GOP businessman Bill Berrien formally launched his bid for governor today, accusing “bureaucrats and politicians like Tony Evers” of failing Wisconsin.
Along with his statement, Berrien released a rollout video in which he touted his service as a Navy SEAL. He also called himself an “outsider and a businessman just like Donald Trump,” vowing to “shake up Madison like he’s shaking up DC.”
In the video, Berrien took a series of shots at Dem Gov. Tony Evers, who hasn’t yet announced whether he will seek a third term next year. Berrien said Evers and Dems want to raise taxes, are trying to stop Trump from deporting “criminal illegal aliens,” vetoed a bill to keep girls out of boys sports and called Wisconsin moms “inseminated persons.”
“President Trump is taking back Washington for the American people,” Berrien says in the video. “Now it’s time to take back our state.”
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Berrien backed Nikki Haley in the 2024 presidential primary, which has prompted some blowback among Trump supporters in Wisconsin.
Berrien joins Washington County Exec Josh Schoemann as the only announced GOP candidates so far, though others like U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, have been weighing a bid.
Berrien launched the Never Out of the Fight PAC in April to promote conservative causes and GOP candidates, a move insiders saw as creating a campaign in waiting. The PAC announced yesterday it had raised $1.2 million between its launch in mid-April and June 30.
Berrien has been the owner and CEO of Pindel Global Precision and Liberty Precision, which manufacture precision-machined components.
State Dem Chair Devin Remiker knocked Berrien, saying he’s “rich enough to buy himself some attention and clueless enough to think that’s going to work — just like Elon Musk did this past April only to see his political career end.”
