Mandela Barnes withdrew from the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor on Thursday, significantly altering the race less than two weeks before the August 11 election. The former lieutenant governor announced his decision in a video posted on Facebook as democratic socialist Francesca Hong gained strong support from the liberal wing of the party.
Key Takeaways
Mandela Barnes has dropped out of the Democratic primary race for Wisconsin governor, further shaking up the contest less than two weeks before the August 11 election. His decision follows a poll showing strong support for democratic socialist Francesca Hong among liberal voters.
- Mandela Barnes withdraws from Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor
- Poll shows Francesca Hong leading with significant margin
- Three Democrats have now dropped out of the race, including Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez and former state economic development director Missy Hughes
- Early voting has begun, with nearly 128,000 absentee ballots already returned
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▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 6 publishers report consistent facts across 4 key claims. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absentee Ballots Cast By Wednesday | 1 Difference | PBS and CBS report 128,000; Los Angeles Times says 117,000 | ▼ |
| Number Of Democrats Who Have Withdrawn From The Race | Broad Agreement | Three Democrats have dropped out: Barnes, Rodriguez, Hughes | |
| Number Of Absentee Ballots Cast By Tuesday | Broad Agreement | nearly 108,000 ballots had already been returned by mail ahead of the Aug. 11 election. | |
| Number Of Absentee Ballots Cast By Tuesday | Broad Agreement | nearly 128,000 absentee ballots already returned and more than 117,000 absentee ballots cast by Wed… | |
| Number Of Democratic Candidates In The Race | Broad Agreement | five Democratic candidates are scheduled to meet for their only debate Tuesday night ahead of the A… |
Absentee Ballots Cast By Wednesday
▼PBS and CBS report 128,000; Los Angeles Times says 117,000
Number Of Democrats Who Have Withdrawn From The Race
Broad AgreementThree Democrats have dropped out: Barnes, Rodriguez, Hughes
Number Of Absentee Ballots Cast By Tuesday
Broad Agreementnearly 108,000 ballots had already been returned by mail ahead of the Aug. 11 election.
Number Of Absentee Ballots Cast By Tuesday
Broad Agreementnearly 128,000 absentee ballots already returned and more than 117,000 absentee ballots cast by Wednesday.
Number Of Democratic Candidates In The Race
Broad Agreementfive Democratic candidates are scheduled to meet for their only debate Tuesday night ahead of the Aug. 11 primary.
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The move comes after a Marquette Law School poll showed Hong leading Barnes and other candidates by a significant margin, though about one-third of primary voters remained undecided. According to PBS NewsHour, Barnes said in his announcement video that "it's become very clear who our nominee is going to be."
Barnes is the third Democrat to exit the race this year. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez ended her campaign amid a campaign finance scandal two weeks ago, and former state economic development director Missy Hughes dropped out in June. After Rodriguez's withdrawal, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley rejoined the race with the endorsement of Gov. Tony Evers.
As reported by CBS News, some Wisconsin Democrats have expressed concerns about Hong's candidacy. Voter Steve Wiesner stated he would vote Republican for the first time if Hong wins the primary. Meanwhile, voter Ian Anderson praised Hong as "exactly the burst of energy we need" after casting his early ballot in Madison.
The winner of the Democratic primary is expected to face U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who faces only nominal opposition in the Republican primary. Early voting began on Tuesday with nearly 128,000 absentee ballots already returned and more than 117,000 absentee ballots cast by Wednesday according to multiple sources.
How this summary was created
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