A Democratic primary that was already splintering took another dramatic turn Thursday as former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes ended his campaign for governor, clearing more room for surging Democratic socialist Francesca Hong, who has emerged as the race’s front-runner.
Barnes announced his decision in a video posted to social media after spending much of the day discussing the future of his campaign with advisers. While he did not endorse another candidate, he said it had become “very clear” who the Democratic nominee would be.
His exit comes after reports that Barnes and his team were weighing whether to stay in the race as Democratic officials braced for potentially damaging media reports expected to surface Thursday.
The move is a major boost for Hong, the self-described democratic socialist whose rapid rise has rattled the party establishment. More moderate Democrats have increasingly warned that her nomination could hand Republicans an opening in November against presumed GOP nominee Tom Tiffany, who has already consolidated Republican support.
Breaking news: Mandela Barnes (D) drops out of the race for Wisconsin governor pic.twitter.com/oy1hVLgXJM
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Hong has also built a commanding lead in the race’s closing days. A Marquette Law School poll released this week showed her with 38% support among Democratic primary voters, while Barnes trailed at 16% and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley received 7%. Roughly one-third of Democratic voters remained undecided, though other recent polling also showed Barnes trailing Hong by double digits.
The Democratic field has unraveled in recent weeks. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez suspended her campaign following a campaign finance scandal, former Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. CEO Missy Hughes also dropped out, and Crowley reentered the race after securing Gov. Tony Evers’ endorsement in an effort to unite more moderate Democrats. Instead, the endorsement further fractured the anti-Hong vote, allowing the Madison lawmaker to strengthen her position heading into the primary.
