In a last ditch effort, Joel Brennan attacks every person of color in the race for Wisconsin governor: ‘They’ll all lose to Republicans in November’

Democratic candidate for governor Joel Brennan is making a last ditch effort to somehow secure the party’s nomination by attacking every person of color left in the race.

Brennan released a new TV ad on July 21, going after Mandela Barnes, Francesca Hong and David Crowley.

“She’s a proud socialist,” Brennan said of Hong.

“He lost statewide before,” Brennan said of Barnes.

“A couple weeks ago, he dropped out,” Brennan said of Crowley.

Brennan excluded the only white woman in the race in Kelda Roys and didn’t mention the Republican candidate Tom Tiffany once. 

“Madison insiders want you to think these are the only choices you have for governor, but they’ll all lose to Republicans in November,” Brennan said.

It’s clearly a move of desperation but it also continues a pattern of Brennan not being socially aware of where the party is at and further ignites claims that he believes he is the best choice as a white centrist.

A couple months ago, Brennan denied reporting that he is touting himself as a white centrist during fundraising events. Then, during an interview in April, he said Wisconsin wasn’t ready for a non-white governor before walking those comments back.

Hong’s chief of staff in the State Assembly, Nada Elmikashfi, a Black Muslim woman, also found issues with the ad. 

“Brennan only highlighted the candidates of color in this race while pushing the electability argument. Which is interesting b/c he’s polling consistently AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST,” Elmikashfi wrote. “So what’s his measurement for his own electability? Because it certainly is not polling. It’s not grassroots momentum. Nor is it fundraising or endorsers. What does Joel Brennan have left that distinguishes him from the candidates he chose to highlight in the ad? 

“He says his centrism. But Joel Brennan is not the only centrist in this race, so it must be…..his type of centrism. 

“‘Don’t worry I’m not them’ wink wink to a certain demographic kind of centrism. 

“Campaign ads are all about the subtlety as much as they are about what’s clearly stated. No matter who of the three you’re supporting, you can agree running a Republican-light attack (and) yourself is definitely NOT being a good democrat or quite frankly an electable one.

Brennan is former Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s god son and this episode brings back memories of Barrett’s strategy to use race to defeat former Acting Mayor Marvin Pratt in 2004. There is a long history of subtle racism and “dog-whistle” rhetoric in political ads designed to activate racial fears and prejudices.  

Also the former head of the Department of Administration under Gov. Tony Evers, Brennan could certainly put all the talk to bed by endorsing the candidate his former boss is supporting in Crowley. 

Similar to Crowley, Brennan has consistently polled very low statewide but has held his own in fundraising, leading some to believe he is supported by big money and the white establishment. It’s hard to not notice the Brennan yard signs that line homes on Lake Drive in Milwaukee. 

In a statement, Brennan’s campaign said, “Madison insiders want Wisconsin Democrats to believe the three candidates highlighted are the only candidates – they are not. Each candidate has to make their own case, and the ad points to the facts about others running, why Joel is the strongest candidate to beat Tom Tiffany and what he’ll do for Wisconsin as governor.”

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin Black Caucus Executive Board also released a statement:

“As Governor, it will be your responsibility to understand the impact your actions have on Wisconsinites and learn from them. It’s extremely disappointing that Joel Brennan released an ad saying none of the candidates of color running for governor could win in November following previous comments in May on this issue. We hope the feedback he’s receiving will readjust campaign messaging to undo this harm and demonstrate that any Wisconsinite, regardless of background, can be elected Governor of our state.”

Election Day is Aug. 11.