Mandela Barnes
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]
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 1 December 1986 (aged 39) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | Working Families |
| Education | Alabama A&M University (BA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Campaign website |
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]
Mandela Barnes Media
Mandela Barnes in 2013
Barnes (at rear) with other elected officials at a March For Our Lives event
Barnes being sworn in as Lieutenant Governor, 2019
References
- ↑ Democrat Tony Evers ousts Wisconsin Gov. Scott WalkerPolitico. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
- ↑ Mandela Barnes's BiographyProject Vote Smart. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
- ↑ TheOtherMandela. No regrets about having voted for him both times. (April 8, 2020).
- ↑ Milwaukee, Urban. "Mandela Barnes Wins 2018 DPW Convention Straw Poll with 80.9% of the Vote" (in en). Urban Milwaukee. https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/mandela-barnes-wins-2018-dpw-convention-straw-poll-with-80-9-of-the-vote/. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
- ↑ Schmidt, Mitchell; Vetterkind, Riley (July 20, 2021). Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes joins crowded Democratic field for US Senate. https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/lt-gov-mandela-barnes-joins-crowded-democratic-field-for-us-senate/article_9d30a2ab-0f00-5057-93fa-1c0d841c9c33.html. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
- ↑ 'A true believer': Why Mandela Barnes thinks his progressive ideas can win in purple Wisconsin (in en). NBC News. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
- ↑ Sen. Ron Johnson faces Democratic challenger Mandela Barnes in Wisconsin general election (August 9, 2022)CNBC. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ↑ Schneider, Elena. Mandela Barnes jumps into crowded race for Wisconsin governor. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
Other websites
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