Former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes exited the Wisconsin governor race on Thursday after the state Democratic Party conducted a confidential review of 2025 sexual misconduct claims. The party hired outside counsel to examine an anonymous letter that claimed Barnes leveraged his political position for sexual encounters with young women. Darby O'Connor, a spokesperson for Barnes, stated, 'There are no allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing against Mandela.' Whilst party leaders are rallying around moderate figures like Crowley, polling indicates that voters are favouring a different direction. A Marquette University Law School poll conducted between 22 and 27 July placed Hong ahead with 38 percent of likely primary voters.