MADISON, Wis. — Touting health care access, clean water and air, gun reform, and a background based in Milwaukee’s most incarcerated and impoverished zip code, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes jumped into the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.
It’s a long-anticipated move, with his statewide name recognition and popularity marking him as a key frontrunner in a crowded field as Democrats push to unseat Republican Senator Ron Johnson in 2022.
“I know that we can do the work to create good jobs that are more than just a paycheck,” Barnes said in his announcement speech. “Healthcare that is accessible to everyone. We can address the climate crisis while lifting up communities from Beloit all the way to Bayfield.”