Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) has picked up the endorsement of the nation’s leading small business association, his campaign announced Friday.
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), which includes 325,000 members, said that they are backing Sen. Johnson in the Wisconsin Senate race over his opponent, former Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold.
Juanita Duggan, CEO and president of NFIB, said that the group is appreciative of the work that Johnson has done in the Senate on behalf of small businesses.
"We’re grateful that Sen. Johnson is working in Washington to keep small businesses in Wisconsin healthy and growing," Duggan said. "We’re especially proud to say that the senator is an NFIB member, someone who created jobs and prosperity. We need him to continue sharing his wisdom and unique perspective in the U.S. Senate."
Johnson, a businessman, said that he appreciates the endorsement and added that Washington needs to get out of the way of small business owners.
"As a manufacturer–not a career politician–I appreciate the support of fellow entrepreneurs who have started a business and helped provide jobs for families in their local communities," Johnson said of his endorsement. "We need to get Washington out of the way of small business owners, workers, and families who make our private sector economy work from the ground up."
Before joining Congress six years ago, Johnson was the chief executive officer of PACUR, LLC, a plastic manufacturer located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.