Mere days after firing her campaign manager for “serious mismanagement and inaccuracies in campaign finance filings,” Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez announced Friday morning that she is suspending her campaign for Wisconsin governor.
“As we have continued to dig into our financial reports, it has become clear that there are issues that would be an ongoing distraction, not just for this campaign, but for the primary and for Wisconsin,” Rodriguez said in a video shared to social media. “This race is too important to let that happen.”
Strangely, the video contains no explicit mention of dropping out of the race, though a Facebook caption reads “Today I’m suspending my campaign,” so there you go.
Rodriguez’ announcement comes one week after she was endorsed by Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. Crowley dropped out of the race for Wisconsin governor one day prior.
Rodriguez has served as lieutenant governor under Gov. Tony Evers since 2023.
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The primary election for Wisconsin governor (and lieutenant governor) is August 11. The remaining Democratic candidates are Joel Brennan, Francesca Hong, Kelda Roys, Missy Hughes, and Mandela Barnes. The Republican candidates are Tom Tiffany and Andy Manske.
After the primaries, the general election is scheduled for November 3.
Here’s Rodriguez’ full statement:
I want to start by thanking my family and every single person who showed up for this campaign over the past week. Your support has meant more than I can put into words.
As we have continued to dig into our financial reports, it has become clear that there are issues that would be an ongoing distraction, not just for this campaign, but for the primary and for Wisconsin. This race is too important to let that happen. I am deeply hurt and betrayed by what happened. As I said on Monday, part of being a leader is taking swift action, doing the right thing, and being as honest as possible when there’s a problem.
I got into this race because I wanted what was best for Wisconsin, and that hasn’t changed. And because I believe that I cannot, in good conscience, allow these questions to become a cloud over an election that Democrats need to win. Wisconsin deserves better than that.
This was never just about any one race or any one candidate. This is about protecting Wisconsin from a legislature hell-bent on putting corporations over schools and insurance companies over patients. It’s about showing the rest of the country that we can win here, govern here, and fight for the middle class, and that Wisconsin will lead the way.
To everyone who showed up, knocked doors, made calls, and believed in what we were building, please don’t stop. Wisconsin has always been a place of resilience, where everyday citizens show up and accomplish extraordinary things. Better days are ahead because of people like you, let’s keep fighting. I’ll be right there with you.
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