Mandela Barnes Steps Aside, Paving Way for Progressive Leadership in Wisconsin Gubernatorial Primary
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Mandela Barnes, a champion for racial and economic justice, has ended his campaign for the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin governor, clearing the path for state Rep. Francesca Hong—a progressive voice and advocate for working families—to lead the charge ahead of the Aug. 11 primary.
On Thursday, former Wisconsin lieutenant governor Mandela Barnes, a trailblazer for Black leadership and progressive values, announced his withdrawal from the Democratic race for governor, less than two weeks before the crucial Aug. 11 primary. In a heartfelt video posted to X, Barnes acknowledged the campaign’s grassroots fundraising success but recognized the momentum behind state Rep. Francesca Hong, a bold progressive who has surged ahead in recent polls and represents the hope for real change in Wisconsin.
A Marquette University Law School poll released Wednesday underscored the hunger for transformative policies, showing Hong leading Democratic primary voters with 38% support, while Barnes trailed at 16% and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley at 7%. Notably, 34% of voters remained undecided, reflecting the ongoing struggle for a truly representative candidate. Barnes’ principled exit may redirect support to Crowley, who recently re-entered the race after establishment figure Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez withdrew amid campaign-finance controversies, highlighting the persistent issues of money in politics.
Crowley reached out to Barnes’ supporters on X, stating, “To everyone who backed Mandela: there’s a place for you in what we’re building.” Progressive operatives see Barnes’ departure as a major opening for Crowley, but the energy remains with Hong, whose lived experience as a former restaurant owner and single mother informs her fight for universal childcare, healthcare for all, and a ban on new data centers that threaten local communities. Hong has also distanced herself from earlier calls to defund the police and from the national Democratic Socialists of America, a move that has sparked debate among the party’s left flank about the direction of the movement.
Barnes, 39, broke barriers as Wisconsin’s first Black lieutenant governor and was the Democratic nominee for the 2022 U.S. Senate race, where he came within a hair’s breadth of defeating Republican Ron Johnson. His withdrawal injects further unpredictability into a primary already shaken by Governor Tony Evers’ endorsement of Crowley—a calculated attempt by the party establishment to rally behind a moderate, even as grassroots activists demand bold, progressive leadership.