New poll shows top three emerging in Democratic primary for governor in Wisconsin

Plus: In an "informed" vote poll where candidate biographies are shared, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez leads the field with 33%.

The Recombobulation Area is a 19-time 21-TIME! Milwaukee Press Club award-winning opinion column and online publication founded by longtime Milwaukee journalist Dan Shafer. The Recombobulation Area is now part of Civic Media.

Mandela Barnes, Francesca Hong and Sara Rodriguez are the top three contenders in the race for governor, according to a new poll obtained by The Recombobulation Area. Photos by Jennie Brand.

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Recent polling on the Democratic primary in the race for governor in Wisconsin shows some separation materializing in the seven-candidate field, with former lieutenant governor Mandela Barnes, State Rep. Francesca Hong and Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez polling ahead of the four other candidates.

Polling conducted in May shows Barnes at 26%, Hong at 22% and Rodriguez at 15%.

Among the rest of the seven-candidate field — which includes Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, former state Department of Administration secretary Joel Brennan, State Sen. Kelda Roys, and former CEO of the Wisconsin’s Economic Development Corporation Missy Hughes — no one polled above 5%.

Here is the topline breakdown from the May poll:

• Barnes: 26%

• Hong: 22%

• Rodriguez: 15%

• Crowley: 5%

• Roys: 4%

• Brennan: 3%

• Hughes: 2%

• Undecided: 18%

This May poll follows another similar poll conducted in March. The two candidates on the rise over the two-month timespan are Francesca Hong and Sara Rodriguez. Both candidates have increased their overall vote share numbers, with Hong rising from 14% to 22% and Rodriguez from 11% to 15%. At that same time, Mandela Barnes’ numbers declined from 32% to 26%. No other candidate polled above 5%, with only minor shifts for Crowley, Roys, Brennan and Hughes. The number of undecided voters also decreased from 30% in March to 18% in May.

Here is the topline breakdown from the March poll:

• Barnes: 32%

• Hong: 14%

• Rodriguez: 11%

• Crowley: 6%

• Roys: 3%

• Brennan: 2%

• Hughes: 2%

• Undecided: 30%

These polls — commissioned by the Rodriguez campaign and an aligned organization¹; obtained by The Recombobulation Area — surveyed likely Democratic primary voters in separate polls in March and May, and also included an “informed” vote where biographical information about the candidates are shared with voters being polled before they make their selection.

In the “informed vote” category, voters being surveyed are given a brief biography of each candidate². There, Rodriguez leads the field with 33%. Next, Hong is at 21%, Barnes is at 17%, and no other candidate is above 6% — and that portion of the poll includes no undecided voters.

Here are the May “informed” poll results: