Dem Mandela Barnes today dropped his bid for governor, saying it’s become clear who the party’s nominee will be.
Barnes didn’t say who that was during a video he posted on social media. But state Rep. Francesca Hong has been consolidating support in the race for the Dem nomination.
Barnes, the former lieutenant governor and 2022 U.S. Senate nominee, entered the race in December with the highest name ID of any Dem candidate in the crowded field. But he has trailed Hong by double digits in publicly released polling, including two surveys out this week.
Barnes leaves the race as some moderate Dems have sought to prevent Hong from winning the party’s nomination, believing she would have a more difficult time beating likely GOP nominee Tom Tiffany in November than others in the field.
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His move leaves state former DOA Secretary Joel Brennan, Milwaukee County Exec David Crowley and state Sen. Kelda Roys actively seeking the Dem nomination alongside Hong.
Crowley dropped out of the race July 8 and then got back in July 18 with the endorsement of Gov. Tony Evers. He has since pulled in the endorsements of several unions and is seen by many as the establishment’s preference in the primary over Hong.