Former Lt. Gov. of Wisconsin Mandela Barnes announced his bid for Wisconsin governor Tuesday. Barnes joins a contested ballot for the Democratic primary, with Democrats Francesca Hong, Sara Rodriguez, Zachary Roper and Kelda Roys competing for the Democratic nomination, according to Ballotpedia.
“Mandela Barnes is ready to get things done the Wisconsin Way as our next governor. Donald Trump and his Republican allies would rather protect the ultra-rich with tax loopholes than expand opportunities for middle-class families. Let’s reject the Washington Way,” Barnes’ website said.
If elected governor, Barnes aims to close tax loopholes for the ultra-rich to cut taxes for the working class, stop playing political games with Wisconsin healthcare and raise the minimum wage, according to his website.
After serving as a democratic representative for Wisconsin’s Assembly District 11 for four years, Barnes served as Lt. Gov of Wisconsin from 2019-2023, according to Wisconsin State Legislature. In 2022, Barnes challenged republican Sen. Ron Johnson for his seat in the U.S. Senate, losing by 27,000 votes, according to Ballotpedia.
In an emailed statement, president of the College Republicans of the University of Wisconsin Ben Rothove criticized Barnes’s previous run for governor.
“Wisconsin voters already rejected Barnes’s far-left agenda, and they will reject it again,” Rothove said in the statement.
Barnes is running for governor of Wisconsin now because he states the moment is too urgent for inaction.
Assembly District 76 representative and fellow gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong said she agrees that now is the time for people to fight against the wealthy.
“This is a moment for a movement where working class people build power because they realize that the laws are designed for the wealthiest few who really don’t work as hard,” Hong said.
Barnes’ campaign is staunchly anti-Trump, and he intends to stand up to the president if elected, according to his website.
“Capitulation to fascism is wrong, I think that clearly shows that we have politicians who care more about their political future,” Hong said. “They’re governing with cowardice — if you are not willing to stand up to fascism and lead with moral courage then I don’t think you should be in office.”
Democrats achieved a wave of victories this year, as Mikie Sherrill, D-NJ, and Abigail Spanberger, D-VA, won gubernatorial elections, according to The Center For Politics.
Hong said she is always cautiously optimistic that democracy will prevail, and now there is another candidate in the race for Wisconsin governor as Mandela Barnes throws his hat in the ring to contest Donald Trump.
“We are living through authoritarianism right now,” Hong said. “The state has a responsibility to protect communities across Wisconsin from what is a fascist regime in Washington.”
