Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez Announces Run for Governor/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez has announced her candidacy for governor in 2026, becoming the first Democrat to enter the race following Gov. Tony Evers’ decision not to seek reelection. A former nurse and public health official, Rodriguez plans to focus on healthcare, education, and reproductive rights. Her candidacy marks the beginning of what’s expected to be a competitive primary.
Sara Rodriguez Campaign + Quick Looks
- Sara Rodriguez is first Democrat to enter 2026 governor race
- Enters race day after Gov. Tony Evers announces retirement
- Rodriguez vows to counter Trump administration’s policies
- Former nurse, CDC officer, and state legislator
- Focused on healthcare access, reproductive freedom, and education
- Democratic primary expected to draw several contenders
- GOP candidates already in include Josh Schoemann and Bill Berrien
- Rodriguez previously flipped a Republican Assembly district in 2020
- Launched her campaign on her 50th birthday
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez Announces Run for Governor
Deep Look
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez officially entered the 2026 race for governor on Friday, becoming the first Democrat to announce a campaign following Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ decision to forgo a third term. The announcement, made on Rodriguez’s 50th birthday, sets the stage for what’s expected to be a closely watched and potentially crowded contest in a key battleground state.
Rodriguez brings to the race a diverse professional background and a growing political profile. A registered nurse and former epidemic intelligence service officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rodriguez previously worked in public health before entering politics. She won a traditionally Republican Assembly district in Milwaukee’s suburbs in 2020 and became lieutenant governor in 2023.
Her campaign launch video took aim at President Donald Trump, whose administration she says has negatively impacted Wisconsin families.
“We’ve got a maniac in the White House,” Rodriguez said. “His tariffs are killing our farmers and his policies are hurting our kids.”
Rodriguez has aligned herself with Gov. Evers’ progressive priorities and pledged to continue his efforts to expand health care access, invest in public education, and protect reproductive rights. She emphasized that a Democratic governor, coupled with the possibility of flipping the state Legislature, could finally advance legislation long blocked by Republicans — including Medicaid expansion.
Rodriguez also highlighted her healthcare expertise and frontline medical experience, particularly from her work in a Baltimore emergency room. She previously spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, where she focused on abortion rights and public health policy.
Her entry into the race comes just one day after Gov. Evers announced he would not run again in 2026, creating an open race for the first time since 2010. The open seat is expected to draw strong contenders from both parties.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley released a statement Friday suggesting he’s preparing his own campaign, stating he would “take steps toward entering the race.” Other potential Democratic candidates include Attorney General Josh Kaul, Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, state Sen. Kelda Roys, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes. Barnes previously ran for U.S. Senate in 2022 but lost to Republican incumbent Ron Johnson.
Rodriguez’s decision to run also reflects a broader Democratic strategy to maintain control of the governor’s office in a state that has seen a sharp political divide over the past decade. Wisconsin has often been a tipping-point state in both national and state-level elections, with razor-thin margins deciding races.
On the Republican side, Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann and Milwaukee-area businessman Bill Berrien are the first two candidates to declare. Other Republicans weighing runs include U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and State Senate President Mary Felzkowski.
The dynamics of the 2026 race will be shaped not only by the candidates’ policy agendas but also by how closely they align with national political trends. With Trump back in the White House and Democrats motivated to mobilize their base, Wisconsin’s gubernatorial race could become one of the most fiercely contested in the country.
Rodriguez’s campaign rollout signals an early effort to galvanize Democratic voters around issues like healthcare, education, and abortion rights — areas where public opinion in Wisconsin has leaned in Democrats’ favor in recent elections.
“I’m in this race because the stakes for our families and our freedoms are too high,” Rodriguez said. “We need a governor who’s going to fight — not fold — when our values are under attack.”
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