Wisconsin governor race: Sara Rodriguez suspends campaign

MILWAUKEE - Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez suspended her campaign for Wisconsin governor, days after firing her campaign manager due to inflated finance report numbers, on Friday.

Finance report issues

The backstory:

On Monday, Rodriguez said a campaign finance report double-counted some donations and failed to include certain expenses – making it look like her campaign had more money than it actually did. 

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Rodriguez previously said she had roughly $200,000 in the bank, hundreds of thousands less than expected. It meant a $1 million ad buy her campaign had previously announced did not happen.

Dig deeper:

FOX6 News reviewed her campaign filing from January, which was filed hours after the January 15 deadline and was amended twice hours later.

The review found dozens of donors appeared to have repeat donations, meaning the person gave the same amount of money twice on the same day. But in nearly all cases, the entries had minor differences: either the formatting of the name might have had an extra space or a middle initial, while the second entry didn’t, or, a ZIP code would have five digits and the second entry would have the longer nine-digit ZIP code.

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The campaign finance problems continued with the July report, which was due Wednesday. The campaign submitted an original and amended report, showing two different numbers for cash in the bank: $34,990.69 or $643,206.64.

Rodriguez's campaign also told FOX6 it made a mistake when it said it made a $1,500 donation to a Wisconsin Republican group; the money actually went to the Democratic Party of Milwaukee County.

Rodriguez suspends campaign

What they're saying:

In the initial statement the campaign sent to FOX6, Rodriguez didn't official say she was suspending her campaign. But in an updated post on social media, she made it official.

"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," Rodriguez wrote on X.

In the initial written statement, Rodriguez wrote:

"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 Wisconsin 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. 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.

"This was never just about any one race or any one candidate. This is about protecting Wisconsin from a legislature hell-bent 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 - don't stop. Wisconsin has always been a place of resilience, where every day 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."

What does it mean for the primary?

Big picture view:

Seven Democrats will still be on the ballot, though three later suspended their campaigns: Sara Rodriguez, David Crowley and Missy Hughes. Sources told FOX6 Crowley resumed his campaign Friday, rejoining Mandela Barnes, Francesca Hong, Joel Brennan and Kelda Roys.

Crowley and Hughes had endorsed Rodriguez after suspending their own campaigns, while the Brennan, Barnes and Roys campaigns voiced criticism of the lieutenant governor after news of the finance report issues became public.

Recent polls showed Barnes and Hong leading the field with Rodriguez behind them and all other candidates in single digits. FOX6 News spoke to Brennan on Friday after Rodriguez suspended her campaign.

Calvi: When you look at the polls for the primary, you're way at the bottom. Why stay in this race when the polling in the primary doesn't look good for you? 
Brennan: "People will remember the name Russ Feingold, who four weeks before the election was polling at about 10%, whereas the two other competitors were polling in the 40s. And you won't remember necessarily the name of those two people who were polling at 40% … there is precedent in Wisconsin for people coming from the back of the pack and being able to do it when people start paying attention again."
Calvi: "Have you talked to [Crowley] and [Evers] this week asking for their endorsements?
Brennan: "I have not talked to either one directly. I have left a voicemail message, I believe, for both. I have left, text messages for both."

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany has already received the Republican Party of Wisconsin's endorsement in the race for governor. 

When is the election?

What's next:

Wisconsin's partisan primary election is set for Tuesday, Aug. 11. The general election will be Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Editor's note: This story was updated to include additional information about Wisconsin's gubernatorial race.

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