Bucks executive Lasry announces bid for Johnson’s senate seat

Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry on Tuesday launched his campaign for U.S. Senate in 2022. 

Lasry, 33, is the senior vice president of the team and the son of Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry, a hedge fund billionaire. Lasry immediately becomes a serious contender for the seat, because of his family wealth and previous history of successful Democratic fundraising — he helped raise $40 million as the finance chair of the host committee for the Milwaukee Democratic National Convention.

In a video announcing his candidacy, Lasry said the country had experienced three major crises — 9/11, the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic — in the last 20 years without any major change happening. As Milwaukee-area politicians and residents touted his credentials, Lasry highlighted his work helping build Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee using Wisconsin-sourced materials and union labor. 

He also promoted his actions last summer when he joined protests for racial justice in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha by police. After the Jacob Blake shooting, the Bucks’ players — who were in the middle of a playoff run — walked away from the game in protest. The protest eventually spread to the rest of the NBA and the Milwaukee Brewers and received the support of Bucks leadership.

Lasry has been endorsed by Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Milwaukee Common Council President Cavalier Johnson.

If elected, Lasry would be the youngest-serving U.S. senator, joining recently elected Georgia Sen. Jon Ossof, 34, as the only senators under 40. 

Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson is the only other Democrat to announce a bid for the seat so far. Johnson has not yet announced if he’ll seek re-election, even though in 2016 he said he wouldn’t run for a third term, citing a belief in term limits. 

While not yet declaring, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, state Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee), and Steven Olikara of the Millennial Action Project — all Democrats — have all been considering a bid.