Sarah Godlewski becomes first 2026 candidate for lieutenant governor

The current secretary of state and former state treasurer won’t join what could become a crowded field of candidates seeking to succeed retiring Gov. Tony Evers.

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Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski became the next moving piece in a domino effect that could shake up all of the state’s constitutional offices after announcing her campaign for lieutenant governor on Thursday.

Incumbent Lt. Gov. Sarah Rodriguez is leaving the post to run for governor, hoping to succeed retiring Gov. Tony Evers. All three are Democrats, as is Attorney General Josh Kaul, whose potential entry into the governor’s race would open up yet another vacancy in the state Capitol. 

Godlewski considered running for governor but decided she could make a greater impact as a running mate for the eventual gubernatorial nominee tasked with keeping the state’s top job in party hands. She pointed to her run for state treasurer in 2018, two years after President Donald Trump first won in Wisconsin.

“For starters,” Godlewski told UpNorthNews, “we’ve got to talk about electability. In 2018, I actually flipped more Trump counties than the governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general.”

In Wisconsin, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run separately, not as a ticket. Only after voters in the primary make their choices do the two nominees run together in the general election—whether their ticket mate was their preferred choice or not.

“Of course, it’s not just about winning,” Godlewski said. “That’s critical, but it’s also about getting things done. As state treasurer, we prevented foreclosures and expanded home ownership. As secretary of state, we’ve expanded services in local communities.” 

Over the past 14 years of Republican control, the Wisconsin Legislature has reduced the roles and powers of the state treasurer and secretary of state compared to what was originally outlined in the state constitution. Godlewski said Democrats should still fight to hold the secretary of state’s office and take back the state treasurer’s post, calling them an important part of checks and balances in state government.

Political strategist Joe Zepecki, also appearing on Mornings with Pat Kreitlow, echoed the sentiment, calling the two offices “incredible” platforms that allow Democrats to show what they’re doing and who they’re fighting for. He also noted Republicans’ stated intentions to put significant power over state elections back into the secretary of state’s office if they were to win control of the governor’s office, the Assembly, and the state Senate. 

Current Republican state Treasurer John Leiber has not formally announcedhis intentions but did tell this year’s Republican state convention that he wants to be part of GOP victories in 2026.

Candidates are not formally on the ballot in Wisconsin until they have turned in nominating petitions with a qualifying number of signatures. Those signatures can start being collected next April 15 and must be turned in by June 1. The primary election is Aug. 11,  2026 and the general election is Nov. 3, 2026.