Mandela Barnes Drops Out of Wisconsin Governor Race
Mandela Barnes has ended his campaign for Wisconsin governor. Barnes was a former Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin.
He announced his exit in a video on Thursday. He said he had a very difficult conversation with his staff.
He added it had become clear who the nominee will be. Many saw this as a nod to state representative Francesca Hong.
But he did not formally endorse her. Hong is now leading in polls for the Democratic nomination.
Reports say Barnes was polling around 16% before he dropped out. Hong has held a strong lead near 38% in recent polls.
Milwaukee County leader David Crowley is now seen as Hong's main rival. Hong has not yet decided whether to seek Barnes's endorsement.
Reports say Barnes's exit came as Wisconsin's Democratic Party reviewed anonymous claims about his sexual encounters. A spokesperson for Barnes denied the claims.
The Democratic primary is set for August 11. This reshapes the governor race in Wisconsin.
Key Terms 3
- Lieutenant Governor The second-highest elected official in a US state.
- primary An election where a party picks its candidate for the final vote.
- nominee The person chosen to represent a party in an election.