🔥 Trending Who is Mandela Barnes? Exploring the politician's background and recent withdraw

Mandela Barnes is an American politician who served as the 45th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 2019 to 2023 ¹. A member of the Democratic Party, he is known for his political career in Wisconsin, including his time as a state representative and his campaigns for higher office ¹².

Early Life and Political Beginnings

Born Jesse Mandela Barnes on December 1, 1986, Barnes's political journey began in the Wisconsin State Assembly ¹. He represented Wisconsin's 11th Assembly district from 2013 to 2017 ¹.

Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin

In 2018, Barnes was elected as Wisconsin's 45th Lieutenant Governor, serving alongside Governor Tony Evers ⁴. He made history as the first African-American to hold this position in Wisconsin and the second African-American to ever hold statewide office in the state ⁴. During his tenure as Lieutenant Governor, Barnes traveled to all 72 counties in Wisconsin to assist with pandemic recovery efforts ². He also chaired the Governor's Task Force on Climate Change, focusing on developing plans to reduce energy costs through investments in clean energy ².

Subsequent Political Campaigns and Current Status

After his term as Lieutenant Governor, Barnes ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022, a campaign that energized Democrats but ultimately resulted in a narrow loss ⁵⁷.

As of late 2025, Mandela Barnes has again entered the political arena. On December 2, 2025, he launched a campaign for governor, joining the Democratic primary for the 2026 gubernatorial election ³⁶. In this campaign, he has pledged to challenge the Trump administration and work towards making Wisconsin more affordable ⁶. However, it is important to note that he later announced his withdrawal from the Democratic race for governor on Thursday, November 28, 2026 ⁸.