Mandela Barnes

ON THE ISSUES

• Committed to investing in a clean energy economy to lower costs and create good-paying, union jobs
• Will fight for Wisconsin farmers and climate-smart agriculture
• Advocate for preserving Wisconsin’s public lands

WHY THIS RACE MATTERS

• Former Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
• Toss up Governor race - defending this open Gubernatorial seat will help continue Wisconsin’s leadership as a national climate leader at the state level

CANDIDATE BACKGROUND 

Mandela Barnes is running for Governor of Wisconsin. He has served as Wisconsin’s first Black Lt. Governor and in the State Assembly.

As Lt. Governor, he led Wisconsin's bipartisan Climate Change Task Force where he brought together farmers, business executives, tribal leaders, and environmental activists to find common ground on climate and energy costs. That work produced Wisconsin's first Clean Power Plan and created the Office of Environmental Justice.

After his time as Lt. Governor, Mandela Barnes founded Forward Together WI to make sure Wisconsin communities could take advantage of the renewable energy investments in the Inflation Reduction Act. He built coalitions of public schools, community centers, and tribal nations to pursue federal funding for solar investments. Thanks to their work, over $1 million in public funding went directly into the hands of low and middle-income families across Wisconsin to make energy-efficient improvements to their homes.

As Governor, Mandela Barnes is going to build on this work to lower energy costs by freezing utility rates and bringing more renewable energy online by taking action to cut red tape and expand battery storage, all while creating good-paying union jobs along the way. More homegrown energy means lower bills and less dependence on greedy utility monopolies that have rigged the system to boost their profits while families cut back on groceries and prescriptions just to keep the lights on.