This Democrat Lost a Big Race. The Party Is Uneasy About His Return. NYT | Top Stories By: Reid J. Epstein 21 October 2025 at 17:03 Mandela Barnes, the former lieutenant governor of Wisconsin, lost a race for Senate in 2022. He is likely to run for governor in 2026, while Democrats are eager for new candidates and new ideas. © Jim Vondruska for The New York TimesMandela Barnes, the former lieutenant governor of Wisconsin appears likely to jump into the race for governor.