Former state Rep. Mandela Barnes and Sheboygan businessman Kurt Kober will face each other in August’s Democratic primary for lieutenant governor.
Both candidates made their pitches to Democrats at the state party convention in Oshkosh last weekend.
Barnes served four years in the state Legislature, beginning in 2012, representing Milwaukee.
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In his convention speech, Barnes said Democrats can’t just run against Gov. Scott Walker.
“We have to stand up and run for something,” he said. “We have to talk about who we are as Democrats. We have to talk about our plan to expand opportunity across this entire state.”
Barnes said Democrats need to push for a Medicaid expansion, free two-year technical college tuition, and increasing the minimum wage.
In his speech, Kober said Walker has “destroyed Wisconsin’s legacy.” He called for funneling more state money into education and entrepreneurship.
“Imagine if we supported public education. Imagine if we supported a spirit of entrepreneurship in our state. Imagine if we once again embraced the Wisconsin Idea,” Kober said.
The winner of the Democratic primary will join the Democratic nominee for governor to run as a ticket in November.
On the Republican side, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch is running unopposed.
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