Alex Lasry drops out of Senate race

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Another Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate is dropping out of the race.

On Wednesday, Alex Lasry tweeted that he would withdraw, saying “the stakes are just to high to wait.”

The Milwaukee Bucks executive’s departure leaves a clear path to the nomination for Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes. The two of them had been running neck-and-neck in recent polling; however, the Associated Press reported an internal poll by the Barnes’ campaign showed their candidate held a 14-point edge on Lasry.

“The single best thing we can do for Wisconsin—and for America—is to beat Ron Johnson, and that must start now,” he wrote.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Bill Glauber broke the news late Wednesday morning. Fox6News soon backed his tweet, writing that sources told the Milwaukee station Lasry was out.

Lasry is the second Democrat to quit the Senate race this week. On Monday, Outagamie Co. Executive Tom Nelson suspended his campaign. Following news that Lasry would withdraw, Nelson’s camp released a statement. In it, his spokesperson Irene Lin pointed out that Nelson had also endorsed Barnes upon leaving the race and claimed that his departure helped prompt Lasry’s decision.

“It’s clear Tom Nelson graciously stepping aside to endorse Mandela Barnes meant Alex Lasry had no path to victory,” the campaign wrote. “Now we will all work together to unite behind Mandela Barnes and defeat America’s worst senator in Ron Johnson.”

Based on published polls, State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski would become Barnes’ top challenger. Also, on the ballot, are Kou Lee, Peter Peckarsky, Steven Olikara, and Darrell Williams.

Despite ending their bids for the Democratic nod, Lasry and Nelson will still appear on the ballot in August..

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