Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson downplayed concerns about climate change saying in a Monday radio interview, saying, “Mankind has actually flourished in warmer temperatures.”

Speaking to WHBY in northeast Wisconsin, Johnson used the trend of people moving to warmer states as an example, The Associated Press reported. 

“How many people are moving up toward the Antarctica, or the Arctic?” he asked. “Most people move down to Texas and Florida, where it’s a little bit warmer.”

He added that “obviously” people affect the environment but he does not want to “shoot ourselves in the foot with policies.”

The majority of climate scientists and professional science organizations say climate change is real and a man-made issue. 

Johnson is locked in a tight re-election race against Democrat Russ Feingold, a former two-term senator whom Johnson unseated in 2010. The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call rates the race Leans Democratic. 

Johnson’s comments come amid reports that House Speaker Paul D. Ryan plans to spend the days leading up to the Nov. 8 election campaigning in the Badger State with Johnson and other Republicans, the AP reported. 

Ryan, who represents Wisconsin’s 1st District, has been touring the country helping Republicans in Senate and House races and will focus his efforts on Wisconsin from Nov. 4 through Nov. 7, his campaign said. 

He will join a bus tour for stops in his southeastern Wisconsin district and western Wisconsin. The tour will also head to the Green Bay area, where Republican Mike Gallagher is running for an open House seat in the 8th District against Democrat Tom Nelson. That race is rated as Leans Republican.