Polling Average
25%20%15%10%5%0%
18.9%
11.0%
9.0%
7.5%
6.0%
Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
$257.1K
AUG 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer Lieutenant Governor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
GenderMale
LocationWisconsin
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BackgroundPolitician
Notable personal detailsJesse Mandela Barnes is an American politician from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and later as Wisconsin’s 45th lieutenant governor after being elected in 2018. He was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin in 2022 and later launched a campaign for governor.
SourcesShowHide
evers.wi.goven.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orgmandelabarnes.comcommons.wikimedia.orgwbay.comdemocracydocket.comwashingtonpost.comthegrio.comwpr.orgwisconsinrightnow.comsmartpolitics.lib.umn.eduwisconsinexaminer.comwispolitics.comnewmedia-wi.combelling.comreddit.comimage.jewishinsider.comwisn.compolitifact.comwisconsinwatch.orglcv.orgclimatechange.wi.govcontent.govdelivery.comgiffords.orgurbanmilwaukee.compeoplesaction.orgcitizenactionwi.orgwisbusiness.comaxios.comfoxnews.comapnews.comabcnews.go.comcbsnews.comlinkedin.comlatimes.comnoticias.foxnews.comstatic.foxnews.comgames-cdn.washingtonpost.comballotready.orgcongress.govfec.govnga.orgdocquery.fec.govgovinfo.govupload.wikimedia.orges.wikipedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports closing tax loopholes for the ultra‑rich and raising taxes on corporations and the wealthiest while cutting taxes for working‑ and middle‑class households; proposes reforming specific state tax credits (e.g., agriculture/manufacturing) to benefit local small businesses and family farmers. Advocates using increased revenue to expand programs such as BadgerCare and invest in education, jobs, and housing affordability.
Healthcare
Mandela Barnes has expressed support for Medicare for All and also backs incremental expansions such as lowering the Medicare eligibility age and expanding Medicaid/BadgerCare access, while proposing targeted initiatives like Black maternal-health policy and full Medicaid expansion in Wisconsin.
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Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports federal protections for abortion access (has called for codifying Roe v. Wade) and has received endorsements from reproductive-rights organizations; expresses that abortion decisions should be made between a patient and their doctor while rejecting extreme bans.
Climate & Energy
Supports Green New Deal–style policies and a transition to 100% renewable/clean energy, has chaired a statewide task force that produced 55 policy recommendations to reduce emissions, expand renewables, and prioritize environmental justice and clean-energy jobs.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports universal background checks, red-flag (extreme risk protection) laws, bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, and other significant firearm restrictions as part of a broader gun violence prevention agenda.
Polls
Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2022Total raisedCash on hand
$42.3M
$31.8M
$21.2M
$10.6M
$0
2022
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2022
$42.3M
$565.7K
$41.8M
$1.7M
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- News
- Endorsements