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Mandela Barnes

D
Quick Facts
Personal Details

Caucuses/Former Committees

Former Member, Corrections Committee, Wisconsin State Assembly

Former Member, Education Committee, Wisconsin State Assembly

Former Member, Jobs and the Economy Committee, Wisconsin State Assembly

Former Member, Small Business Development Committee, Wisconsin State Assembly

Education

  • BA, Mass Communication/Media Studies, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, 2003-2008

Professional Experience

  • BA, Mass Communication/Media Studies, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, 2003-2008
  • National Deputy Director of Strategic Engagement, State Innovation Exchange, 2016-present
  • Former Organizer, Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH)
  • Former Employee, Office of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett

Political Experience

  • BA, Mass Communication/Media Studies, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, 2003-2008
  • National Deputy Director of Strategic Engagement, State Innovation Exchange, 2016-present
  • Former Organizer, Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH)
  • Former Employee, Office of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett
  • Lieutenant Governor, State of Wisconsin, 2019-present
  • Candidate, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, 2018
  • Former Assembly Member, Wisconsin State Assembly, 2012-2016

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Corrections Committee, Wisconsin State Assembly

Former Member, Education Committee, Wisconsin State Assembly

Former Member, Jobs and the Economy Committee, Wisconsin State Assembly

Former Member, Small Business Development Committee, Wisconsin State Assembly

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • BA, Mass Communication/Media Studies, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, 2003-2008
  • National Deputy Director of Strategic Engagement, State Innovation Exchange, 2016-present
  • Former Organizer, Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH)
  • Former Employee, Office of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett
  • Lieutenant Governor, State of Wisconsin, 2019-present
  • Candidate, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, 2018
  • Former Assembly Member, Wisconsin State Assembly, 2012-2016
  • Second Vice Chair, Democratic Party of Wisconsin, 2017-present
  • Member, Citizen Action of Wisconsin Board
  • Member, Midwest Environmental Advocates Board
  • Member, NEWaukee Advisory Board
  • Member, One Wisconsin Now Board
  • Member, Social X Milwaukee (MKE), Limited Liability Company Advisory Board
  • Member, Working Families Party National Board

Other Info

— Awards:

  • 2012, Democratic Party of Wisconsin's "Grassroots Organizer of the Year" Award

Policy Positions

Wisconsin State Legislative Election 2012 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
- No

3. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

4. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- Yes

7. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
- No Answer

8. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

State Spending:

Using the key, indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Education (higher)
- Slightly Increase

2. Education (K-12)
- Greatly Increase

3. Environment
- Greatly Increase

4. Health care
- Greatly Increase

5. Law enforcement/corrections
- Slightly Decrease

6. Transportation/infrastructure
- Slightly Increase

7. Welfare
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

State Taxes:

Using the key,indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Alcohol taxes
- Maintain Status

2. Cigarette taxes
- Slightly Increase

3. Corporate taxes
- Slightly Increase

4. Gas/Oil taxes
- Maintain Status

5. Property taxes
- Maintain Status

6. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status

7. Income taxes (low-income families)
- Slightly Decrease

8. Income taxes (mid-income families)
- Maintain Status

9. Income taxes (high-income families)
- Slightly Increase

10. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Wisconsin's budget.

1. Tapping into Wisconsin's Budget Stabilization Fund
- Yes

2. Increasing tuition rates at public universities
- No

3. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions
- No

4. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees
- No

5. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?

1. Individual
- Yes

2. Political Action Committee
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Party
- Yes

5. Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

7. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

8. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

9. Do you support limiting recall elections in Wisconsin?
- No

10. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No Answer

2. Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
- Yes

3. Do you support decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
- Yes

4. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No Answer

5. Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges?
- No Answer

6. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- e) Not if there was consent. This is where parental accountability must be exercised.

Economic

1. Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
- No

2. Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
- Yes

3. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No Answer

4. Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
- No Answer

5. Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes

6. Do you support using public funds to construct a high speed rail line in Wisconsin?
- Yes

7. Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
- No Answer

8. Do you support the elimination of public worker collective bargaining?
- No

9. Other or expanded principles
- c) I support reform of unemployment benefits, that would more effectively connect job seekers with existing opportunities.

Education

1. Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
- No Answer

2. Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
- No

3. Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
- No Answer

4. Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
- No

5. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No Answer

6. Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
- Yes

7. Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Wisconsin high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?
- Yes

2. Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
- No Answer

3. Do you support state funding for improvements to Wisconsin's energy infrastructure?
- Yes

4. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
- Yes

5. Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
- Yes

6. Do you support eliminating some regulations on mining in northern Wisconsin in order to stimulate local economic development?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
- Yes

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
- No

4. Should a license be required for gun possession?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
- Yes

2. Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
- Yes

3. Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
- No Answer

4. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No Answer

5. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
- No Answer

6. Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
- No Answer

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

1. Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
- No

2. Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Wisconsin's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

4. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Wisconsin's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, on an attached page, or via e-mail, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- My priorities are to keep money invested in public education, we cannot continue to cut funding. We have to have a trained workforce for the jobs of tomorrow, and maintain the existing industry that we rely on now. We have to modernize our public transportation, to include rail and regional transit.

Speeches
Events

2020

Jul. 29
Dec. 17
Holiday Happy Hour

Tue 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM CST

The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company Madison, WI

Dec. 3
Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes' 33rd Birthday Celebration

Tue 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM CST

ELMNT Lounge Milwaukee, WI