Former Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes withdrew from the Democratic primary for governor on Thursday. In a video announcement posted to social media, Barnes stated that the identity of the eventual nominee had become clear and emphasized the need for party unity to defeat U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI), the likely Republican nominee. Barnes did not officially endorse a specific candidate during his announcement.
The withdrawal occurred as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported it was investigating allegations regarding Barnes' past conduct. According to the Journal Sentinel, the investigation involves claims that Barnes used his position within the state Democratic party to pursue sexual encounters with young women. The report cited a 2025 internal party review that reportedly did not lead to an actionable outcome. Barnes has not been accused of any crimes.
A spokesperson for the Barnes campaign, Darby O’Connor, denied the reports, stating there are no allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing against him. Governor Tony Evers (D-WI) expressed surprise at the exit during an interview with WISN, noting he was unaware of the specific reasons behind the decision. The exit follows a Marquette Law School poll released Wednesday showing Barnes in second place with 16 percent, trailing state lawmaker Francesca Hong, who held 38 percent.
For voters, the consolidated field narrows the choice between Hong, a progressive lawmaker, and more moderate candidates like David Crowley, who holds 7 percent in recent polls. Crowley, the Milwaukee County Executive, recently reentered the race with the endorsement of Governor Evers. The impact on voters will be immediate as candidates begin competing for Barnes' former supporters ahead of the upcoming primary election. Moderate Democrats expressed concern that a Hong victory could influence the general election matchup against Tiffany, though these concerns are based on internal party strategy rather than a finalized vote.
The next steps for the Democratic field include a series of high-profile campaign events and fundraisers. Governor Evers is scheduled to appear at a fundraiser for Crowley in Madison on Thursday and another in Milwaukee on Friday, followed by joint campaign appearances next week. Other candidates, including state Sen. Kelda Roys and Joel Brennan, remain in the race. Voters will see the final results of this consolidation when they head to the polls on the date of the primary, which was not specified in the report.