A familiar name from past elections will give you another choice in the Democratic primary for next year’s Wisconsin governor’s race. Former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes became the latest Democrat to enter the race for the state’s top job, joining current Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, State Sen. Kelda Roys, State Rep. Francesca Hong, and former state economic development director Missy Hughes.

Barnes left his post in the Tony Evers administration in 2022 to run for the U.S. Senate, a race he ended up losing to incumbent U.S. Senator Ron Johnson. According to the Associated Press, Barnes formed a voter turnout group called Forward Together Wisconsin in the years since his last run for political office.

The battle for the Republican nomination remains a two-horse race with U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann in the running. A primary would take place in August ahead of the general election on November 3rd.