Frederica Freyberg:

Shifting to the 2022 election preseason, Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate this week in Milwaukee.

Mandela Barnes:

I’m running for the Senate to provide opportunity, to fight for hard-working people just like my parents and so many other people across this entire great state.

Frederica Freyberg:

34-year-old Mandela Barnes is the first Black person to serve as lieutenant governor in Wisconsin. Voters will select his replacement in the August 2022 Democratic primary. The winner of that race will be on the ticket with Governor Tony Evers in the general election. As to the loss of his running mate to the crowded field of Democrats running for U.S. Senate against the Republican incumbent, Evers released a statement saying, in part, “We’re lucky to have strong Democratic candidates who are running to send him packing and I look forward to supporting Wisconsin Democrats’ choice to take on Ron Johnson in 2022.” Other announced Democratic candidates for the Senate seat include State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, State Senator Chris Larson, Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson, Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry, Wausau physician Gillian Battino, former state Senate candidate Adam Murphy, Milwaukee attorney Peter Peckarsky and Milwaukee Alder Chantia Lewis. Incumbent Senator Ron Johnson has not yet announced he will run for re-election, but in response to the latest entrance into the race, the National Republican Senatorial Committee said this. “While Wisconsin Democrats trip over themselves to prove who’s more liberal, Senator Ron Johnson continues to work hard to bring common sense to Washington and fight for the people of Wisconsin.”