Mandela Barnes drops out of Wisconsin governor race
Shortly after, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel revealed it was investigating allegations that Barnes had leveraged his role within the state Democratic party to have sexual encounters with young women.
Former Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes announced on Thursday his withdrawal from the state's gubernatorial primary race, as progressive lawmaker Francesca Hong gains traction in the polls. Barnes conveyed in a social media video that his decision was based on the clear identification of Hong as the likely nominee. He urged supporters to support Republican candidate Tom Tiffany.
Barnes' decision comes amid expectations of damaging media reports about him, which were reportedly under investigation by the Democratic party. However, Barnes' campaign maintained that the allegations were unfounded. The race has become increasingly contentious with moderate Democrats like Barnes trying to deter Hong's ascent, fearing her victory could benefit Republican Tiffany.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers endorsed Crowley, who returned to the race after Rodriguez's campaign collapse, adding to the confusion. Barnes had 16% support in a Marquette Law School poll, while Hong led with 38% and Crowley trailed in third with 7%. Barnes supporters' second choice was Hong, with 30% backing him. Evers and his team are optimistic that Barnes' exit will consolidate votes around Crowley, who intends to boost his campaign with Evers' backing.
Evers and his team plan to support Crowley in key battlegrounds, including Madison and Milwaukee. Despite the strong support, Crowley still faces a significant challenge in his bid to challenge Hong.
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