Politics & Government
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes Joins 2022 U.S. Senate Race
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes joins the Democratic field vying for the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Ron Johnson.
MILWAUKEE, WI — Wisconsin's lieutenant governor announced he will run for U.S. Senate.
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes announced Tuesday he will join the Democratic field in the 2022 race for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Ron Johnson (R).
Barnes, 34, announced his bid ahead of his kickoff event, which will take place at the Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond Du Lac Ave. in Milwaukee, at noon Tuesday.
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"Hard-working families deserve every opportunity, but politicians like Senator Ron Johnson aren’t delivering," Barnes said in a tweet accompanied by a campaign video. "Instead of changing our dreams, we need to change the game. Join us."
Barnes is Wisconsin's first Black lieutenant governor, ABC reported. He was elected in November 2018 and assumed office in January 2019.
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Johnson was elected in 2010 after he defeated incumbent Sen. Russ Feingold (D). He won re-election in 2016 after a rematch with Feingold.
"I truly haven’t decided whether to run for re-election," Johnson wrote in an opinion story for USA Today.
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