Polling Average
25%20%15%10%5%0%
10.2%
19.4%
14.8%
7.5%
6.0%
Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
$2.2M
AUG 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleOther
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyMainstream Democrat
Age51 years old (Jul 25, 1975)
GenderFemale
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LocationWisconsin
BackgroundPolitician
EducationIllinois Wesleyan University (BA)
Notable personal detailsSara Rodriguez is an American Democratic politician and registered nurse who has served as the 46th lieutenant governor of Wisconsin since 2023. She previously represented Wisconsin's 13th Assembly District in the Wisconsin State Assembly (2021–2023). Rodriguez has worked as a health care professional and public health expert, including roles in clinical services and public health. She is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor of Wisconsin in 2026.
SourcesShowHide
saraforwi.comapnews.comevers.wi.govnursing.jhu.eduen.wikipedia.orgpbswisconsin.orgsara4wisconsin.comsmarter.votewispolitics.comtmj4.comwpr.orgwmtv15news.comwicenterfornursing.orgweau.comwisconsinexaminer.comwha.orgupi.comwisn.comwashingtonpost.comgrassrootsnorthshore.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgmilwaukeecourieronline.comdemlgs.orgjsonline.comurbanmilwaukee.comthemonroetimes.comfacebook.comnbcnews.comfox11online.comnytimes.comshepherdexpress.commprnews.orgpolitico.comcaptimes.comgovinfo.govballotready.orgnga.orgncsl.orguscode.house.govwikidata.orghouse.govdocquery.fec.govronjohnson.senate.govclerk.house.govdisclosures-clerk.house.govcommons.wikimedia.orgcreativecommons.orgupload.wikimedia.orgcha.house.govdocuments.ncsl.orgfec.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 updatedMar 14, 2026
Sara Rodriguez is in the news for clarifying her position on how Wisconsin should cooperate with ICE as she runs in the Democratic race for governor. After initially backing administrative warrants, she now says arrests should require judicial warrants. The shift has drawn criticism from Democratic rivals and has become a point of debate among the candidates over immigration enforcement.
saraforwi.com+50
Polls
Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
Endorsers of Sara Rodriguez for Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
David Crowley
Elected official
David Crowley endorsed Sara Rodriguez for governor after ending his campaign.
Missy Hughes
Elected official
Missy Hughes endorsed Sara Rodriguez for governor after suspending her campaign.
Joshua Pettis
Elected official
Joshua Pettis endorsed Sara Rodriguez for Wisconsin governor.
Statewide union
Elected official
Statewide union endorsed Sara Rodriguez in the 2026 Wisconsin governor's race.
Local leaders, elected officials, and community advocates from all 72 Wisconsin counties
Elected official
Local leaders, elected officials, and community advocates from all 72 Wisconsin counties endorsed Sara Rodriguez for governor.
Community leaders across Wisconsin
Elected official
Community leaders across Wisconsin endorsed Sara Rodriguez for governor.
Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association
Elected official
The Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association endorsed Sara Rodriguez for governor.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising