In a recent development, Mandela Barnes announced his withdrawal from the Democratic primary for the Wisconsin governor position. This decision impacts the race significantly, occurring just under two weeks before the scheduled election on August 11.
Barnes, who formerly served as the lieutenant governor, conveyed this news in a video on his Facebook page. His exit occurs amid rising support for Francesca Hong, who has attracted considerable backing from the liberal wing of the Democratic Party.
Making the decision after new polling data, Barnes cited results from a Marquette Law School survey showing Hong leading significantly among Democratic primary voters. Nonetheless, the poll also indicated that about one-third of voters remained undecided.
“It’s become very clear who our nominee is going to be,” Barnes stated.
Barnes marks the third Democrat to exit the race recently. Prior to him, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez stepped aside amid a campaign finance scandal, and Missy Hughes, a former state economic development director, withdrew in June.
Following Rodriguez’s departure, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley re-entered the race, receiving an endorsement from Governor Tony Evers. Crowley reached out to Barnes’ supporters via social media, inviting them to join his campaign efforts.
“There’s a place for you in what we’re building,” Crowley posted.
When approached, Evers commented on Barnes’ decision with surprise, noting that Barnes must have had significant reasons for his departure. Governor Evers maintained his support for Crowley, emphasizing his past collaborations on community funding initiatives and describing Crowley as the best candidate, even if Barnes were still in the race.
Meanwhile, Francesca Hong did not immediately respond to requests for her reaction.
Joel Brennan, another candidate in the race, expressed disappointment over the primary’s focus, suggesting that the chaos overshadowed the election’s stakes.
This shakeup follows nearly 128,000 voters returning absentee ballots and marks the third day of early voting in person. Recently, a judge dismissed a lawsuit aiming to permit voters to cancel and recast returned absentee ballots, a move supported by the Democratic Party.
The Democratic primary winner is expected to challenge U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who faces minimal opposition in the Republican primary. Tiffany holds the endorsement of former President Donald Trump but has yet to comment.
Barnes’ withdrawal continues a pattern, as he previously benefited from a similar scenario in the 2022 Senate primary. Despite consolidating support, he narrowly lost to Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson by under 27,000 votes.