER, MATTHEW KENNY IS EXONERATED IN THE MARCH SHOOTING DEATH OF 19 YEAR OLD TONY ROBINSON. WE WILL HAVE IN-DEPTH COVERAGE ON THE AFTERMATH OF THAT DECISION. WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH DEMOCRAT RUSS FEINGOLD’S BID TO RECLAIM THE U.S. SENATE SEAT HE LOST TO REPUBLICAN RON JOHNSON. FEINGOLD HAD PREVIOUSLY SERVED 18 YEARS IN THE SENATE. HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN THIS VIDEO RELEASE.

RUSS FEINGOLD:
PEOPLE TELL ME ALL THE TIME THAT OUR POLITICS IN WASHINGTON ARE BROKEN AND THAT MULTI-MILLIONAIRES, BILLIOINARES AND BIG CORPORATIONS ARE CALLING ALL THE SHOTS. THEY ESPECIALLY SAY THIS ABOUT THE U.S. SENATE AND IT’S HARD NOT AGREE. BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? GET RID OF THE SENATE? ACTUALLY NO ONE I’VE LISTENED TO SAYS WE SHOULD THROW IN THE TOWEL AND GIVE UP. AND I DON’T THINK THAT EITHER. INSTEAD LET’S FIGHT TOGETHER FOR CHANGE. THAT MEANS HELPING TO BRING BACK TO THE U.S. SENATE, STRONG INDEPENDENCE, BIPARTISANSHIP AND HONESTY.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:
FEINGOLD WILL FACE INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN RON JOHNSON, A POLITICAL NEWCOMER WHEN HE DEFEATED FEINGOLD BY 5 PERCENTAGE POINTS IN 2010. JOHNSON REACTED TO THE FEINGOLD ANNOUNCMENT BY SAYING QUOTE “RUSS FEINGOLD WANTS MORE WASHINGTON, A MORE EXPENSIVE WASHINGTON AND A MORE POWERFUL WASHINGTON. I WANT TO EMPOWER THE PEOPLE. THIS CAMPAIGN WILL GIVE THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN A REAL CHOICE.”

FREDERICA FREYBERG:
THE U.S. SENATE RACE WILL HAPPEN IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR WHEN EXPERTS BELIEVE DEMOCRATIC TURNOUT WILL BE LIKELY BE STRONGER THAN IT WAS IN THE 2010 MIDTERM WHEN FEINGOLD LOST.