Mandela Barnes Drops Out of Wisconsin Governor Race
Mandela Barnes Ends Democratic Campaign for Wisconsin Governor
Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes has dropped out of the Wisconsin governor race, ending his bid for the Democratic nomination less than two weeks before the state's Aug. 11 primary.
Barnes announced his decision Thursday in a video posted to social media, telling supporters he had reached the conclusion after a difficult conversation with his campaign staff. His exit reshapes an already crowded Democratic primary field and comes amid ongoing reporting by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel into allegations involving his conduct within the state party.
Barnes, who served as Wisconsin's lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023, had been widely viewed as the highest-profile candidate in the Democratic field for governor. His departure follows reporting from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel examining claims that Barnes used his position within the Wisconsin Democratic Party to Read More