Mandela Barnes joins crowded Democratic primary for governor

The former lieutenant governor and US Senate candidate says he would focus on affordability issues and standing up to Trump’s “chaos.”

Ending months of speculation, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes announced his campaign for governor on Tuesday. This makes Barnes the sixth Democratic candidate, though arguably a front-runner based on name recognition, in this primary race.

He served as lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023, relinquishing a second term to run for US Senate. Now, he is running for governor to protect everyday Wisconsinites.

“Seems like the harder you work, the more Washington looks the other way: lower taxes for billionaires, higher prices for working people,” Barnes said in an announcement video. “Under Trump, the name of the game has been distraction and chaos to avoid accountability. 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.”

Barnes lost his bid for US Senate in 2022 in a tight race. After besting a crowded primary field, Barnes challenged incumbent Republican Sen. Ron Johnson. In Wisconsin’s closest-ever contest for US Senate, Barnes came within a single percentage point (50.4% to 49.4%) of unseating Johnson, in a year when no Republican incumbent senator was denied reelection.

In an accompanying release, Barnes said he would push to expand Medicaid healthcare coverage for Wisconsin families, close tax loopholes for the very wealthy, and cut taxes for middle class families.

The field to succeed retiring incumbent Democratic Gov. Tony Evers now includes six Democrats: Barnes, current Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, Sen. Kelda Roys, Rep. Francesca Hong, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, and Missy Huges, former secretary of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. There are two Republican candidates so far: Congressman Tom Tiffany and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann. Voters in both parties will choose their nominees in a primary on Aug. 11, 2026, with the nominees facing off on Nov. 3, 2026.

Republicans will be pushing to take back the governor’s office after eight years while Democrats will be fighting to take control of the state legislature for the first time since losing majorities in the 2010 election. After gerrymandered maps were replaced with fairer maps in 2024, Democrats picked up 10 Assembly seats and four seats in the state Senate. Because senators have four-year terms, about half of the seats were up for reelection in 2024. The other races will be decided under the new maps in 2026.