Josh Kaul

Josh Kaul
Kaul in 2018
Josh Kaul
Born	Joshua Lautenschlager Kaul
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Known for	Attorney General of Wisconsin
Education	Yale University (BA) Stanford University (JD)
Spouse(s)	Lindsey Kaul
Children	2
Website	[https://joshkaul.org/ Official site]

Joshua Lautenschlager Kaul (born c. 1980–1981) is an American lawyer and Democratic politician serving as the 45th Attorney General of Wisconsin since January 7, 2019. Before entering state politics, Kaul worked as a federal prosecutor in Baltimore, Maryland, where he handled cases involving violent crime, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses. He first won election as attorney general in 2018, defeating incumbent Republican Brad Schimel, and was reelected in 2022 against Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney. Kaul's tenure has been defined by legal battles over Wisconsin's electoral processes, consumer protection enforcement, and criminal justice initiatives including efforts to modernize the state's crime laboratories. His mother, Peg Lautenschlager, served as the 42nd Attorney General of Wisconsin, making them one of the few parent-child pairs to hold the same statewide office. In October 2025, Kaul announced he would seek a third term as attorney general rather than pursue a gubernatorial campaign, and by early 2026 he had joined multistate coalitions challenging federal policy actions by the Trump administration.

Early Life

Joshua Lautenschlager Kaul grew up in Wisconsin in a family with deep roots in law and public service. His mother, Peg Lautenschlager, served as a United States Attorney before being elected as the 42nd Attorney General of Wisconsin, holding that office from 2003 to 2007. Lautenschlager also later served as the first chair of the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Kaul has cited his mother's career in law enforcement and public service as a formative influence on his own decision to pursue a career in law and government.

Kaul's upbringing in Wisconsin exposed him to the political culture of the state from an early age. In interviews during his initial campaign for attorney general, he discussed how watching his mother navigate the responsibilities of the state's top legal office shaped his understanding of the role and its importance in protecting public safety and upholding the rule of law.

Education

Kaul attended Yale University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently enrolled at Stanford Law School, from which he received his Juris Doctor degree. His legal education at two of the nation's most competitive institutions provided the foundation for his subsequent career as a federal prosecutor and, later, as a candidate for statewide office in Wisconsin.

Career

Federal Prosecutor

Following law school, Kaul began his legal career as a federal prosecutor in the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland, based in Baltimore. In that role, he prosecuted cases involving violent crime, drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and other federal crimes. His experience as a federal prosecutor became a central part of his political identity when he later sought the office of Attorney General of Wisconsin, as he frequently cited his prosecutorial background to establish his qualifications for the role.

2018 Attorney General Election

In 2018, Kaul entered the race for Attorney General of Wisconsin as a Democratic candidate, challenging the Republican incumbent Brad Schimel. The race was among the most closely watched statewide contests in Wisconsin that year, taking place against the backdrop of the national midterm elections. Kaul campaigned on issues including protecting coverage for individuals with preexisting health conditions under the Affordable Care Act, addressing the state's backlog of untested sexual assault evidence kits, and prioritizing public safety.

The contest proved to be exceedingly close. On election night, the race was too close to call, with Kaul holding a narrow lead over Schimel. After the final votes were tallied, Kaul won the election, and Schimel conceded on November 19, 2018. The certified canvass results confirmed Kaul's victory in the general election.

Kaul took office as the 45th Attorney General of Wisconsin on January 7, 2019, serving alongside newly inaugurated Governor Tony Evers.

First Term (2019–2023)

Upon taking office, Kaul's tenure was immediately marked by political tension with the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature. During the lame-duck session following the 2018 elections, the outgoing legislature and then-Governor Scott Walker enacted legislation that curtailed certain powers of the incoming attorney general and governor. Kaul and Evers challenged aspects of the lame-duck laws in court.

As attorney general, Kaul focused on a range of law enforcement and public safety issues. He emphasized efforts to address the backlog of untested sexual assault evidence kits that had accumulated in Wisconsin, a problem that had been a central issue in his 2018 campaign. He also worked on consumer protection cases, environmental enforcement, and opioid-related litigation.

Kaul's office was involved in numerous high-profile legal matters during his first term, including litigation related to the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin and the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022 Reelection

In 2022, Kaul ran for reelection against Eric Toney, the District Attorney of Fond du Lac County, who won the Republican primary. The race was competitive, with both candidates campaigning on public safety, crime, and the role of the attorney general in state government. On November 8, 2022, Kaul defeated Toney to win a second term. During the 2022 campaign, Kaul highlighted his record on public safety, consumer protection, and defending democratic institutions, while Toney criticized Kaul's approach to crime and prosecution.

Second Term (2023–present)

Fake Electors Prosecution

One of the most prominent actions of Kaul's second term was the decision in June 2024 to bring criminal charges against individuals associated with the fake electors plot following the 2020 presidential election. The Wisconsin Department of Justice charged former associates of President Donald Trump who had participated in the scheme to submit an alternate slate of electors from Wisconsin in an attempt to overturn the state's certified election results. The charges drew national attention and placed Kaul at the center of ongoing legal and political disputes over the 2020 election.

Crime Lab Staffing

In December 2025, Kaul publicly advocated for increased staffing at Wisconsin's state crime laboratories, stating that the labs lacked adequate personnel to process the volume of evidence submitted by law enforcement agencies across the state. He argued that additional resources were necessary to ensure that forensic evidence could be analyzed in a timely manner, which he described as essential to both prosecuting criminal cases and protecting the rights of defendants.

Challenges to Federal Policy

In early 2026, Kaul became involved in several multistate legal challenges to actions taken by the federal government under the Trump administration. In January 2026, following a letter from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz demanding that the state share certain records, Kaul publicly challenged what he characterized as federal overreach into state governance.

In February 2026, the Wisconsin Department of Justice announced that Kaul had joined a coalition of attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration over what they alleged was the illegal termination of federal funding for energy and infrastructure programs. The coalition argued that the federal government had violated its obligations by withholding appropriated funds.

2026 Reelection Announcement

In the months leading up to the 2026 election cycle, speculation arose that Kaul might seek the governorship, as Governor Tony Evers was term-limited. However, on October 7, 2025, Kaul announced that he would not run for governor and would instead seek a third term as attorney general. In his announcement, Kaul emphasized the importance of continuity in the attorney general's office, particularly in the context of ongoing legal disputes with the federal government and state-level public safety initiatives.

Personal Life

Kaul is married to Lindsey Kaul, and the couple have two children. His mother, Peg Lautenschlager, served as the 42nd Attorney General of Wisconsin (2003–2007), as a United States Attorney, and as the first chair of the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. The Kaul family's connection to the attorney general's office is notable; Josh Kaul is one of the few individuals in the United States to hold the same statewide constitutional office previously occupied by a parent.

Kaul has spoken publicly about his family's connection to Wisconsin and the state's traditions, including, in lighter moments on the campaign trail, discussing his appreciation for Wisconsin-made spreadable cheese.

Recognition

Kaul's election in 2018 drew national attention as part of a broader Democratic wave in the midterm elections, in which several statewide offices in Wisconsin shifted from Republican to Democratic control. His narrow victory over incumbent Brad Schimel was covered extensively by national media outlets, including U.S. News & World Report.

His prosecution of the fake electors case in 2024 was among the most reported legal actions by a state attorney general in the post-2020 election period, generating coverage in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and other publications.

Kaul has appeared on C-SPAN in connection with his role as attorney general. His profile and voting record are tracked by Vote Smart.