In April 2010, Leinenkugel declared his short-lived candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat held by the incumbent senator, Democrat Russ Feingold, in the 2010 United States Senate Election. Although Leinenkugel had name recognition from his family's beer business, he was quickly criticized for serving 18 months in the administration of Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, a Democrat. After being told by SABMiller that if he were to continue his bid for U.S. Senate he would lose his tenure with the company he withdrew from the race in May 2010, and endorsed the eventual winner of the election, Republican Ron Johnson.Leinenkugel exits Senate race, backs Johnson Umhoefer, Dave. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel May 23, 2010. Accessed July 3, 2010
