Polling Average
25%20%15%10%5%0%
9.0%
18.9%
11.0%
7.5%
6.0%
Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
$540.1K
AUG 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleLieutenant Governor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyMainstream Democrat
Age50 years old (Jul 25, 1975)
GenderFemale
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LocationWisconsin
BackgroundPolitician
EducationJohns Hopkins University (MSN; MPH)
Notable personal detailsSara Russell Rodriguez is an American politician and registered nurse who has served as Wisconsin’s 46th lieutenant governor since 2023. She previously served one term in the Wisconsin State Assembly (District 13, parts of Waukesha and Milwaukee counties) and has worked in public health and health care leadership roles, including as a CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officer. She is a Democratic candidate in Wisconsin’s 2026 gubernatorial race.
SourcesShowHide
evers.wi.goven.wikipedia.orgsara4wisconsin.comsaraforwi.comlinkedin.compbswisconsin.orgva.govdemlgs.orgwispolitics.comwsaw.comcontent.govdelivery.comapnews.comoutagamie.govweau.comwisconsinexaminer.comwha.orgupi.comwisn.comwashingtonpost.comgrassrootsnorthshore.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgmilwaukeecourieronline.comcbsnews.comlegal.x.compolitico.comballotready.orgnga.orgwikidata.orgnass.orgdocquery.fec.govfec.govcongress.govcommons.wikimedia.orgcreativecommons.orgupload.wikimedia.orgoversightdemocrats.house.govncsl.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgclerk.house.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports investments in workforce development, small businesses, and public services while opposing cuts to Medicaid/Medicare and policies that deliver tax breaks to the wealthy. Emphasizes lowering costs for families (notably health care) through public investments and using local revenue from development to reduce tax burdens on residents. No clear advocacy for major tax increases on high earners or explicit tax-rate proposals found in cited materials.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access to affordable health coverage, including expanding BadgerCare/Medicaid and proposals to lower health care prices, strengthen the health care workforce, and guarantee affordable coverage for Wisconsin residents. Emphasizes public-health approaches and protections for reproductive health as part of healthcare policy. Prior actions include leading efforts in the Assembly to expand BadgerCare and chairing a statewide task force on the health care workforce.
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Immigration & Border
Supports limiting federal civil immigration enforcement in sensitive locations (courthouses, hospitals, schools, day cares, domestic violence shelters, and places of worship) with narrow exceptions for judicial warrants or immediate public-safety threats, and calls for ICE agents to be clearly identified and to wear body cameras. Opposes encouraging residents to obstruct federal agents and instead urges peaceful protest and documentation to hold agents accountable.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports protecting and restoring broad reproductive rights including access to abortion; opposes the 1849 Wisconsin law criminalizing abortion and has co-authored legislation to repeal it. Pledges to defend the right to choose, describe abortion as healthcare, and join interstate efforts to protect reproductive freedom and access to reproductive care.
Climate & Energy
Supports investing in clean energy and green job training, expanding electric vehicle infrastructure, and protecting Wisconsin’s natural resources and water infrastructure while preparing the workforce for electrification and 21st-century infrastructure needs.
Public Safety & Guns
Sara Rodriguez frames gun violence as a public-health and community-safety issue and supports expanded background checks and implementation of red flag (extreme risk) laws to keep firearms from people who pose a risk. Her campaign materials highlight treating gun violence through a public-health lens while outreach and event coverage record her advocating specific measures like background checks on all sales and red flag laws.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 4, 2026
Sara Rodriguez is drawing more attention in Wisconsin’s Democratic governor race after Missy Hughes suspended her campaign and endorsed Rodriguez. She remains one of the main candidates in a crowded primary ahead of the Aug. 11 vote and a July 28 debate. Recent coverage has also focused on her comments about budget planning during the transition period and her clarified stance on ICE cooperation, both of which have sparked criticism from rivals.
evers.wi.gov+38
Articles
WWEAU4 months ago
Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez visited women-owned businesses in Chippewa Valley
Positive
GBGreen Bay Press-Gazette5 months ago
Dem governor candidate Rodriguez says she 'misspoke' about aiding ICE
Negative
GBGreen Bay Press-Gazette5 months ago
Sara Rodriguez lays out plan for a public option in health care
Positive
WWEAU12 days ago
Democrat Missy Hughes suspends campaign for Wisconsin governor
Positive
Polls
Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising