Barrett Decides Against Running For Governor

Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is not running for governor.

Barrett announced Tuesday that after considering joining the crowded Democratic field, he decided against a fourth run. He ran and lost in the 2002 Democratic primary and was defeated by Republican Scott Walker in 2010 and in the 2012 recall.

Barrett said in a Facebook post that while he believes a new governor is needed, “I love my job as mayor and that’s where my heart is.” The 64-year-old Barrett said he hopes to continue serving as mayor “for many years to come.” Adding, “I’ve still got the fire in the belly.”

Barrett first floated the idea of a fourth run for governor in April.

Mordecai Lee, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, said had Barrett made it past the large field of Democrats vying for the party’s ticket, facing Walker a third time would have been difficult.

“I think he had probably realized that even if he had won the primary that the race against Scott Walker would have become very negative because they would have tarred him as the guy who had already lost twice to Scott Walker and that would have made it a very negative race,” explained Lee.

The last time they squared-off, Walker took to slamming Barrett’s performance as mayor.

According to Lee, Walker would likely have attacked Barrett’s record again if he won the Democratic ticket.

“And would have implied that Milwaukee is going downhill, that Milwaukee is a failed city and what Tom Barrett would do to the state of Wisconsin is what he’s supposedly done to Milwaukee,” Lee said.

Still, calling the decision a personal one, Barrett said he considered what was best for his family, the city and state when making the call.

Currently, 10 other Democrats are seeking the nomination to be decided in the Aug. 14 primary and have qualified to speak at the state party convention this week in Oshkosh.

The Wisconsin Democratic Party required the candidates to prove they had collected at least enough signatures to qualify for the ballot before giving them a speaking slot at the annual meeting that will attract hundreds of party activists and donors. The deadline to file those signatures with the state is Friday, the same day the convention kicks off.

The state party released the list of candidates who met the requirement Tuesday.

They include current office holders state Superintendent Tony Evers; Madison Mayor Paul Soglin; state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout and state Rep. Dana Wachs of Eau Claire. Also making the cut is former state Rep. Kelda Roys; political activist Mike McCabe; businessmen Andy Gronik and Josh Pade; state firefighters union leader Mahlon Mitchell and former state party leader Matt Flynn.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 3:25 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, 2018 to include original reporting by WPR staff.