Democrat Mandela Barnes drops out of Wisconsin governor’s race

POLITICO reported that Barnes' decision came as Democratic officials prepared for media reports concerning allegations about his conduct.

Mandela Barnes, the former lieutenant governor of Wisconsin, dropped out of the state’s Democratic gubernatorial primary on Thursday, leaving state Representative Francesca Hong and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley as the two frontrunners vying for the party’s nomination.

Ms. Hong’s campaign has energized voters across the state in recent weeks, drawing a younger crowd to campaign events and pressing a platform that includes allowing local governments to raise income taxes on high earners and putting a freeze on the construction of new data centers.

A Marquette Law School poll showed Hong significantly ahead of Barnes in a distant second place, with 38% compared to his 16%, having consolidated liberal support, especially among young voters, although about a third of primary voters remained undecided.