Mandela Barnes drops out of Wisconsin governor’s race

Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (D) dropped out of the Wisconsin governor’s race Thursday as he struggled to gain traction in the polls.

“It’s become very clear who our nominee is going to be,” Barnes said in a video posted to the social media platform X, later adding, “We have to do everything we possibly can to defeat Tom Tiffany, and that’s exactly what I’m committed to doing for the next 96 days.”

Barnes’s exit effectively paves the way for democratic socialist Francesca Hong, who has led the crowded field of Democrats, to take on Tiffany, the Republican’s presumptive nominee in the race to replace retiring Gov. Tony Evers. Barnes stopped short of backing the democratic socialist in his video.

Polling released earlier this week showed Hong with a comfortable double-digital lead ahead of the Aug. 11 primary. The state lawmaker notched 38 percent support, with Barnes at 16 percent and Milwaukee Executive........

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