Former Lieutenant Governor and state legislator Mandela Barnes has announced he will run for governor in the 2026 election, which will immediately shake up the Democratic primary.

His campaign is touting polls showing he has more support than any other Democrat in the gubernatorial race and runs well ahead of U.S. Congressman Tom Tiffany, widely seen as the front runner in the Republican primary.

In a video launching his campaign, Barnes promised to stand up to the “chaos” caused by the policies of Republican President Donald Trump and make life more affordable for Wisconsin