In a humiliating collapse simply weeks earlier than the August 11 Democratic main, Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez (D) has DROPPED OUT of the race for governor.
Rodriguez introduced her exit Friday morning, July 17, admitting that the marketing campaign finance scandal rocking her bid had turn into an “ongoing distraction” she may not afford to hold into the first or the overall election Democrats desperately wish to win.
A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel review of Rodriguez’s January marketing campaign finance report discovered greater than $100,000 in obvious duplicate contributions, the identical donor listed as giving the very same quantity on the very same day, typically twice in a single entry.
Different opinions put the overstated totals even increased, with one evaluation figuring out greater than $275,000 in duplicate donations in December alone.
The report itself was filed late, at 2:13 a.m. on January 16, hours after the deadline, then amended twice within the early morning hours at 3:23 a.m. and once more at 5:01 a.m.
Rodriguez had been telling donors and the general public she had the sources for a $1 million advert purchase. She reportedly believed her marketing campaign had round $1.5 million readily available. Actuality hit exhausting: after the errors had been uncovered, her marketing campaign had solely about $200,000 in money readily available.
Rodriguez held a Monday press convention the place she referred to as the fiasco a “bump within the street,” claimed she was taking swift accountability by firing her longtime marketing campaign supervisor, Kara Spencer, in a determined bid to shift blame and contacting the Wisconsin Ethics Fee to file amended reviews, and insisted voters shouldn’t fear about her capacity to handle the state’s $111+ billion biennial funds.
That spin didn’t maintain. By Friday, she was gone.
Rodriguez: I wish to begin by thanking my household and each single one who confirmed up for this marketing campaign over the previous week. Your assist has meant greater than I can put into phrases.
As now we have continued to dig into our monetary reviews, it has turn into clear that there are points that will be an ongoing distraction—not only for this marketing campaign, however for the first and for Wisconsin.
This race is just too necessary to let that occur.
I’m deeply damage and betrayed by what occurred.
As I stated on Monday, a part of being a frontrunner is taking swift motion, doing the appropriate factor, and being as trustworthy as doable when there’s an issue.
I obtained into this race as a result of I wished what was finest for Wisconsin, and that hasn’t modified. And since I consider that, I can’t, in good conscience, enable these inquiries to turn into a cloud over an election that Democrats must win.
Wisconsin deserves higher than that.
This was by no means nearly anyone race or anyone candidate. That is about defending Wisconsin from a legislature hellbent on placing firms over faculties and insurance coverage corporations over sufferers. It’s about displaying the remainder of the nation that we are able to win right here, govern right here, and struggle for the center class, and that Wisconsin will cleared the path.
To everybody who confirmed up, knocked doorways, made calls, and believed in what we had been constructing, please don’t cease.
Wisconsin has all the time been a spot of resilience, the place on a regular basis residents present up and attain extraordinary issues.
Higher days are forward due to folks such as you.
Let’s hold preventing. I’ll be proper there with you.
WATCH:
At present I’m suspending my marketing campaign. Thanks to everybody who believed and confirmed up for this marketing campaign. Let’s hold preventing – collectively – to guard the Wisconsin we love. pic.twitter.com/177LrrLD56
— Sara Rodriguez (@saraforwi) July 17, 2026
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