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Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022

Does Wisconsin U.S. Senate candidate Mandela Barnes want to defund the police?

Jacob Alabab-Moser, Wisconsin Watch
no

Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, has shown support for increased law enforcement funding during his campaign. Several campaign materials showcase this support, including ads and a page on his official site listing endorsements from law enforcement and a call to give police "the resources they need to keep us safe."

But Barnes has previously expressed support for reducing funding to the police. In a 2020 PBS Wisconsin interview, Barnes said spending on Milwaukee police was "over-bloated," but said it should not be "completely done away with." He called for more money for "neighborhood services and programming."  

Multiple organizations that favor defunding the police have endorsed Barnes's campaign, including Center for Popular Democracy and Democracy for America. But a campaign spokesperson said Barnes does not endorse their stance on the issue.

See a full discussion of this at Wisconsin Watch

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