Wisconsin Gubernatorial Candidate Sara Rodriguez Fires Campaign Manager Over Finance Errors

Democratic lieutenant governor Sara Rodriguez, the front‑runner in Wisconsin’s open governor’s race, announced that she has terminated campaign manager Kara Spencer after an internal review uncovered serious mismanagement and inaccuracies in the campaign’s finance filings. The review found duplicated donation entries and under‑reported expenses, revealing that the campaign’s cash on hand is far lower than previously reported – about $200,000 despite having raised roughly $1 million overall.

The discovery came when a $1 million television advertising buy failed to launch because unpaid invoices halted the ads. Rodriguez said the errors were discovered after she noticed the ads were not airing, prompting a probe that led to the manager’s dismissal. The campaign has notified the Wisconsin Ethics Commission and is working to correct the January report before the next filing deadline.

Opponents and analysts described the mishap as a “devastating blow” to Rodriguez’s campaign, noting the timing so close to the Aug. 11 primary. Fellow Democratic candidates, including former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and State Rep. Francesca Hong, remain in the race, while former contenders David Crowley and Missy Hughes have already endorsed Rodriguez. The controversy is expected to influence fundraising and voter perceptions as the primary approaches.