(WORT)–State Representative Mandela Barnes announced Monday that he will challenge fellow Democrat Lena Taylor for her seat in the State Senate this summer.
Barnes was elected in 2012 to represent Milwaukee’s 11th Assembly District. The 11th is located in the heart of the 4th Senate District, which Lena Taylor has represented since 2005. Whoever wins the primary on August 9th is nearly assured to win the solidly-Democratic district in November.
Barnes spoke with WORT’s Darien Lamen about his fundamental differences with Taylor on the issue of school reform, and on the need to do more to prioritize economic security and public safety.