- Mandela
Barnes announces run for governor. - Former
Wisconsin lieutenant governor joins race. - Entering
crowded Democratic primary contest.
In an advertisement video, Barnes, 39, who ran
unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2022, presented his training as a way to
strike back against the” chaos” of President Donald Trump’s
administration and promised to make affordability one of crucial keystones of
his trouble.
Barnes served as Wisconsin’s assistant governor from 2019
until 2023, getting the first Black person to hold that office in the state. He
preliminarily spent two terms in the state Assembly, representing a Milwaukee-
area seat.
“Seems like the harder you work, the more Washington
looks the other way: lower taxes for billionaires, higher prices for working
people. Under Trump, the name of the game has been distraction and chaos to
avoid accountability,”
Barnes said in the video.
“Here’s the reality check — the only way for our
state to move forward is to reject the Washington way and get things done the
Wisconsin way,”
he continued.
“It isn’t about left or right, it isn’t about who
can yell the loudest — it’s about whether people can afford to live in the
state they call home. A state where you can afford your health care. Where your
kids can learn a skill and stay close to home. Where a good day’s work can earn
a good day’s pay.”
Barnes has continued to be involved
in politics in the state through his political action committee, which seeks to
support Democratic candidates nationwide who are, according to the
organization’s website, “young,” “candidates of color,” and
“working class,” following his close defeat to Sen. Ron Johnson,
R-Wis., three years ago.
Barnes’ entrance, which had been extensively anticipated,
significantly expands an formerly expansive field of campaigners in both
parties hoping to succeed 74- time-old Gov. Tony Evers, who said in July that
he wouldn’t run for a third term.
On the Popular side, the list of campaigners involves Lt.
Gov. Sara Rodriguez, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, state Sen. Kelda
Roys, who stood unsuccessfully for governor in 2018, state Rep. Francesca Hong,
who describes as a popular socialist, and Missy Hughes, formerly the CEO of the
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
As for the Republicans, Rep. Tom Tiffany, who represents a
pastoral and staunchly Democratic quarter including the utmost of the northern
portion of the state, and Josh Schoemann, the county superintendent of
Washington County, an exurban area northwest of Milwaukee, are among the
campaigners.
The primaries for both major parties are expected to be
competitive. Wisconsin is one of five states President Donald Trump won last
year where a Democratic-controlled governorship is on the ballot in 2026. This
is the state’s first open election for governor since 2010, and the nonpartisan
Cook Political Report with Amy Walter has rated it as a “toss up.”
Barnes is expected to launch off a listening tour of the
state this week with meetings in Madison, Milwaukee and Green Bay, where his
campaign said he will
“listen to concerns about rising costs and share his
vision to make Wisconsin more affordable for families.”
An October editorial piece in the Milwaukee Courier, the
city’s oldest Black-owned newspaper, claimed that, “Mandela had his
opportunity. He failed to close. This implies that a new chapter is about to
begin.
In 2026, the governor’s campaign will be at the top of a
Wisconsin ballot that will also feature contests for lieutenant governor,
attorney general, and secretary of state. Partisan dominance of the state
Legislature may also be at risk for the first time in over ten years.
How could Barnes’ candidacy affect the 2026 general election
outcome in Wisconsin?
As Wisconsin’s first Black assistant governor and a
progressive champion, Barnes energizes civic and young demographics,
particularly Black, Latino, and council- educated suburban choosers likely
crucial to Popular turnout in a swing state. His once success with namer
rallying groups( Power to the pates Wisconsin) bolsters this strength.
Barnes appeals to progressive and moderate Popular bases,
differing with conservative Democratic Governor Brad Schimel( likely GOP
designee). This appeal may help unify the Popular coalition to contend in
competitive statewide races.
Barnes’ congressional crusade experience and fundraising
networks offer a head start in erecting statewide reach and crusade staffing,
critical in a populous and politically different state with tight perimeters.
