Since launching his campaign for Governor, Mandela Barnes has been traveling the state talking about how to make life more affordable, including his pledge to veto any state budget that doesn’t include BadgerCare expansion.
Continuing his campaign swing through Tom Tiffany’s district, Lt. Governor Barnes stopped in Ashland for a conversation with Chequamegon Democrats on his plans to lower costs for Wisconsin families and stand up to Trump and his allies like Tom Tiffany.
“I refuse as Governor to sign a state budget until we have expanded BadgerCare in Wisconsin, because that is the least we can do to help provide people the relief they deserve,” Barnes told supporters at the Chequamegon Democratic Resource Center in Ashland.
See coverage from across the state:
Ashland Daily Press: Barnes vows no budget without BadgerCare expansion at Ashland campaign stop
[Staff, 1/14/2026]
- Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes pledged Jan. 10 not to sign a state budget as governor unless it includes expanding Wisconsin’s Medicaid program, drawing a sharp contrast with Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany during a campaign stop in Ashland.
- “I refuse as Governor to sign a state budget until we have expanded BadgerCare in Wisconsin, because that is the least we can do to help provide people the relief they deserve,” Barnes told supporters at the Chequamegon Democratic Resource Center in Ashland.
- Barnes… criticized U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, for voting against extending Affordable Care Act tax credits while Wisconsin premiums continue rising.
- “We could all agree that’s a pretty extreme position to take as the people he represents see their premiums double or triple,” Barnes said. “In some instances, I had a roundtable discussion in Cadott yesterday and a couple farmers were talking about how their premiums are going to increase. One of them specifically gave a very high number, so he’s just not going to have health insurance.”
- Barnes’ visit was part of his “Wisconsin Way Tour” featuring roundtable discussions on issues facing communities across the state. Wisconsin remains one of 10 states that has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
- Barnes distinguished himself from other Democratic candidates by citing his experience serving two state budget cycles as lieutenant governor under Gov. Tony Evers.
- “There’s not a person in this race who has traveled the state as extensively as I have,” Barnes said. “There’s not a person who’s had the legislative and policy in-depth learning experience as I have had as lieutenant governor or even a governing experience or even campaign experience.”
- He also highlighted his work leading Power to the Polls Wisconsin, a voter engagement organization that helped Milwaukee achieve the highest voter turnout among the nation’s 50 largest cities in November 2024.
Wisconsin State Journal: Barnes Focuses on the Economy
[Mitchell Schmidt, 1/2/26]
- Barnes took direct aim at U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, the presumptive GOP nominee for governor. Tiffany, he said, will have to answer for “the complete and utter chaos that has been this Trump administration.”
- “It’s probably a hard one for him to answer, because he’s fighting to try to get Donald Trump’s endorsement right now,” Barnes said.
- If elected, Barnes said, one of his top goals as governor will be to push to have Wisconsin join the list of 41 other states that have expanded Medicaid eligibility to include individuals earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level. Evers and his Democratic colleagues have repeatedly demanded expansion to BadgerCare, the state’s main Medicaid program, but the issue has been rejected by Republicans.
- Barnes said Evers has been “swimming upstream for almost eight years now,” in reference to the governor’s repeated clashes with the Republican-controlled Legislature.
- “His willingness, his desire to seek compromise is not much different than my own,” he said. “But after eight years, we can’t keep denying people the care and the coverage that they deserve.”
- In order to achieve that goal, Barnes promised to veto any state budget that does not include the provision.
WMTV (NBC Madison): Mandela Barnes promises a ‘bold’ campaign centering affordability, BadgerCare expansion
[Vanessa Kjeldsen, 12/15/25]
- Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, considered a frontrunner in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, said affordability is his top priority.
- “I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the need for us to expand Badger Care… And that’s why I’ve made the commitment on day one to call a special session to pass Badger Care expansion. And I’ve already made it very clear that I will not sign a state budget that doesn’t include it.” — [Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes]
