Meet Sara Rodriguez: The woman who could make history in Wisconsin

Sara Rodriguez currently serves as Wisconsin’s 46th Lieutenant Governor, a trailblazing former nurse and public health executive, now formally launching her bid for Governor in the 2026 election.

Public Health Pro Comes to Politics

Rodriguez earned her credentials at Johns Hopkins University with degrees in nursing and public health. She began her career as an emergency room nurse in Baltimore before joining the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, where she investigated outbreaks. She later held executive roles in healthcare systems across the Midwest, directing population health strategies.

From Peace Corps to State Assembly

After volunteering in Samoa with the Peace Corps, Rodriguez returned to Wisconsin and ran for office. In 2020, she flipped a Republican-held suburban Milwaukee seat and won a term in the Wisconsin State Assembly, making history in a politically divided district.

Lieutenant Governor Since 2023

In 2022, Rodriguez won the Democratic nomination and was elected alongside Governor Tony Evers. She was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor on January 3, 2023, becoming the first Latina elected to the executive branch in Wisconsin.

Ahead of 2026: First to Enter Democratic Primary

On July 25, 2025, Rodriguez officially entered the open Wisconsin gubernatorial race, the first Democrat to do so after Governor Evers announced he would not seek re-election. Her campaign launch labeled former President Trump a “maniac,” while pledging to expand Medicaid and strengthen public schools.

Historic First: Potential First Female Governor

If elected, Rodriguez would become the first woman governor of Wisconsin. She joins a growing field of Democrats that could transform the state’s political landscape under newly drawn legislative maps.

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Policy Priorities: Health, Education & Reproductive Rights

Rodriguez is championing several progressive priorities:

• Medicaid expansion, which Wisconsin has yet to adopt, despite neighboring states having done so.
• Increased funding for public schools and teacher pay raises.
• Protecting reproductive rights, including access to abortion services.

Her platform appeals to voters seeking tangible change on healthcare access and economic justice.

Personal Story and Public Image

Born in Milwaukee in July 1975, Rodriguez grew up in a working-class household; her parents were union-affiliated dairy farmers. She and her husband reside in Waukesha with their two children and a dog named Chico. In her campaign video, she highlighted her family ties and emphasized her roots as a working mom.

What Makes Her Stand Out

Rodriguez’s unique background blends medical expertise and executive leadership, an uncommon combination in state politics. Her public health leadership during COVID and her legislative credibility from flipping a tough district set her apart in the increasingly crowded Democratic primary, which includes Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Attorney General Josh Kaul.

Sara Rodriguez is more than a sit‑in lieutenant governor. With her professional roots in healthcare, legislative success in a swing district, and powerful vision for Wisconsin’s future, she presents a fresh, historic candidacy. As the first Democrat officially in the 2026 governor’s race, her campaign offers both continuity and change, a compelling beacon in a hotly contested political battleground.