Mandela will meet this moment.

Family farmers are being squeezed by tariffs. Healthcare costs keep rising. Too many families are just one emergency away from a financial disaster.

While the constant stream of chaos continues to divide and distract us, Wisconsinites are paying the costs of the devastation from Washington under Trump. 

Mandela will meet this moment and build a better future by rejecting the dysfunction of the Washington Way and uniting our state behind the Wisconsin Way: where middle class families can thrive and we can build a better future for our children and grandchildren. Mandela will stand up to Donald Trump and the Washington crowd to do what’s best for Wisconsin–to bring down costs, expand access to health care and keep our communities safe. 

Mandela’s no stranger to tough fights. After college, he became a community organizer in his hometown, working to bring good jobs to his neighbors.

Frustrated by a lack of action from lawmakers on the issues affecting working people, Mandela ran for office and became a State Representative at 27. 

In 2018, Mandela helped Tony Evers kick Scott Walker out of office and, at 31, became Wisconsin’s first Black Lt. Governor — and only the second Black elected official statewide.

As Lt. Governor Mandela spent time in all 72 counties to help Wisconsin recover from the pandemic.

He chaired the Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change, where he developed a plan to bring down energy costs by investing in clean energy. When Republicans blocked Governor Evers’ efforts to expand Badgercare, Barnes went on a statewide tour to boost enrollment and education to improve access to healthcare. 

Then Mandela stepped up to run for the U.S. Senate in Wisconsin, campaigning on a platform to return power to working families and expand opportunity across our state. In Wisconsin’s closest Senate race in more than a century, Mandela lost by less than a point after a wave of dark money flooded the contest. 

But Mandela is a fighter. He picked himself up and got right back to work. 

Mandela became President of Power to the Polls Wisconsin, a Black-led organizing project focused on turning out infrequent voters. Over the last three years they’ve knocked over a million doors, helping Milwaukee reach the highest voter turnout of any major city in 2024.

Mandela also continued his work to bring down energy costs, founding Forward Together Wisconsin and helping lower families’ energy bills, improving air quality, and promoting clean energy.