JULY 31, 2026
Mandela Barnes suspends Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial campaign ahead of damaging media report
Former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes suspended his campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination on Thursday, July 30, 2026. In a video posted to social media, Barnes said "it's become very clear who our nominee is going to be" and urged Democrats to unite against likely Republican nominee Tom Tiffany. Shortly after Barnes' announcement, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported it was investigating allegations that Barnes had leveraged his role within the state Democratic Party to have sexual encounters with young women.
Barnes, who served as Wisconsin lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023, had been considered a frontrunner in the crowded Democratic field due to his name recognition and proximity to outgoing Gov. Tony Evers. A Marquette Law School poll released Wednesday showed him in a distant second place with 16 percent support among Democratic primary voters, trailing state Rep. Francesca Hong at 38 percent, according to Politico.
Barnes and his team had been in discussions Thursday about whether to drop out ahead of anticipated media reports, Politico reported. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published its investigation shortly after Barnes posted his withdrawal video; the outlet reported that a 2025 review conducted by the state Democratic Party examined the allegations. That review did not result in an actionable outcome, and Barnes has not been accused of any crimes. Barnes' campaign spokesperson Darby O'Connor said "there are no allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing against Mandela."
With Barnes out, the remaining major candidates are Hong, a democratic socialist backed by national progressive figures including Reps. Ilhan Omar and Ro Khanna, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who holds Evers' endorsement. Democrats close to Barnes told Politico they hope his exit will allow moderate-leaning voters to consolidate behind Crowley before the August 11 primary, though Crowley held just 7 percent in the same Marquette poll. State Sen. Kelda Roys and former Evers cabinet member Joel Brennan remain in the race; Brennan said Thursday he plans to continue campaigning.