Josh Kaul said he decided to seek reelection as attorney general to continue his efforts to fight the Trump administration in the courts.
In a phone interview with WisPolitics, Kaul said personal reasons also factored into his decision to pass on a run for governor next year.
“I think this is a pivotal time for the nation,” Kaul said. “Some of our most basic rights are under threat. I think it’s really critical that we have an AG that will protect our freedoms and the rule of law.”
Many viewed Kaul as a likely Dem frontrunner if he got into the race to succeed Tony Evers, thanks in part to winning statewide elections as AG in 2018 and 2022. He also reported $470,972 in the bank at the end of June, more than double the cash on hand of any other Dem who’s looked at the race.
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Kaul said he will focus his reelection campaign on investing in public safety, protecting the things that impact the quality of life and opportunities for Wisconsinites, and reproductive freedom. Kaul said he’s proud his name is on the state Supreme Court ruling that overturned an 1849 law that banned abortion except to save the life of the mother.
Kaul said it would be critical to have a Dem in the guv’s office in 2027 to partner with in the various legal actions he’s taken to counter the Trump administration. Kaul noted either the guv or a house of the Legislature has to give DOJ permission to join the multi-state suits.
Still, Kaul said he was unlikely to endorse in the Dem primary “barring something truly exceptional happening.”
Those already in the Dem field include: Milwaukee County Exec David Crowley; state Rep. Francesca Hong, of Madison; former WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes; Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez; and state Sen. Kelda Roys, of Madison.
Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes has also been weighing a bid. Dems have said in recent months if Kaul declined to run for guv that Barnes would likely get in. He didn’t return calls today seeking comment.
Kaul said whoever wins the Dem nomination would be a stark contrast to GOP U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who’s currently viewed as the frontrunner for Republicans.
Kaul knocked Tiffany, R-Minocqua, for objecting to the certification of results from the 2020 election, supporting tariffs and his views on abortion. Tiffany co-sponsored a bill that would ban abortion after a fetal heartbeat was detected at six weeks with no exceptions for rape or incest.
“He really is outside the mainstream,” Kaul said. “Whoever the Democratic nominee is will be a stark contrast to that.”
State GOP Chair Brian Schimming knocked the Dem guv field as out of touch.
“From Socialist Francesca Hong to former Representative Brett Hulsey, Democrats have a field of far-left candidates that can’t and won’t win over Wisconsin voters,” Schimming said. “We are ready to showcase the worst of Democrats’ far-left policies and bring home a victory for Republicans.”
Kaul beat Fond du La County DA Eric Toney in 2022 by 35,000 votes as Evers won by 90,239. Toney is again considering a run for AG, and Republicans have criticized Kaul on several fronts, including the longer processing times for samples submitted to the state crime labs.
Toney joined Kaul two years ago in calling for additional resources for the labs, only for the GOP-controlled Legislature to largely reject the AG’s request. In this budget, Kaul sought 19 additional positions. Evers proposed six in the budget he sent to the Legislature, but Republicans didn’t approve any new positions.
The Legislative Audit Bureau last year found the average turnaround time to complete an analysis increased from 39 days in 2019-20 to 58 days in 2022-23 even as requests for testing dropped 13%.
“I’m proud of the work that we’re doing there, but I’m going to continue to be an advocate for those resources that are needed for the lab,” Kaul said.
