Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez has just dropped out of the Wisconsin governor race.
This surprising turn of events comes just weeks ahead of the Democratic primary happening on August 11th.
It also comes less than a week after “serious mismanagement and inaccuracies” were discovered in Rodriguez’s campaign finance reports.
Rodriguez announced the end of her bid for governor in a video message posted on social media, in which she addressed the scandal that ultimately led to her campaign’s demise.
Watch it here:
Today I'm suspending my campaign. Thank you to everyone who believed and showed up for this campaign. Let’s keep fighting – together – to protect the Wisconsin we love. pic.twitter.com/177LrrLD56
— Sara Rodriguez (@saraforwi) July 17, 2026
For those who prefer to read, here’s a transcript of her video message:
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.
ADVERTISEMENTThis was never just about any one race or any one candidate. This is about protecting Wisconsin from a legislature hellbent 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.
The campaign finance “inaccuracies” first came to light on Sunday.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel provided a review of Rodriguez’s January campaign finance report:
Democratic candidate for governor Sara Rodriguez may have reported raising at least $100,000 more than she actually collected, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel review of the lieutenant governor’s first campaign finance report that is now under scrutiny after Rodriguez fired her campaign manager for financial errors.
ADVERTISEMENTThe Journal Sentinel reviewed Rodriguez’s campaign filings after the campaign announced late Sunday the termination of campaign manager Kara Spencer over “serious mismanagement and inaccuracies” in campaign finance reports.
The review showed more than $100,000 worth of what appears to be duplicate contributions, or single donations recorded twice. The campaign did not answer questions from the Journal Sentinel about the finding.
These revelations led to a lot of backlash from Democrats, who called for Rodriguez to drop out of the race immediately.
Up until today, Rodriguez was one of the leading contenders for the August Democratic primary.
Now, with her out of the running, the competition to decide on a Democrat candidate for November’s general election will be tough.
NBC News reported further:
On Sunday, Rodriguez’s campaign announced it had discovered “serious mismanagement and inaccuracies” in its campaign finance reports, leading to the firing of campaign manager Kara Spencer. Among the errors were duplicated contributions, which inflated how much money the campaign had raised and had on hand.
The development prompted calls from several of her Democratic opponents to end her campaign, with many slamming it as “disqualifying.”
Just as significantly, the discovery of the errors led Rodriguez to learn that her campaign had only $200,000 in cash on hand, she told reporters Monday.
Rodriguez had been among the leading candidates in the Democratic primary to succeed Gov. Tony Evers, who is retiring after serving two terms.
She’d placed first earlier this summer in an unscientific straw poll at the Wisconsin Democratic Party’s convention. And two high-profile candidates who’d dropped out of the primary in recent weeks — former Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. CEO Missy Hughes and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley — had endorsed her campaign.
Other candidates who remain in the race include state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist who has unexpectedly seen a surge of momentum in recent weeks, and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, a progressive who narrowly lost the 2022 Senate race in the state. Joel Brennan, the former Department of Administration secretary, and state Sen. Kelda Roys are also competing for the Democratic nomination.
ADVERTISEMENTThe winner of the Aug. 11 primary is all but certain to face Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is backed by President Donald Trump, in the general election.
What a humiliating exit…
But, I can’t say it’s shocking, for a Democrat.
What are your thoughts?
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