Mandela Barnes in Senate bid calls for ending the filibuster and expanding voting rights

MADISON – Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes called Thursday for ending the filibuster, eliminating gerrymandering and expanding voting rights as part of his bid for U.S. Senate.   

"It's time to deliver a clear message that America won't allow those who would undermine our democracy to continue leading it," Barnes said in a statement. 

Barnes faces a large field of opponents in the Democratic primary. Many of them have made similar calls to throw out the filibuster and make voting easier.

The lieutenant governor  used his policy announcement to take a shot at U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson for his call to have Republicans in the state Legislature take over the administration of federal elections in Wisconsin. Now, those duties belong to the state's bipartisan Elections Commission.

Johnson, a two-term Republican from Oshkosh, has not said whether he will seek re-election.

Barnes said he backs the proposed John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would restore parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that have been knocked down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The measure is stalled in the Senate because of the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to overcome.  Barnes said if elected he would vote to end the filibuster, which in recent years has increasingly prevented both parties from advancing their agendas.

Barnes called for adopting an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to reverse the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court that allows corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts in political races. Amending the Constitution is an arduous process that hasn't happened in decades. 

In addition, Barnes said he backed legislation requiring more disclosure of political spending, banning partisan gerrymandering and establishing online voter registration, same-day voter registration and automatic voter registration. Wisconsin has online voter registration and same-day registration but not automatic registration. 

Barnes wants to make Election Day a national holiday so people have time to vote. He said he would seek to expand early voting and mail voting and try to reduce long lines at the polls. He backs making it a federal crime to intimidate or harass election workers. 

Barnes said he wants to prevent foreign corporations from finding ways to spend money on elections, stem disinformation campaigns and upgrade election security systems. 

Barnes said he would seek to ban senators and representatives from owning individual stocks and limit their ability to lobby or serve on corporate boards after leaving office. 

Among those in the Democratic primary for the Senate are state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson. 

The winner of the August primary will advance to the November general election. 

Contact Patrick Marley at patrick.marley@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @patrickdmarley.