Godlewski announces campaign for Lieutenant Governor

The race for state Governor is on. And now, so is the race for their second-in command. 

This morning, Sarah Godlewski became the first candidate to announce her campaign for state Lieutenant Governor for 2026. 

She made the announcement at the Labor Temple in Madison.

“To me, this has always come down to one thing, which is how I can make the biggest difference in Wisconsin? It’s what keeps me going, and it’s why I’m proud to announce that today I am running for lieutenant governor of Wisconsin. I believe that our kids deserve a Wisconsin where families aren’t just getting by, but they’re getting ahead,” Godlewski said.

“The ability to live in neighborhoods that are safe, and schools that are strong, and communities that are resilient. Where hard work isn’t just a slogan, but it’s our reality. Where a fair job can fund an entire family and their future. Where kids can continue to enjoy our swimming and our clean lakes and our clean rivers and playing in our public lands.”

Godlewski’s speech focused heavily on middle class Wisconsinites.

“As I travel across the state, I keep hearing how people are just fed up. They’re fed up that workers who are critical to our community, like EMT workers, and nurses, and teachers can’t even afford a home in the communities that they serve, while they’re watching these billionaires get tax write-offs for their second and third vacation home.”

Godlewski is Wisconsin’s Secretary of State. She was appointed to the position two years ago, and is serving out the remainder of a term until 2027. 

She briefly ran for Congress in 2022, and before that, she was the State Treasurer under Governor Evers in his first term. 

The state lieutenant governor has few required duties, other than to become governor  if the current governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office. At the Governor’s request, they may serve on a variety of boards, commissions, committees. 

Candidates for governor don’t choose their second-in-command. You pick the nominee in August, in the partisan primary. The winner for each party then runs on the same ticket with the party’s nominee for governor in November.

If another Democrat enters the lieutenant governor’s race, that would trigger a primary next August. The top vote-getter would move on to the general election ballot.

Come November, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected together to a four-year term.