Mandela Barnes: Yet Another Democrat Ignoring Voters' Demand for Voter ID

On Feb 11, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the SAVE America Act, the election integrity bill that would require every voter in every state to present a photo ID when casting a federal ballot. 36 states already require some form of identification to vote, so voter ID should be a non-issue, right? After all, it takes 38 states to ratify a constitutional amendment, so the fact nearly that many are already aligned on the issue is a rare example of unity during polarized times.

Naturally, Democrats have found reasons to oppose the practice and the SAVE America Act.

Democrats have presented their opposition in the hyperbolic fashion the public has come to expect from their party. It’s “Jim Crow 2.0,” says Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin claims the SAVE America Act violates the 19^th Amendment granting women the right to vote. It’s a poll tax, Democrats contend. These arguments make sense if you willfully ignore people have been obtaining and proving their identification with little fanfare for various purposes already built into American society, such as opening bank accounts, boarding a plane, and accessing other functions of government.

Mandela Barnes Opposes His Own Would-Be Constituents

Democrat opposition is especially curious in a state like Wisconsin where former Lieutenant Governor and failed Senate candidate Mandela Barnes is running for Governor. In a 2016 op-ed, Barnes called for the repeal of the state’s voter ID law he argued “discriminates against minority and low-income voters.” Barnes stance was out of touch with the majority of voters then, and even the majority of his own party. A Gallup poll published several months after Barnes’ op-ed showed 80% of Americans supported photo ID at the polls, including 83% of independents and 63% of Democrats. Polls show even the voters he claims voter ID harms, minorities such as blacks and Latinos, favor voter ID at levels exceeding 75%.

Time has not been kinder to Barnes’ insistence that Wisconsin’s voter ID law be repealed or that voter ID is not necessary, a position he held during his 2022 Senate run. A Pew poll from August 2025 showed 83% across all populations and more than 7-in-10 Democrats favor photo ID to vote. Wisconsin itself rebuked Barnes in its April 2025 election when voters passed a ballot measure enshrining voter ID in the state’s constitution with nearly 63% of ballots cast in support.

Notably, Barnes hasn’t appeared to comment on voter ID or the SAVE America Act. Either he doesn’t want to admit he’s against a policy that the overwhelming majority of Americans, Wisconsinites, or Democrats support, or he’s changed his mind on the issue but fears liberal backlash during a primary.

Lax Election Security Is Sometimes Okay?

Mandela Barnes has shown concern about election security in the past. His 2022 campaign website includes a section related to “[enhancing] election security and [cracking] down on foreign interference.” Probably related to his opinion that the 2016 presidential election was rigged.

But on that same page of his campaign site, Barnes also supported expanding voting by mail.  And he excoriated the Wisconsin Supreme Court for ruling against the use of ballot drop boxes, calling it part of a “plan to strip every American of their fundamental rights.” Maybe Barnes needs to be reminded the “lack of ‘in-person, at-the-polls’ accountability,” as described by another state's Department of Law Enforcement, make these methods of voting the most vulnerable to fraud and coercion. Or maybe his concern for election security is merely a sham. When Republicans step in to introduce popular, common-sense election integrity solutions—like voter ID—Barnes’ concern for secure elections vanishes.

Party Over Voters

Barnes may be trying to run a more moderate campaign this time around, but his opposition to voter ID betrays the moderate image he’s trying to build. Voter ID, with its wide support across all parties and races, would be a perfect issue to use to break from his fellow Democrats. However, Barnes Is running in a Democratic primary that hasn’t cleared the field for him. Any such attempt diverge from a liberal shibboleth such as opposition to voter ID is going to harm his chances of even becoming his party’s gubernatorial nominee. For a man the New York Times described as “touchy” about his loss in the 2022 Senate race, Barnes is unlikely to change his mind on voter ID and disregarding the will of voters.

MORE ELECTION INTEGRITY MADNESS:

WISCONSIN: Uncounted Ballots and Cookie Extravaganza Provide Strong Case for Stricter Election Oversight

ANALYSIS: Democrat-Run States Flout Federal Law by Hiding Voter Rolls

DIG DEEPER: WINNING: Court Rules Wisconsin Must Verify Citizenship of New Voters

Help us expose the Left—chip in today

Restoration News, a project of Restoration of America, is your trusted investigative news source for the America First movement. As a rapidly growing conservative news site, we focus on delivering accurate and insightful exposés on political news, immigration news, leftist lies, and other pressing issues affecting everyday Americans. Our uncompromising commitment to a hard-hitting, fact-based, America First, and faithful perspective ensures that you receive news that aligns with your values. 

Every dollar gets us closer to winning the war on woke