Democratic candidates for Governor offer first hints of priorities at initial debate forum

Seven Democratic candidates for governor shared the stage for the first time on Jan. 21. In attendance were Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez; Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley; State Rep. Francesca Hong; State Sen. Kelda Roys; former WEDC Director Missy Hughes; former DOA Secretary Joel Brennan; and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.

The forum, held in Milwaukee, was sponsored by Main Street Action and was also live-streamed by Civic Media.  The event was moderated by Dan Shafer, founder of The Recombobulation Area and political editor at Civic Media.

Topics included healthcare, childcare, family leave, tax policy, utility rates, and education.  Civic Media’s video of the forum can be viewed on YouTube. 

Sara Rodriguez currently serves as Wisconsin’s Lt. Governor.  Her background is in healthcare, where she worked first as a nurse and then as an executive in a large healthcare system. She left that to start her own small business. As Lt. Governor, Rodriguez has traveled the state extensively and visited hundreds of small businesses.  Her priorities include: 

“affordable health care, the cost of housing, the cost of child care – if you can even find it – and making sure we fully fund our public schools.”

David Crowley, Milwaukee County Executive, has built affordable housing and supported small businesses. 

“And as the next governor, we can expand all of these programs across every community in Wisconsin.”

Crowley served two terms in the state assembly.

Francesca Hong is in her third term in the Wisconsin Assembly. She is a single mom and a restaurant owner. 

“We're running a bold campaign to ensure universal childcare, paid leave for all, fully funding public education and ensuring that everyone has fair, cheaper health care. It's what we need to meet this moment right now.”

Kelda Roys graduated as a lawyer with a focus on civil rights and international law.  Roys has served in the state legislature since 2008, first in the Assembly and then in the Senate. Her priorities include raising wages, lowering costs, and fully funding public education.

“We are about to have a window of opportunity to make real change, to capture that Wisconsin that we all know and love, one that moves forward and lives up to our motto.”

Missy Hughes spent the last six years as the Secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Before that, she worked for 17 years for a farmer-owned cooperative in southwest Wisconsin.

“I'm so excited to have announced this week my economic plan that will unlock Wisconsin, creating small businesses, training Wisconsinites, and building homes.”

Joel Brennan is a former Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary in the Evers’ administration. He is a lifelong resident of Wisconsin.  

“I want to roll up my sleeves and get something done. That's what I've done and demonstrated over the course of 25 years.”

Mandela Barnes, born and raised in Milwaukee, served in the Wisconsin Assembly and then as Wisconsin Lt. Governor. Barnes priorities include healthcare, small business and public education. 

“I spent my entire career as an organizer, where I got my start as a state legislator and as your lieutenant governor, fighting for those same schools that gave me an opportunity to stand here on this stage today.”