And then there were four.
On Thursday, Mandela Barnes announced that he is suspending his campaign for Wisconsin governor. Barnes, the lieutenant governor of Wisconsin from 2019 to 2023, leaves David Crowley, Joel Brennan, Kelda Roys, and Francesca Hong in the Democratic primary race.
“Last night I had a very difficult conversation for my staff,” Barnes says in a video titled “Thank you, Wisconsin.” “We’re incredibly proud of all the things that we’ve accomplished and all the resources that we have raised to spread our message. But it’s become very clear who our nominee is going to be.”
Barnes doesn’t identify that nominee, but it’s gotta be Hong, right?
In a BIG wrinkle, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says that Barnes’ announcement “came amid reporting by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel into allegations that Barnes was taking advantage of his role in the party to have sexual encounters with young adult women. The Journal Sentinel is continuing to report the story.”
Politico notes that the announcement “comes as Democratic officials in the state brace for damaging media reports about Barnes, which are expected to hit in the coming hours.”
“A spokesperson for Barnes’ campaign said in a statement that ‘there are no allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing against Mandela,'” Politico adds.
Here’s Barnes’ full announcement:
Thank you, Wisconsin. pic.twitter.com/FKDjCaPdJZ
— Mandela Barnes (@TheOtherMandela) July 30, 2026
The primary election for Wisconsin governor (and lieutenant governor) is August 11. After the primaries, the general election is scheduled for November 3. Tom Tiffany is the presumptive Republican nominee.
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