Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor is set for August 11, with four candidates competing for the party’s nomination in a race that has shifted dramatically in recent weeks. State Representative Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, has surged to commanding support, while former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes exited the race on July 30 after the state Democratic Party reviewed allegations about his treatment of women.
The four remaining Democrats are Hong, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, state Senator Kelda Roys, and Joel Brennan, a former aide to outgoing Governor Tony Evers. A Marquette University Law School poll released July 29 found Hong with 38% support among Democratic primary voters, followed by Barnes with 16% before his withdrawal, and Crowley with 7%, with 34% undecided.
Hong, 37, is a former restaurant owner and single mother who has served in the state Assembly since 2021. Her campaign has emphasized a broad network of volunteers and door-knockers introducing her across the state. She has focused her message on universal childcare and healthcare, along with opposition to new data center construction, while distancing herself from some of her earlier calls to defund police.
Barnes’ departure came after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the state Democratic Party had reviewed allegations that he used his position “to seek sexual encounters with young adult women,” according to three anonymous sources cited by NBC News. Both an in-house counsel review in 2024 and an outside law firm investigation in 2025 could not verify the allegations, according to a person with direct knowledge of the party’s actions. Barnes denied any misconduct, stating in a response to NBC News, “I have not nor am I being accused of any misconduct or wrongdoing.”
The primary has been marked by multiple candidate exits and reversals. Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, once seen as a leading moderate contender, dropped out earlier this month following major inaccuracies in her campaign’s financial reporting. That prompted Crowley to re-enter the race just days after he had ended his campaign, backed by Evers’ endorsement. Missy Hughes, the former Department of Administration secretary, had dropped out in June.
Barnes, 39, was once considered a rising Democratic star. He served in the state Assembly before becoming the first Black lieutenant governor in Wisconsin history during Evers’ first term. In 2022, he won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate but lost to Republican Ron Johnson by fewer than 27,000 votes, a narrow defeat that had led some Democrats to question whether he deserved another shot at statewide office.
In his exit announcement, Barnes acknowledged the shifting dynamics. “It’s become very clear who our nominee is going to be,” he said in a video posted to social media on July 30. His withdrawal opens an opportunity for Crowley to appeal to his supporters in the final two weeks before the primary, though some Democratic operatives view the race as increasingly Hong’s to lose. Hong held a rally with national figures on August 4 in South Milwaukee, continuing her push into the final week of campaigning.
Sources
- NBC News — Mandela Barnes’ exit from the race, polling data from Marquette University Law School poll, and details on state Democratic Party review of allegations
- Marquette University Law School — July 29 poll showing Hong at 38%, Barnes at 16%, Crowley at 7%
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel — Initial reporting on state Democratic Party review of allegations against Barnes
- Wisconsin Examiner — Voter guide with candidate details and positions
- Ballotpedia — Confirmation of four remaining Democratic primary candidates: Hong, Crowley, Roys, Brennan
