Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor and lifelong public health professional Sara Rodriguez has only six years of political experience under her belt. She is also one of the seven Wisconsin democrats seeking the Democrat nomination for Governor this August.
While some might scoff at her lack of time spent in political office, Rodriguez sees her career as a strength in her candidacy and capability as potential Governor of Wisconsin.
Well before her last four years as Lieutenant Governor under Governor Tony Evers, Rodriguez had a 30 year career in public health. She got her start working as a nurse and eventually took on larger administrative roles, notably working as an Epidemic Intelligence Officer with the United States Center for Disease Control.
It was only until the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, where she saw what she deems “the chaos of the Trump administration” and felt a calling to Wisconsin politics.
“I have not been a lifelong politician” says Rodriguez. “I came into politics after seeing a need in my community”.
In 2020, Rodriguez decided to run for Wisconsin state assembly district 13, which represents Brookfield and Wauwatosa. She won the district, flipping a seat that was held by four-term Republican incumbent Rob Hutton. This makes her the only Democrat candidate with a record of picking up a formerly republican held office.
Rodriguez’s combination of experience in and out of Wisconsin government, sets her apart from other politicians who’ve spent their entire careers in the political sphere.
Through her work in health care, Rodriguez says she learned how to manage teams of public service workers and how to handle large public health programs. These are abilities she deems necessary for the Governor’s job.
“We want somebody who’s a good administrator,” says Rodriguez.
State Democratic Assembly member Andrew Hysell finds her past in medical leadership endearing, citing it as a reason for why he endorses her as Wisconsin Governor
“Nurses work really hard, and they work on their feet,” says Hysell. “It’s a job that’s not just pushing paper, and I think somebody with that kind of background and commitment to services says a lot about a person.”
Rodriguez also sees herself as somebody who can build coalitions and work with Wisconsinites regardless of their political affiliation.
“We want somebody who’s going to put their head down and get to work, but who can also create those coalitions, create those relationships to get an agenda across the party line,” says Rodriguez.
Living in and representing Waukesha county, Rodriguez says that she’s been exposed to the perspectives of both people who voted for and didn’t vote for her.
“I’m much more in tune with what folks are talking about across the state, particularly Republicans,” says Rodriguez.
She thinks this kind of listening is important to being a governor for all Wisconsinites. She shares that she is willing to make necessary compromises and take feedback, in order to meet the needs of citizens on all political sides.
“That’s what a good leader does, is making sure that they’re communicating, that they’re taking good ideas from all over the political spectrum and making sure that you’re centered on a Wisconsin that works for everybody,” says Rodriguez.
State Democratic Assemblywoman and Rodriguez supporter Joan Fitzgerald has also noticed these qualities of hers.
“I think she has proven over the last four years that she really does listen to people,” says Fitzgerald. “She cares about what they have to say.”
Fitzgerald feels these skills make her more ready to take on the issues affecting all of Wisconsin.
Rodriguez’s agenda highlights this, bringing potential solutions to issues that concern both Democrats and Republicans from all sides of the state.
According to the most recent Marquette Law School Poll, a majority of Americans expect inflation and the cost living to continue to increase over the next year. In the same poll, 76% also believed that the nation’s economy is poor.
Rodriguez wants to tackle this issue through increasing affordable housing opportunities, lowering Wisconsin’s high property taxes, and by fully investing in public education. She also wants to expand public healthcare programs within the state, making sure that Wisconsinites regardless of income or location, have options for affordable medical care.
In the long term, she says she’s committed to making Wisconsin a place where people can prosper.
“I want to make Wisconsin the place where young people and young families want to stay, live, and thrive” says Rodriguez.
This story was written by Henry Beaumont. He can be reached at [email protected]
