Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes sought to downplay his surprisingly weak showing in a weekend straw poll of Democratic activists, insisting the nonbinding survey held little bearing on his prospects in the crowded 2026 gubernatorial primary.
Barnes, long a frontrunner in public polling, finished sixth out of seven candidates in the WisPolitics straw poll taken at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin convention Sunday. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez topped the poll with roughly 27% support followed closely by left-wing state Rep. Francesca Hong. Barnes garnered just 41 votes, or roughly 7% support.
In an interview with reporters Tuesday, Barnes dismissed the results when WISN 12 reporter Matt Smith asked him if he was at all concerned.
“If straw polls were an accurate representation of where the people of the state were, Jim Doyle nor Tony Evers would be governor,” he said.
The response drew skepticism from observers who noted that straw polls, while imperfect, often reflect the preferences of the party’s most engaged activists — the very base Barnes must energize to secure the nomination in the Aug. 11 primary. His 2022 U.S. Senate bid, which ended in defeat to Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, already raised questions about his ability to win over moderate voters in a purple state.
Critics within Democratic circles have suggested Barnes’ progressive record and past associations may limit his appeal beyond the party’s left flank. His poor performance at the convention, where Rodriguez and Hong dominated, highlights deepening divisions: establishment figures favoring a more centrist approach versus progressives pushing bolder policies.
Barnes, who served as lieutenant governor under Gov. Tony Evers from 2019 to 2023, has centered his campaign on affordability, expanding health care access and job creation. Yet his sixth-place finish underscores challenges in translating name recognition and early polling leads into grassroots support among party insiders.
“Why do you think that was, though [that you finished sixth]?” Smith asked after Barnes touted his public polling strength in a rambling answer about “taking the fight to Tom Tiffany…and the billionaire class.”
“Like I said, Governor Evers or Jim Doyle would not exist if the straw poll was at all accurate,” Barnes said. “That has been tried and true.”
