Mandela Barnes drops out of race for Wisconsin governor

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Mandela Barnes on Thursday, July 30, announced he will end his campaign for Wisconsin governor. The announcement comes just one day after Barnes held a news conference to tout a round of new endorsements. 

While a newly released Marquette Law School Poll found Barnes in second place in the Democratic primary, it found the frontrunner, State Rep. Francesca Hong (D-Madison), has only picked up more support. 

That's despite Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley getting back in the race after being endorsed by Governor Tony Evers. 

As for why Barnes is dropping out, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel put out a report Thursday night, citing multiple anonymous sources who accused Barnes of "using his role in the party to seek out sexual encounters with young adult women."

Barnes ended his campaign hours before the story came out.

In a video posted to social media Thursday, Barnes did not mention those reported allegations, instead indicating a belief the race has gotten out of reach. 

"It's become very clear who our nominee is going to be. Now I said from the very beginning, when I launched this campaign that the number one goal was taking on and defeating Tom Tiffany to deliver big wins for Democrats up and down the ticket. Now, it's our time to come together," said Barnes. 

Democratic strategist Scot Ross agreed with the notion the primary was all but wrapped up less than two weeks from election day.

"I think in every poll we've seen so far, Fran Hong has been the frontrunner," he said. "I think she remains the frontrunner very clearly, and it seems an insurmountable lead at this point."

In his statement about Barnes' exit from the race, Tiffany specifically mentioned Hong and no other Democratic candidates. It ties into a theme of Republicans seemingly pushing for Hong to win the primary.

“It’s become clear that, with all the chaos in the Democrat primary, socialist Francesca Hong is on track to become the Democrat nominee for governor," Tiffany said. "This election is not about red versus blue. It is about whether Wisconsin stays Wisconsin.”

The Republican Governors Association bankrolled a campaign to run TV ads contrasting Hong with President Donald Trump.

Democratic sources have told CBS 58 some of the party's most prominent figures, including Evers and legislative leaders, pushed for Crowley to reenter the race because they worried Hong and Barnes would lose to Tiffany.

Hong spoke at an event Thursday night at the Franklin Public Library. After speaking in a crowded room, Hong spoke briefly with a CBS 58 reporter.

When asked about Republicans making her their preferred candidate, Hong pushed back against the idea shared by some in her party -- that other candidates would help win races down the ballot and give Democrats a legislative majority for the first time since 2010.

"It means our movement and our base of people who are going to come out and vote," Hong said. "Because they're actually excited to actually see change and be a part of change.

"I think Tom Tiffany being the weakest candidate the Republicans could possibly put up- let them run scared," Hong added. "We're ready to get the work done, organize, and get wins for Democrats all across the state."

The remaining candidates vowed they will stay in the primary race until the end. State Sen. Kelda Roys (D-Madison) said she'd be able to point to legislation she's passed as a lawmaker and pointed out the GOP effort to boost Hong in the primary.

"The Republican billionaires who are trying to influence the outcome of this primary have made it very, very clear who they want to come through this primary," Roys said. "In fact, they're spending millions of dollars trying to put their thumb on the scale so that their preferred candidate comes through the primary."

Former Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan also committed to staying in the race. While he and Roys are longshots based on recent polling, Brennan said the chaos of recent weeks -- Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropping out over a money fiasco, Crowley restarting his campaign and now, Barnes ending his run -- meant anything could happen before the August 11 election.

"I'm gonna be in this until the end," he said. "I think the fluidity of this race, the chaos that's been demonstrated over the last few weeks, as people are just starting to tune in, shows you the dynamics of these things change very quickly."

Crowley addressed Barnes' announcement in a statement. A campaign spokesman did not respond to a request for an interview.

"To everyone who backed Mandela: there's a place for you in what we're building," the statement read. "It's going to take all of us to beat Tom Tiffany. Let's get to work."