Tom Barrett announces candidacy for governor

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The June 5 recall election facing Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker could be like a rematch. Just hours after the Government Accountability Board ordered the election, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced he would seek the Democratic Party’s nomination to oppose Walker again.

Barrett sent an e-mail to his supporters saying he would begin campaigning immediately. He faces a Democratic primary against the union-supported candidate Kathleen Falk on May 8, which is five and a half weeks away.

A Walker campaign spokesperson branded Barrett a two-time loser who has failed to turn Milwaukee’s economy around.

Barrett promised Sunday not to throw mud at his Democratic opponents in the governor’s recall race, but only if they make the same promise. Barrett signed a “clean campaign pledge” that includes fines for charity if his primary opponents violate it.

Falk’s people say they won’t sign the pledge.

In a letter, Barrett told fellow Democratic candidates Falk, Kathleen Vinehout and Doug La Follette they must be united in “the only mission that matters, recalling Scott Walker and moving our state forward.”

The winner of the Democratic primary will go against Walker on June 5.

Among other things, Barrett’s agreement tries to temper the state’s biggest labor unions, which have endorsed Falk and tried to keep Barrett out of the governor’s race. Barrett’s pledge calls for fines to charity for candidates who attack each other by name in their advertising. If outside groups attack a Democrat by name, the candidates the groups are supporting would also pay fines.

U.S. Senate Republican Scott Brown of Massachusetts had a similar pledge in effect during his campaign against Democrat Elizabeth Warren. Brown made two payments to charity.

Falk spokesman Scot Ross says his boss won’t sign a similar agreement. But he agrees the focus during the primary should be to defeat the Republican Walker. La Follette said he’s not sure how such a deal could be policed.