Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez today announced she’s running for governor, making her the first Dem to officially announce a bid after Gov. Tony Evers decided not to seek a third term.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee County Exec David Crowley said he will take steps in the coming weeks to enter the race.
Rodriguez, a former state rep from Brookfield released a short video announcing her campaign to succeed Evers, touting her background as an ER nurse, small business owner and health care executive. She also lists several reasons why she’s running.
“First, we’ve got a maniac in the White House. His tariffs are killing our farmers and his policies are hurting our kids. Next, our Legislature refuses to expand Medicaid, even though 41 other states have done it,” Rodriguez says.
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She says Dems have a “real shot at flipping the state Legislature” and under a Dem guv, “we can finally expand Medicaid and boost our healthcare workforce, we can strengthen our farms, union, and small businesses, fund our public schools, and give teachers the raise they’ve earned.”
Crowley, a former Dem state rep, issued a statement this morning praising Evers’ service and announcing his intentions.
Crowley said Evers “has laid a strong foundation. I believe it’s our responsibility to build on that progress—and I look forward to engaging in that conversation with the people of Wisconsin.”
Crowley won two terms in the Assembly before he was elected county exec in 2020.
“I care deeply about the direction Wisconsin takes from here,” Crowley said. “It is more important than ever that Wisconsin continues to have strong leadership. In the weeks ahead, I will be taking steps toward entering the race for Governor. The stakes are simply too high to sit on the sidelines.”
Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, has said she is strongly considering running for guv, while former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes says he’s weighing a run and doesn’t have a timeline to make a decision. Others Dems floated as potential candidates include Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, AG Josh Kaul and former Dem Party Chair Ben Wikler.
Two Republicans have already announced their bids for the East Wing – New Berlin businessman Bill Berrien and Washington County Exec Josh Schoemann.
