Mandela Barnes outlines priorities in race for Wisconsin governor
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) — There are currently six viable candidates running to be the next governor of Wisconsin: five Democrats and one Republican who has been endorsed by the party.
We reached out to each of them for a one-on-one conversation about why they should be the state's next governor. The first candidate to respond was Mandela Barnes. As we schedule interviews with the other candidates, we will post them.
Barnes began our interview by discussing his priorities, indicating affordability, a topic that continues to be an issue across the state and the country.
"My biggest priority is urgency because that’s what people are looking for,” Barnes said. “Folks have been dealing with a tough time for far too long, and this urgency runs the gamut — any number of issues: healthcare, education, the environment, you name it.”
Barnes has a long history in Wisconsin politics. He served in the State Assembly, was lieutenant governor and ran for the U.S. Senate. Barnes said those statewide campaigns gave him the opportunity to travel across Wisconsin and connect with voters in rural communities. He hopes those relationships will give him an edge at the polls.
"I've taken on the tough fights, and taking on those tough fights, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. And I can tell you that those fights are worth taking on because there is so much more that is left to be desired for far too many people across Wisconsin, and people know me because I have shown up," Barnes said.
During our half-hour conversation, we discussed education, energy prices, data centers and healthcare.
Barnes said he wants to expand BadgerCare. The state-funded, federally backed Medicaid health insurance program currently serves qualifying Wisconsinites. Despite funding challenges the state is expected to face because of reduced federal funding, Barnes said he wants to make BadgerCare an option for all Wisconsinites.
"Having people buy into it, we make the system stronger, but this is specifically for folks who are in between jobs ... who are starting a small business ... people who are working in the gig economy that don’t have access to the benefits that they deserve," Barnes said.
One topic creating debate in the governor's race is data centers and the regulations surrounding their construction. Barnes said if communities overwhelmingly do not want data centers in their area, they should not be built.
"If data centers cannot play by the rules and do right by communities, then they can’t be built," Barnes said.
Barnes did not commit to a moratorium on data centers but said he believes they should be required to adhere to a community benefit agreement and should not receive subsidies for construction.
As for energy prices, Barnes has pledged to freeze utility rates and only appoint people to the Public Service Commission who make that same pledge. Critics have argued the proposal could hinder needed capital improvement projects, something Barnes said is not the case.
"I agree that we need to ensure that the capital improvements can take place, and they are. But you can’t say there is no money or justify these expenses if you are using ratepayer dollars to fund political donations," Barnes said.