Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez announced on Friday, July 17, 2026, that she is dropping out of the Democratic primary for governor. The decision came shortly after her campaign uncovered significant inaccuracies and serious mismanagement in its financial reporting.

In a video posted to X, Rodriguez stated, “This race is too important to let that happen,” and added, “I cannot, in good conscience, allow these questions to become a cloud over an election that Democrats need to win.”

Following the discovery of these issues, Rodriguez’s campaign fired campaign manager Kara Spencer on Sunday due to the mismanagement.

Rodriguez had been considered one of the front-runners in the wide-open Democratic primary in Wisconsin, a key battleground state. Her withdrawal has prompted Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley to revive his campaign and jump back into the race.

Mandela Barnes, a progressive candidate who narrowly lost the 2022 Senate race in Wisconsin, remains a notable contender in the primary.

A Wisconsin Democratic operative, speaking anonymously, remarked, “Some believe Crowley would make the strongest general election candidate following the recent Sara Rodriguez mess and then obviously with her dropping out.”

Sources