Sara Rodriguez

Sara Rodriguez
Born	25 7, 1975
Birthplace	Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, health care professional
Education	Illinois Wesleyan University (BA) Johns Hopkins University (BS, MS, MPH)
Children	2
Website	[[saraforwi.com saraforwi.com] Official site]

Sara Rodriguez (born July 25, 1975) is an American politician and former health care professional serving as the 46th lieutenant governor of Wisconsin since January 3, 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, she was elected on a ticket with Governor Tony Evers in the 2022 general election, succeeding Mandela Barnes in the role. Before ascending to the lieutenant governorship, Rodriguez represented Wisconsin's 13th Assembly district in the Wisconsin State Assembly during the 2021–2022 legislative term. Her background in public health and nursing shaped her legislative priorities, which have centered on health care access, affordability, and public health infrastructure. On July 25, 2025, Rodriguez announced her candidacy for governor of Wisconsin in the 2026 election, entering what observers expected to be a competitive Democratic primary following Governor Evers's decision not to seek a third term.

Early Life

Sara Rodriguez was born on July 25, 1975, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She grew up in the Milwaukee area, which would later become central to her political career. Details regarding her parents, siblings, and childhood circumstances remain limited in publicly available sources. Rodriguez has identified her upbringing in Wisconsin as formative to her interest in public service and health care.

Rodriguez's path into public life was preceded by an extensive career in health care and public health, fields she pursued through multiple degrees and professional roles before entering electoral politics relatively later in her career. Her background distinguished her from many of her contemporaries in Wisconsin politics, as she brought clinical and public health experience to the legislative arena.

Education

Rodriguez holds multiple degrees from two universities. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, a private liberal arts institution in Bloomington, Illinois. She subsequently attended Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, one of the nation's leading institutions for public health education, where she earned a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science, and a Master of Public Health (MPH). Her advanced training at Johns Hopkins provided her with expertise in public health policy and health care delivery systems, areas that would become central to her political platform and legislative work.

Career

Health Care Career

Prior to entering politics, Rodriguez worked as a health care professional, drawing on her extensive educational background in public health and nursing. Her professional experience in the health care sector informed her policy positions on health care access, affordability, and the public health infrastructure in Wisconsin. Rodriguez's transition from health care into politics was motivated in part by her observations of systemic issues in the health care system that she believed required legislative solutions.

Wisconsin State Assembly (2021–2023)

Rodriguez entered electoral politics in 2020 when she ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly seat representing the 13th Assembly district, a constituency located in the Milwaukee suburban area. The race attracted attention as part of a broader Democratic effort to compete in traditionally Republican-leaning suburban districts in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. Rodriguez defeated the Republican incumbent, Rob Hutton, in the November 2020 general election, flipping the seat for the Democratic Party.

Rodriguez took office on January 4, 2021, and served one full term in the Assembly through January 3, 2023. During her time in the legislature, she focused on health care policy, drawing on her professional background to advocate for expanded health care access and public health measures. Her tenure in the Assembly, while brief, provided her with legislative experience and a platform for her subsequent statewide campaign.

She was succeeded in the 13th Assembly district by Tom Michalski following her departure to assume the lieutenant governorship.

Lieutenant Governor Campaign (2022)

In November 2021, Rodriguez announced her candidacy for lieutenant governor of Wisconsin, seeking to join Governor Tony Evers's reelection ticket. The race for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor drew multiple candidates, reflecting the office's growing visibility following Mandela Barnes's tenure and subsequent U.S. Senate campaign. Among the other candidates in the Democratic primary was Peng Her, who also sought the nomination.

Rodriguez won the Democratic primary and was paired with Governor Evers on the general election ticket. The Evers-Rodriguez ticket won the November 2022 general election, securing Evers's second term as governor and elevating Rodriguez to the lieutenant governorship. Rodriguez was sworn into office on January 3, 2023.

Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin (2023–present)

As lieutenant governor, Rodriguez succeeded Mandela Barnes, who had vacated the office to run for the United States Senate. In her role, Rodriguez has served alongside Governor Evers and has taken on responsibilities related to policy advocacy and political organization.

In 2023, Rodriguez announced the creation of a new political action committee (PAC) aimed at preventing the Republican Party from achieving a legislative supermajority in the Wisconsin Legislature. The effort reflected concerns among Wisconsin Democrats about the potential for Republican lawmakers to override gubernatorial vetoes if they secured sufficient seats.

Rodriguez represented Wisconsin at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, in August 2024, speaking during a state delegation event.

2026 Gubernatorial Campaign

On July 25, 2025 — her 50th birthday — Rodriguez formally announced her candidacy for governor of Wisconsin in the 2026 election, seeking to succeed the outgoing Governor Evers. Her announcement launched what observers anticipated would be a competitive Democratic primary, with other candidates including Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and State Senator Kelda Roys also seeking the nomination.

Rodriguez's campaign has emphasized several policy areas, including health care, education, tax policy, housing, and economic development issues such as data centers. In December 2025, she appeared on PBS Wisconsin's Here & Now program to discuss her candidacy and reasons for running.

Health Care Proposal

In February 2026, Rodriguez unveiled what her campaign described as a signature health care proposal aimed at lowering health care prices and guaranteeing affordable coverage for Wisconsin residents. The proposal drew on her background as a health care professional and public health expert and represented a central plank of her gubernatorial platform.

Immigration Controversy

During the campaign, Rodriguez faced scrutiny regarding her statements on immigration enforcement. In February 2026, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Rodriguez had made comments suggesting cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which drew criticism from other Democrats in the primary. Rodriguez subsequently stated that she had "misspoke" and walked back the earlier comments. Rodriguez also called for bans on immigration enforcement activities at specific locations, including schools, hospitals, and houses of worship, articulating a position on the intersection of state and federal immigration policy.

Tariff and Economic Positions

In February 2026, Rodriguez issued a statement responding to a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down tariffs associated with the Trump administration, arguing that the tariffs had raised prices and negatively affected workers, farmers, and small businesses in Wisconsin.

Personal Life

Rodriguez resides in Wisconsin and has two children. Additional details about her family life, including the identity of a spouse or partner, are not extensively documented in publicly available sources. Rodriguez has maintained a focus on her professional and political career in public statements, though she has referenced her experiences as a parent in the context of her policy advocacy, particularly on issues related to health care and education.

Recognition

Rodriguez's election as lieutenant governor in 2022 made her a notable figure in Wisconsin Democratic politics, particularly given her background as a health care professional entering statewide office. Her creation of a PAC focused on preventing a Republican legislative supermajority in 2023 drew attention as an unusual initiative for a sitting lieutenant governor and reflected her active role in party organizing beyond the traditional duties of the office.

Her appearances at the 2024 Democratic National Convention and on programs such as PBS Wisconsin's Here & Now and C-SPAN have raised her public profile both within Wisconsin and nationally.

Rodriguez's voting record and policy positions have been tracked by organizations including Vote Smart.

Electoral History

Rodriguez has competed in several elections since entering politics in 2020:

• 2020 Wisconsin State Assembly election (13th district): Rodriguez defeated Republican incumbent Rob Hutton, flipping the seat in what had been considered a traditionally Republican suburban Milwaukee district.
• 2022 Wisconsin lieutenant governor election: Rodriguez won the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor and subsequently won the general election on a ticket with Governor Tony Evers.
• 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial election: Rodriguez is a candidate in the Democratic primary, having announced her campaign on July 25, 2025.