Milwaukee Bucks exec Alex Lasry has launched his bid for the U.S. Senate, saying it’s time to “chart a new way forward.”
In announcing his campaign, Lasry said there have been “three systemic shocks to the system” in the last 20 years: the Sept. 11 attacks, the “great recession” and the COVID-19 pandemic. But he says “Washington still hasn’t fixed things.”
“We can’t just continue with the same people and expect anything to change,” Lasry said. “It’s time to elect leaders with a fresh perspective and a record of delivering real results for the people of Wisconsin.”
Lasry, 33, is a New York native who came to Wisconsin after his father, hedge fund billionaire Marc Lasry, became co-owner of the Bucks in 2014. He has been working as senior vice president for the team, but is taking a leave of absence during his campaign.
Lasry and Outagamie County Exec Tom Nelson are the only Dems who have registered so far to run. U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, hasn’t announced whether he will seek a third term or stick to his previous pledge to only serve 12 years in the Senate.
Other Dems who have been looking at a bid include: Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes; state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski; state Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee; and Steven Olikara of the Millennial Action Project.
Nelson via Twitter challenged Lasry and other candidates not to put their or their family’s money into the campaign saying, “I don’t think anyone should buy a Senate seat.”
Lasry made headlines earlier this year after he received the COVID-19 vaccine before he was eligible under state guidelines. He said he received it because his wife’s uncle works at a senior living center that had extra doses that would go to waste unless they were used right away.
In a video to roll out his campaign, Lasry touts his work to help Milwaukee land the Democratic National Committee as well as the construction of the Bucks’ new arena downtown.
The video also features several prominent Black Milwaukeeans such as Milwaukee County Exec David Crowley, Milwaukee Common Council President Cavalier Johnson and Ald. Nikiya Harris-Dodd.
It also includes DNC members Martha Love and Khary Penebaker. Lasry’s work on the national convention includes serving as chair of the bid committee and finance chair of the host committee. The campaign says he raised nearly $40 million in that role.
