Chris Larson suspends Democratic U.S. Senate campaign, endorses Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes
In the first big shakeup of the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, state Sen. Chris Larson of Milwaukee suspended his campaign early Tuesday and endorsed Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.
“Mandela is the candidate who is best positioned to defeat Ron Johnson and who Wisconsinites can most trust to fight hard in the Senate for bold progressive policies that benefit working families," Larson said in a statement.
Johnson, a two-term Republican from Oshkosh, hasn't yet decided if he's going to run for a third term next year.
Larson told reporters in Madison that he'll run for re-election to his state Senate seat next year and dismissed any political chatter that he was considering a possible run for lieutenant governor.
Larson had been unable to gain traction in his fledgling U.S. Senate campaign, filing paperwork May 25. During the second quarter, he reported raising $51,000 and had just $20,000 cash on hand at the end of June.
"I think it's there is a lot of people in this race, right," Larson said. "I think there's more than a baseball team now. So just having too many cooks in the kitchen made it really tough in trying to get across and get across this state."
Larson said he and Barnes have a long-standing friendship. Larson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he first reached out to the Barnes campaign Thursday.
"I just didn't have the heart of trying to go out there and try and make him a villain when we're friends," Larson said.
Larson added that he and Barnes also lined up on policy issues. Larson called Barnes the front-runner in the Democratic race and said he would be hard to beat.
"I think Mandela Barnes runs away with it and everyone else will be fighting for the scraps," Larson said in an interview.
Barnes thanked Larson for the support and said he looked forward to working with him. Barnes also emphasized his progressive credentials.
“As I’ve done throughout my career, I’ll fight to bring common sense solutions to the United States Senate like a Medicare for all plan that helps us realize the dream of health care for every American, a green new deal that benefits the people of Wisconsin and creates good jobs right here at home, and ensuring rich corporations and ultra-millionaires finally pay their fair share in taxes, so we can provide tax relief to Wisconsin families who have borne the brunt of the tax burden from Washington for far too long," Barnes said in a statement.
Despite Larson's exit, Democrats have a crowded field eager to take on Johnson.
Barnes, state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski and Alex Lasry, on leave from his executive job with the Milwaukee Bucks, loom as top-tier candidates, while Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson is running an energetic campaign.
Others in the race include Wausau radiologist Gillian Battino and Milwaukee Ald. Chantia Lewis while Steven Olikara, founder and former chief executive of Millennial Action Project, has established an exploratory committee as he considers a run.
The primary is Aug. 9, 2022.