Mandela Barnes
Mandela Barnes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 45th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin | |
| In office January 7, 2019 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Governor | Tony Evers |
| Preceded by | Rebecca Kleefisch |
| Succeeded by | Sara Rodriguez |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 11th district | |
| In office January 7, 2013 – January 3, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Jason Fields |
| Succeeded by | Jason Fields |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jesse Mandela Barnes December 1, 1986 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | Working Families |
| Education | Alabama A&M University (BA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Campaign website |
Mandela Barnes (born December 1, 1986) is an American politician and community organizer. Barnes was the 45th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 2019 to 2023.[1] He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2013 to 2017.[2]
Political career
Barnes voted for U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders for President of the United States in the 2016 and 2020 Wisconsin presidential primaries.[3]
Barnes was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin in the 2018 election running alongside Tony Evers and they won the general election in November 2018.[4]
2022 U.S. Senate campaign
In July 2021, Barnes announced his candidacy for United States Senate in the 2022 election running against Republican Senator Ron Johnson.[5] If elected, he would be the first Black person to represent Wisconsin in the U.S. Senate.[6] In August 2022, he won the Democratic nomination.[7] He narrowly lost the election to Johnson in November 2022.
2026 gubernatorial election
In December 2025, Barnes announced his candidacy for governor of Wisconsin in the 2026 gubernatorial election.[8]
References
- ↑ "Democrat Tony Evers ousts Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker". Politico. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
- ↑ "Mandela Barnes's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
- ↑ @TheOtherMandela (April 8, 2020). "No regrets about having voted for him both times" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ↑ Milwaukee, Urban. "Mandela Barnes Wins 2018 DPW Convention Straw Poll with 80.9% of the Vote". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
- ↑ Schmidt, Mitchell; Vetterkind, Riley (July 20, 2021). "Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes joins crowded Democratic field for US Senate". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
- ↑ "'A true believer': Why Mandela Barnes thinks his progressive ideas can win in purple Wisconsin". NBC News. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
- ↑ "Sen. Ron Johnson faces Democratic challenger Mandela Barnes in Wisconsin general election". CNBC. August 9, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ↑ Schneider, Elena. "Mandela Barnes jumps into crowded race for Wisconsin governor". Retrieved December 2, 2025.