Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has officially announced that he is running in the recall election against Republican Gov. Scott Walker, following the official triggering of the recall by state election administrators earlier on Friday.

Barrett has also been running for re-election as mayor, a race he is widely expected to win in the election this Tuesday, April 3. The recall primary will be on May 8, and the general election June 5.

Already in the Democratic primary for governor are former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, and Secretary of State Doug La Follette. A recent survey by Public Policy Polling (D) showed Barrett starting out with a lead 36%-29% over Falk, with La Follette at 15% and Vinehout 12%.

If Barrett were to win the contested Democratic primary, this would set up a rematch from 2010, and a test of whether the Tea Party wave of 2010 has receded. He was the Democratic nominee against Walker in 2010, losing by a 52%-47% margin in that Republican year.

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