Mandela Barnes gains major environmental endorsement in Wisconsin Democratic primary

As environmental policy is front-and-center in the Democratic primary for governor, with data center construction and utility costs causing concerns, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes has secured a major environmental endorsement. 

The Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund, one of the nation’s leading environmental advocacy groups, weighed in on May 26 by endorsing Barnes in the primary. 

“Mandela Barnes will lower utility costs for Wisconsinites while creating good-paying union jobs through the expansion of cleaner and cheaper energy. No one in Wisconsin has done or will do more to tackle the climate crisis while lowering costs for working families than Mandela Barnes,” said Jed Ober, managing director of NRDC Action Fund. “Mandela Barnes is the proven fighter Wisconsin needs as Governor, and we’re proud to stand with him.”

While lieutenant governor, Barnes chaired Gov. Tony Evers’ task force on climate change. After his time in office, Barnes founded Forward Together WI which worked on implementing the Inflation Reduction Act in Wisconsin so homeowners could take advantage of federal tax credits to lower energy costs. 

“Wisconsin families are getting squeezed by a corrupt system rigged for billionaires and greedy utility monopolies that keep jacking up rates while working people, small businesses, family farmers, and our environment pays the price,” Barnes said in a statement. “I’m honored to have NRDC Action Fund’s support as we fight to end that broken system. As Governor, I will hold greedy utility monopolies accountable by freezing utility rates, lowering costs for working families, and creating good-paying union jobs in every corner of Wisconsin.”

The endorsement from NRDC Action Fund follows endorsements of Barnes’ campaign by U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, End Citizens United, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1473, and dozens of local and state leaders.  

A poll released last week from the Public Sentiment Institute, a nonprofit and civic engagement organization, showed that Barnes was ahead of the field and leading the next opponent (current Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez) by nearly double. 

The poll results also show a clear advantage for any general Democratic candidate over a Republican. But a hypothetical race between Francesca Hong and Tom Tiffany would be closer, with Hong winning. 

Marquette University Law School also releases polls. The school’s most recent poll about the race in March showed Hong in the lead with Barnes close behind and the vast majority of voters being undecided. But the school hasn’t polled primary voters since then.