Former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes called for additional debates in Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor, arguing that voters need more opportunities to hear the differences between candidates with just two weeks until the August 11 election.
Speaking with reporters after Tuesday’s debate, Barnes said the race was “wide, chaotic, and unpredictable” and that “Wisconsinites deserve to hear more from the candidates.” The event, hosted by WISN 12 at Marquette University, was the only televised primary debate scheduled before voters choose their nominee.
Barnes delivered what observers called a standout performance. According to analysis from The Recombobulation Area, a Milwaukee-based political publication, “In a vacuum, the candidate to perhaps be considered the ‘winner’ of the debate might be Mandela Barnes. He seemed more comfortable in a debate setting than the rest of the field — cracking jokes on stage before the cameras started rolling, delivering lines with charisma.” Barnes highlighted his experience as lieutenant governor and his previous statewide run in 2022, telling the audience: “There’s not a person on this stage that’s united all shades of blue in the Democratic Party as I have before.”
The debate itself stayed largely civil. According to Wisconsin Examiner, “Democratic candidates for governor largely avoided direct attacks on one another during their only televised primary debate Tuesday night.” The five candidates—Barnes, Francesca Hong, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, State Senator Kelda Roys, and former Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan—found common ground on issues like raising taxes on wealthy residents and investing in public education.
However, the polling landscape shows Barnes facing an uphill climb. A State Navigate poll released the day before the debate found Hong at 44 percent, with Crowley at 15 percent and Barnes at 14 percent. A subsequent Marquette Law School poll showed Hong at 38 percent, Barnes at 16 percent, and the remainder of the field at single digits. According to a polling analysis from The Hill, “Hong comes in first place at 38 percent in the crowded Democratic field, with former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes in second place at 16 percent.”
Barnes’s campaign emphasized that he is the only candidate beating the presumed Republican nominee, U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany, in head-to-head matchups. According to the campaign statement released after the debate, “Barnes led the field during every minute of the Democratic primary debate, helping explain why he’s the only candidate beating Tom Tiffany in the polls.” In his closing statement, Barnes argued that Republican billionaires and the Democratic establishment were trying to influence the race, saying: “I’m the only candidate on this stage who’s actually defeating Tom Tiffany, according to the most recent Marquette poll.”
The single debate format has drawn scrutiny. As The Recombobulation Area noted, “with this being the only _debate_ debate scheduled to occur before the Aug. 11 primary, this offered candidates a unique opportunity to differentiate themselves from their fellow candidates.” The publication’s analysis suggested the event “felt more like a forum than a debate,” with candidates demonstrating broad agreement on major issues rather than sharpening distinctions between themselves.
The primary has been marked by significant shifts. Governor Tony Evers endorsed Crowley, who had initially dropped out and then re-entered the race. Hong, a state representative and self-described democratic socialist, has surged in recent weeks, consolidating support on the left wing of the party. Barnes, who served as Evers’ lieutenant governor during his first term, has struggled to find a clear lane as the race has evolved.
Sources
- WisPolitics — Barnes campaign statement after the debate, including his call for more debates and his closing statement
- The Recombobulation Area — Analysis of the debate, including assessment of Barnes’s performance and the primary dynamics
- State Navigate and WPR — Poll showing Hong at 44 percent, Crowley at 15 percent, and Barnes at 14 percent
- Marquette Law School Poll and WMTV15 — Poll showing Hong at 38 percent, Barnes at 16 percent, released July 29, 2026
- The Hill — Reporting on Marquette poll results
- Wisconsin Examiner — Coverage of the debate and candidates’ approach to direct attacks
- The Recombobulation Area — Analysis of the debate format and candidate differentiation
