This morning, Mandela Barnes joined CNN’s Inside Politics with Dana Bash to talk about the state of the race for Governor of Wisconsin.

When asked about David Crowley getting back into the race after dropping out and Evers’ endorsement, Mandela Barnes said:

Mandela Barnes: “I got in this race because life is too hard for too many people. Families continue to struggle with high costs. People are finding it more difficult to stay in their homes, people are finding it more difficult to put food on the table, pay for doctors’ bills—you name it.

“I have zero interest in maintaining the status quo. I have zero interest in upholding a broken system that continues to make life hard for people

“This is what I’ve fought against my entire career. I’ve gone against the grain time and time again. I’ve fought against the establishment and like I’ve said—I don’t have the receipts to prove it. I have the bruises to prove it.”

Barnes discussed the RGA spending $3 million to support his opponent in this election and was asked if his Francesca Hong could win statewide:  

Mandela Barnes: “That’s up to her to answer. I can tell you our fight is about uniting this party. It’s about bringing people together from all stripes.

“But there is a reason why Republicans are lining up spending $3 million to choose their candidate. She happens to be the handpicked candidate for Republicans. Now while we have an establishment handpicked candidate and a Republican handpicked candidate, I’m the person who is committed to bringing this state together to fight for more and to bring the change people deserve… We’re going to take on those tough fights, regardless if it’s Republicans or people in our own party who want to hold us back from progress.” […]

Dana Bash: “We had an interview scheduled with Francesca Hong last week but she canceled less than an hour before air time.”

He also discussed his 2022 race for US Senate and why he’s the most electable choice in the field:

“I’m the only person [in this race] who has ever competed and run statewide. I was right alongside Governor Evers helping to kick Scott Walker out of office in 2018. My Senate race in ‘22 was the closest Senate race in the state in over 100 years. It was the closest challenge to any incumbent.

“And I learned a lot from that race. But I can tell you—I was left out to dry by Chuck Schumer and DC establishment politicians. The people who knew I could win were Republican billionaires, and that’s why they spent so much money against me. $50 million was spent against me. We were outspent by $26 million. If we were not left out to dry by Chuck Schumer and establishment DC Democrats, we would be having a much different conversation. I am the only battle-tested candidate in this campaign. I’ve done the hard work and taken on the tough fights.”