Senior Vice President of Milwaukee Bucks Alex Lasry, left, and security guard George Hill walk through a neighborhood in Milwaukee on Saturday, October 24, 2020.
Steve Megargee | AP
Milwaukee Bucks senior vice president Alex Lasry announced a run for the U.S. Senate in swing state Wisconsin in 2022. The seat is currently held by Republican Senator Ron Johnson.
The 33-year-old Democrat started his campaign on YouTube. “We need a new way of thinking and a new perspective,” said Lasry. “We have seen three systemic shocks to the system in the last 20 years: September 11th, the great recession and now this pandemic. And we still haven’t fixed any issues.”
The video included endorsements from David Crowley, executive of Milwaukee County, Cavalier Johnson, president of the Milwaukee Common Council, and other state leaders.
Lasry, a native of New York City and son of hedge fund billionaire Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry, is the team’s senior vice president. According to ESPN, he plans to take a vacation during his run.
Lasry is committed to “investing” in its campaign while also pledging a strong fundraiser to reach out to small donors, the Milwaukee Journal reported Sentinel.
Outagamie County’s Executive Director and Democrat Tom Nelson, who is also running for the seat, has publicly urged Lasry not to use his family’s fortune to fund his campaign.
Lasry did not respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
Johnson, one of former President Donald Trump’s strongest allies in the Senate, has yet to announce whether he will run for a third term. The 65-year-old voted to acquit Trump of inciting the Capitol uprising on January 6 in his second impeachment trial.
Johnson did not respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
That summer, in protest against Kenosha, Wisc., After shooting the unarmed black Jacob Blake, the Bucks decided not to speak for Game 5 in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, forcing a shift across the league . Lasry was one of those who supported the move.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Lasry had a backlash over perceived favoritism last month after receiving the Covid vaccine. Lasry’s pregnant wife received a call from an uncle about unused, available Covid vaccines. She couldn’t get the shot and offered it to Lasry for her.
“I was just lucky,” said Lasry.
