FOND DU LAC, Wis. – Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney today announced his candidacy for Wisconsin Attorney General, pledging to put public safety over politics, restore accountability at the state crime labs, and confront the fentanyl crisis.
“Two years ago, at 39, I underwent open-heart surgery because of a defective heart valve. By the grace of God—and years of running—my heart held on,” Toney said. “That clarity led me here: if I could still make a difference for Wisconsin, I would. After seven years of broken promises and political spin in the Attorney General’s office, it’s time for change.”
Toney said the Department of Justice must return to first principles. “As your Top Cop, I will stand up for every Wisconsinite, enforce the law, and bring conservative, common-sense leadership back to the DOJ. That’s what Wisconsinites expect and deserve.”
Day-One Priorities
- Fix the crime labs: fixing misguided polices, providing transparency and leadership, with clear timelines, and public metrics to cut backlogs and delays.
- Confront the drug crisis: acknowledging the flow of drugs across the border and helping empower our public safety leaders to be aggressive in prosecuting drug crimes.
- Target violent crime in Milwaukee: we know violent crime from Milwaukee spreads across the state and a safer Milwaukee is a safer Wisconsin.
- Back victims, survivors, and law enforcement across all 72 counties.
- Put public safety over politics and defend the law equally, regardless of who is in power.
As District Attorney and past President of the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association, Toney worked with a Republican Legislature and a Democratic Governor to secure significant pay raises for prosecutors and public defenders and additional crime lab positions, and over 50 new prosecutor positions where need was greatest. “That’s bipartisan leadership—and conservative, common-sense problem-solving,” Toney said.
“Wisconsin needs an Attorney General who protects our people, not our politics,” he added. “Let’s put public safety first, restore competence to the labs, take on crime in Milwaukee, and protect all of Wisconsin.”
