Russ Feingold

Russell Dana Feingold (born March 2, 1953) is an American politician, attorney, and public advocate who served as a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin from 1993 to 2011. Born in Janesville, Wisconsin, Feingold built a distinguished career advocating for progressive causes and government reform. He is best known for co-sponsoring the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, commonly known as McCain-Feingold, landmark legislation aimed at reducing the influence of money in politics. A fierce defender of civil liberties and constitutional rights, Feingold was one of only a few senators to vote against the PATRIOT Act following 9/11, a position that defined much of his political identity. Throughout his Senate tenure, he championed environmental protection, healthcare reform, and workers' rights while maintaining a reputation as an independent thinker within the Democratic Party. After leaving the Senate, Feingold remained active as an advocate, running for Senate again in 2016 and continuing to speak out on issues of democratic reform and civil rights. His legacy is marked by his principled stands on controversial issues and his consistent advocacy for campaign finance reform.