Republicans for the Rule of Law have announced an ad campaign targeting GOP U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson for pushing ahead with efforts to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court while opposing a new COVID-19 relief bill.

A group spokeswoman said it is spending more than $250,000 on TV in the Madison and Milwaukee markets on Fox News, MSNBC and CNN. The buy runs today through Sunday with a digital component as well.

The group describes itself as “life-long Republicans dedicated to defending the institutions of our republic and upholding the rule of law.” It’s also targeting: U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Bob Portman, R-Ohio; and Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; as part of an overall $1 million ad campaign.

Johnson hasn’t said if he plans to run for re-election in 2022 or if he will stick to his pledge to serve two terms in the Senate.

The narrator in the ad says Johnson blocked a confirmation vote in 2016 before playing a clip of him saying, “Eight months before the election, why not let the American people decide the direction of the Supreme Court?”

Now, the narrator adds, Johnson supports “rushing through a new judge,” but refuses to pass COVID relief.

“Call Ron Johnson and tell him to pass COVID relief now and let the people’s voice be heard on the Supreme Court,” the narrator says to close the ad. “Sen. Ron Johnson is letting Wisconsin down.”

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