Former Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes joins crowded 2026 gubernatorial race, becoming the 20th candidate to enter what promises to be a busy Democratic primary.

If Barnes wants to be the next governor, he will have to overcome significant historical odds. No statewide candidate has made a comeback to win after losing a statewide November general election race in 50 years. Barnes has won three out of four statewide elections; however, no lieutenant governor has been elected governor since Patrick Lucey first accomplished it in 1970.

A day after his defeat in the 2022 U.S. Senate race, Barnes received an encouraging call from former President Barack Obama.

"I had a conversation with Barack Obama. He called me and we talked about the race that he lost for Congress before his

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