Sara Rodriguez Hits the Ground Running in Campaign for Governor

It’s less than a week after the announcement that Governor Tony Evers will not seek a third term and Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez quickly launched her campaign to succeed him. She is the first Democrat to officially enter the race and has hit the ground running. Rodriguez joined Todd Allbaugh, host of The Todd Allbaugh Show, to discuss her focus on healthcare, child care, and cost-of-living issues, while also planning to continue visiting all 72 counties in the state to hear directly from voters.

“People feel squeezed,” Rodriguez says. “They are doing everything right. They’re working hard and they still can’t make ends meet.” 

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Listen to the entire discussion starting half-way into the podcast here:

She points to housing, child care, and affordable health care as top concerns, noting that expanding Medicaid could bring in an additional $2 billion in federal funds to help address the crisis.

Rodriguez is a former nurse and healthcare executive and launched her campaign on her 50th birthday with a video that quickly made waves for both its message and timing. Some questioned whether she had advance notice of the decision by Evers.

“I got the same heads-up the governor gave to his cabinet,” she says. “And I was prepared for either outcome.”

Allbaugh also asks Rodriguez whether she would need support from progressive leaders or others within her own party to win, especially with speculation about the Republican field and any influence a Trump endorsement could bring.

“I don’t think so,” she replies. “We have diverse views in the Democratic Party, but we want the same thing: fairness, opportunity, and a shot at a good life. That’s what I’ll be fighting for.”

Her ability to connect across Wisconsin – from cities to rural towns – is a core part of her pitch. 

“My grandparents had a dairy farm in Richland County,” she shares. “I graduated from Brookfield East, and I’ve raised my family in Waukesha. Whether it’s Door County or the Driftless, I love this state. I’ve lived it.”

Rodriguez addresses questions about political experience and toughness, too. 

“I’ve led outside of politics far longer than I’ve held office. I know what it means to get up and go to work — as a nurse, as an executive. And yes, I can take a political punch,” she says.

As the interview concludes, Rodriguez makes her core mission clear. 

“We cannot afford to let chaos take over in Wisconsin,” she explains. “We’ve seen it on the national level. I’m running to make sure this state stays on a path of progress — and that every person, in every part of Wisconsin, knows their government is working for them.”

You can find more information about Rodriguez and her campaign here.