(T.J. Kirkpatrick/The New York Times via AP, Pool File)

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) hinted at, without evidence, systemic and repeated voter fraud in the city of Milwaukee during a tele-town hall Wednesday.

“Our concern [in voting integrity] is Milwaukee. This is one of these big Democrat strongholds that just can’t seem to get their votes counted until they know exactly how many votes they need,” Johnson said. “Whether anything’s happening or not, this just looks suspicious.”

The senator was responding to a resident’s concern that his vote would not count in future elections. Johnson first responded by commending the election officials in Plum City, the caller’s residence, and Oshkosh, Johnson’s residence. Both Plum City and Oshkosh have at least 90% white populations each, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data (Plum City has a population of 596.)

Milwaukee has an estimated 45% white population, according to the same Census data.

Far-right conspiracy theorists floated false stories of ballot dumps and instances of fraudulent votes after the 2020 presidential election. However, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) found no evidence of any of these occurring (although the report still alleges some officials broke election laws).

“It is precisely this dangerous, completely false rhetoric that has resulted in death threats and harassment both at my office and even to my home,” Claire Woodall-Vogg, executive director of the City of Milwaukee Election Commission, said in a statement. “Senator Johnson should be more responsible in his rhetoric.”

Woodall-Vogg noted that the WILL report found no suspicious or egregious acts in the timing of Milwaukee’s posted election results. She also said that the commission has and will continue to advocate for “common sense state legislation” that allows them to start counting absentee ballots at 7 a.m. on Election Day.

“The City of Milwaukee has absolute confidence in the integrity and accuracy of its elections. That has been verified by recount and independent review,” Jeff Fleming, communications director at the office of Milwaukee Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson, said in a statement. “Any suggestions of fraud or wrongdoing are entirely baseless. Thoughtful public discourse on Wisconsin’s election processes must be based on facts, not the unfounded innuendos offered by some.”

“Ron Johnson has continued to peddle ridiculous conspiracy theories to cast doubt on our free, fair elections,” U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), whose district encompasses Milwaukee, said in an email. “He likes to stir division among Wisconsinites and enjoys making Milwaukee a consistent target of his baseless attacks because it’s a diverse and urban community. I encourage him to re-enter reality and remember that his constituents live in Milwaukee.”

“After a decade of serving himself in Washington, with the majority of Wisconsinites opposing the job he is doing, Ron Johnson is already trying to sow doubts about the 2022 election results,” Philip Shulman, Senate Communications Advisor for the Wisconsin Democratic Party, said in an emailed response. “Ron Johnson will say and do whatever it takes to stay in Washington to further his self-serving agenda and enrich himself.”

(2/4: This article has been edited to credit Fleming and to include Woodall-Vogg’s  and Moore’s responses.)

Follow Austin on Twitter @AuLinfante