The fall general election arrives in earnest Tuesday, Nov. 3. With early in person voting now in progress, these are the ballot candidates for state executive and legislative branch races.
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The fall general election arrives in earnest Tuesday, Nov. 3. With early in person voting now in progress, these are the ballot candidates for state executive and legislative branch races.
Starting out with the governor’s and lieutenant governor’s race, there are three options.
The first is Tom Tiffany and David Varnam (Republican). The second is David Crowley and Sarah Godlewski. The third is Jamie Jo Carothers (Independent write-in).
Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor are elected on one ticket in the general election, with the ticket receiving the most statewide votes elected to a four-year term. Under Wisconsin Statute 7.50(2)(im), a vote for an independent gubernatorial candidate without a running mate is recorded as a vote for both offices.
The Wisconsin governor is the state’s chief executive officer and head of the executive branch, including a host of duties and powers outlines in the Wisconsin State Constitution. Lieutenant governor is the state’s second-highest elected official and serves as immediate successor to the governor, among other responsibilities. Following are the candidates.
Tom Tiffany
Starting out the list of Republican candidates is Tom Tiffany, a 68-year-old who grew up on a dairy farm near Elmwood. Married to wife Chris with three daughters, Tiffany holds a Bachelor of Science in agricultural economics from UW-River Falls. He shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Tom Tiffany
Age: 68
Seat/office sought: Governor
Background/education: I grew up on a dairy farm in western Wisconsin, worked my way through UW–River Falls to earn a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics, and built a small business, Wilderness Cruises, in the Northwoods with my wife, Chris, while raising our three daughters.
What is your basic philosophy for governing/representation? My philosophy is that government exists to work for the people, not against them. That means focusing on its core responsibilities: keeping our communities safe, educating our kids, maintaining our roads and infrastructure, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and being a good steward of taxpayer dollars. Government should live within its means, be transparent and accountable, and get out of the way so families, workers, farmers and small businesses can succeed.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? My first action as governor will be calling a special session to end the 400-year property tax hike. Regardless of your politics, I think we can all agree that no governor should be able to raise property taxes for the next 400 years with the stroke of a pen. As we work to deliver lasting property tax relief, I will implement a statewide property tax freeze to ensure seniors on fixed incomes, working families, and young people have the certainty that they will not be taxed out of their homes.
Campaign Social Media: @TomTiffanyWI, www.TomTiffany.com
David Varnam
Running along with Tiffany on the Republican ticket but for lieutenant governor is David Varnam, a 47-year-old with experience as the former mayor of Lancaster and as a former congressional aide, among other qualifications.
Varnam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies from California Baptist University and is a pro-life, Second Amendment, conservative Republican. He shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: David Varnam
Age: 47
Seat/office sought: Lieutenant Governor
Background/education: Former Mayor of Lancaster, former Congressional Aide, former policy analyst at Focus on the Family; B.A. in Christian Studies from California Baptist University
What is your basic philosophy for governing/representation? I am a pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, Conservative Republican. Together we can be bold on lowering taxes, cutting red tape, deport criminal illegal aliens, protect the sanctity of life, and keep men out of women’s sports and their bathrooms. We need to improve our education system and the opportunities it provides our children. I will work to give parents a choice and a voice in education, and work to raise test scores, standards and expectations for our students.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? We need to be bold on lowering taxes. I am tired of hearing about Florida and Texas when it comes to tax policy. We need to be a leader in the Midwest when it comes to lower taxes.
Campaign Social Media: davidvarnam.com; Facebook: DavidCVarnam; X: DVarnam
David Crowley
Raised by a father who was an electrician and mother who worked in the service industry, Crowley is married to wife Ericka and has three daughters. Now in his second term as Milwaukee County Executive, Crowley has received several endorsements, including from Gov. Tony Evers, former President Barack Obama, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, and Congresswoman Gwen Moore, along with several unions and other organizations. Crowley shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: David Crowley
Age: 40
Seat/office sought: Governor of Wisconsin
Background/Education: I grew up in Milwaukee’s 53206 neighborhood in a house my dad purchased from the state for one dollar. He worked as an electrician and my mom was a jane-of-all-trades - doing whatever she could do to help keep us afloat. I graduated from Bay View High School and I was the first in my family to graduate college from UW-Milwaukee.
What is your basic philosophy of government and representation? I say often if you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re on the menu. As Milwaukee County Executive, I’ve put that philosophy into practice by bringing people to the table to deliver essential services, manage taxpayer dollars responsibly, expand opportunities for residents to succeed, and ensure that every community has a voice in the decisions that affect its future.
I believe every major decision begins with listening, and that’s something I make a priority in my work as County Executive. I regularly engage with residents, community leaders, and local partners to understand their needs and bring their perspectives into the decision-making process. Across Wisconsin, public servants must remain accessible and accountable to the people they represent. That means being transparent, working across differences, and bringing people together to find practical solutions to shared challenges.
Our job is to build stronger, safer, and more equitable communities. My approach is grounded in collaboration, accountability, and a commitment to turning ideas into action. As governor, I will work to bring people together around common goals and deliver meaningful results for residents throughout Wisconsin.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? My top priority is building a Wisconsin that works for all of us and making it affordable for working people. As a husband and father of three daughters, I understand how hard families work just to stay afloat. As governor, I will lower the cost of housing, expand affordable health coverage by opening BadgerCare to be a public option, and create good-paying jobs in every part of the state. I will also restore the state’s commitment to public schools and local communities, easing pressure on property taxpayers. Our Wisconsin government should work for the people who work for a living - not only the wealthy and well-connected.
Campaign Social Media:
Instagram: @crowleyforwi
Facebook: @CrowleyForWI
TikTok: @crowleyforwi
X: @DavidCCrowley
Sarah Godlewski
Running for Lieutenant Governor as a Democrat is Sarah Godlewski. A fifth-generation Wisconsinite, Godlewski is 44 years old. Raised in Eau Claire by two public school teachers and with a Bachelor of Arts in peace and conflict resolution from George Mason University, Godlewski is currently the Wisconsin Secretary of State. She shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Sarah Godlewski
Age: 44
Seat/office sought: Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin. I’ve spent my career delivering results in underestimated offices. As State Treasurer, I flipped nine Trump counties, outperformed the top of the ticket statewide, and delivered a record-breaking $65 million to Wisconsin public schools. I’ve worked in the Pentagon, led statewide offices, and co-founded a mission-driven investment firm. I have the track record to prove I fight for working families. Wisconsin needs a Lieutenant Governor who will show up, fight hard, and deliver. That’s exactly what I’ll do.
Background/education: Raised in Eau Claire by two public school teachers, I’m a product of a union home and Wisconsin public schools. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in peace and conflict resolution from George Mason University. I also have certificates from the National Institute of Public Finance, Pepperdine School of Management. I attended the University of Virginia Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership and the University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Program for Public Administration. I’m a national security fellow with the Air War College and attended the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University. I’m a proud product of Wisconsin public schools.
Basic philosophy: Government should work for people, all people, not just those at the top. I believe in showing up everywhere, listening to everyone, and fighting to keep Wisconsin’s fundamental promise alive: work hard, play by the rules, and you can build a good life.
Most important issue: Affordability. Wisconsin families are working harder than ever while Republicans hand tax breaks to billionaires and reject Medicaid expansion, affordable childcare, and housing investments. As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll fight to make corporations pay their fair share, expand childcare access, bring down housing costs, and protect healthcare, because no family should have to choose between groceries and a doctor’s visit.
Campaign Social Media: Facebook - SarahforWI , Website - sarahforwisconsin.com, X - @SarahforWI, Instagram - @sarah.godlewski, Threads @sarah.godlewski, TikTok - @sarahforwisconsin
Jamie Jo Carothers
Running as an independent write-in for governor but without a declared running mate is Jamie Jo Carothers. Governor and lieutenant governor run together in the general election after being selected in the primary. A 50-year-old with an associate’s degree from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, some university credit and work experience in consumer lending and teaching, and other work, Carothers shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Jamie Jo Carothers
Age: 50
Seat/office sought: Wisconsin Governor
Background/education: Work experience in consumer lending, K-12 teaching, retail & census team lead work. Education: Associate’s degree from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College; some university college studies in upper-level environmental sciences.
What is your basic philosophy of government and representation? To work only for the people the position is intended for, Wisconsinites, not for groups with goals of some other purpose than that.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? What: Quality of life topics regarding Wisconsinites. Why: I’ve become aware of a lowered quality of life standard in the state collectively. How: Creation of an expert team designed to assess social problems in the state and plans put into action following those assessments.
Campaign Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/jamiejocarothers/
https://www.youtube.com/@jamiecarothers4271
Also on the Nov. 3 general election ballot for contested races is a contest for Secretary of State. The Wisconsin Secretary of State is responsible for maintaining official state records, authenticating documents, maintaining legislative records, serving on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, and performing other statutory duties. On the ballot to be Secretary of State are JoCasta Zamarripa (Democrat), Pete Karas (Green Party) and Jay Schroeder (Republican).
JoCasta Zamarippa
Running for Secretary of State as a Democrat is JoCasta Zamarripa, a 50-year-old lifelong Milwaukeean and proud daughter of the city’s south side. Zamarripa holds a degree from UW-Milwaukee, with other accomplishments including 10 years of service in the State Assembly. Now in her second term as Alderperson for Milwaukee’s Eighth District, she shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: JoCasta Zamarripa
Age: 50
Seat/office sought: Wisconsin Secretary of State
Background/education: Lifelong Milwaukeean and bachelor’s degree from UW-Milwaukee. Ten years in the Wisconsin State Assembly (2011–2021). Currently in my second term as Milwaukee Alderwoman, 8th District.
What is your basic philosophy of government and representation? I believe government should work for everyday people, not the wealthy and well-connected. Good representation means showing up year-round, listening to the communities you serve, and delivering real results, from Kenosha to Superior. I have built my career on coalition building and staying rooted in the people I represent, and I believe public officials should carry out their duties with honesty and integrity, keeping partisan politics out of everyday governing decisions.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? Protecting our democracy and the freedom to vote. Wisconsin deserves officials who uphold our elections rather than undermine them. My opponent, a self-proclaimed MAGA activist, wants to abolish our nonpartisan Elections Commission and take over our elections, and has said he would have refused to certify the 2020 results. I will defend the integrity of our election system, carry out this office’s real duties with integrity, and be a strong voice for the working families who deserve a government that serves them.
Campaign Social Media: facebook.com/votejocasta, Instagram @votejocastawi, votejocasta.com
Pete Karas
Running as the Green Party candidate is Pete Karas, a 67-year-old former three-term alderman for Racine and graduate of Wm. Horlick High School with the class of 1977. Following high school Karas attended UW-La Crosse for a Bachelor of Science in Economics, graduating in 1983. He shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Pete Karas
Age: 67
Seat/office sought: Wisconsin Secretary of State
Background/education: Former three-term alderman, Racine - Wm. Horlick High School, Racine, 1977 - UW-La Crosse BS Economics 1983
What is your basic philosophy for governing/representation? I answer to voters, not a party. Both parties have run this state and used the power to protect their own turf. That’s why it is so important to elect a third-party candidate to this office. The two major parties have proven they listen to their bosses and not to the people.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? Ballot access and election fairness. Wisconsin’s system is built to keep the same two parties in charge. People feel their vote doesn’t matter. I’d use this office to push ranked-choice voting and fairer ballot-access rules, and to argue publicly that more real choices on the ballot make for a stronger democratic republic. Neither party wants that conversation because the current system protects them.
Campaign Social Media:
X: @Petekaras
Facebook: @pete.karas.9
Instagram: @petekaras_wi_sos
TikTok: @votepetekaras
Jay Schroeder
Seeking the Secretary of State post as a Republican is Jay Schroeder, a 64-year-old with an associate’s degree in applied science real estate from Fox Valley Technical College as well as a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Declaring he will change the department on day one, Schroeder shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Jay Schroeder
Age: 64
Office/position sought: Wisconsin Secretary of State
Background/education: Associate Degree in Applied Science Real Estate Fox Valley Technical College; bachelor’s degree in business administration - UW Stout
What is your basic philosophy for governing/representation? The final reason of why I decided to run was when I uncovered the office budget increased 157% and employees from 2 to 6.
This is an insult to the taxpayers of Wisconsin.
I will change the department day one.
I am the only candidate exposing the blatant spending going on in the department.
Together we will fix it.
As I have been involved in Election Honest Integrity for over 10 years and have personally discussed the issue with President Trump in Mara Lago.
My one opponent believes voting machines are more accurate than paper ballots.
I couldn’t disagree more.
Leadership demands action.
As Secretary of State, I will be willing to take the issue all the way to the U.S. Supreme court if necessary.
We will eliminate voting machines, replacing with paper ballots only.
Proof of Citizenship and voter ID
Eliminate deceased people off the voting rolls by merging Social Security system with the voting rolls.
When someone passes away their benefits stop and then their name would drop off the voting rolls.
Currently there are more deceased people on the voting rolls than alive voters.
Now Wisconsin has a voting system like Maryland, New York, Illinois and Washington DC. That will change with me as an elected Secretary of State.
33 states have a Secretary of State in charge of elections. Wisconsin will become the 34th state.
Leadership also means leading as I have challenged the Democrat and Green Party to a series of debates around Wisconsin. To date they have refused.
Today I have been endorsed by Pro-Life Wisconsin and am expecting a national retired veterans organization to do the same.
Campaign Social Media?
info@jayforwisconsin
web: jayforwisconsin.com
Also on the ballot Nov. 3 is the State Treasurer’s race, the choice between John Leiber (Republican) and Yee Leng Xiong (Democrat). Responsibilities of the Wisconsin State Treasurer include serving on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, helping oversee the common school fund, trust fund oversight, and responsibilities assigned to the office in the Wisconsin Constitution.
Yee Leng Xiong
Seeking the post of Wisconsin State Treasurer as a Democrat is Yee Leng Xiong, a 32-year-old born and raised in Wausau as the son of refugees who fled persecution. Xiong graduated from D.C. Everest High School and has spent his career in public service, including in local elected office and as Executive Director of the Hmong American Center. Xiong shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Yee Leng Xiong
Age: 32
Seat/office sought: Wisconsin State Treasurer
Background/education: Born and raised in Wausau, the son of refugees who fled persecution, Yee graduated from D.C. Everest Senior High School and has spent his career in public service. He is a Marathon County Supervisor (since 2016), Treasurer of the D.C. Everest School Board (first Hmong American elected to the board), and a former Village of Weston Trustee. As Executive Director of the Hmong American Center, he rescued the organization from closure and grew its budget to $1.9 million. Gov. Evers appointed him to the Financial Literacy Council.
What is your basic philosophy for governing/representation? I learned early that freedom comes with responsibility: give back and leave things better than you found them. In government, that means treating every taxpayer dollar with respect. Public officials are stewards, not owners, of the public’s money. And the Treasurer does not answer to the Governor or the Legislature, but directly to the people. My job is to be an independent watchdog, to push for transparency and to speak up when the numbers don’t add up.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? Protecting and growing Wisconsin’s Common School Fund, more than $1.3 billion that belongs to our kids, not politicians or special interests. As a school board treasurer, I’ve seen firsthand how these investment decisions reach the classroom. I’ll push for smart, transparent investment strategies that protect the principal while delivering strong returns, and I’ll make sure the Trust Fund Loan program keeps working for small towns and rural communities fixing roads and building fire stations without raising taxes.
Campaign Social Media:
Website: www.yeeforwi.vote
Facebook: @yeeforwi
Instagram: @yeeforwi
X: @yeeforwi
John Leiber
Also running for Wisconsin State Treasurer is incumbent John Leiber, a 48-year-old who holds Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in history from UW-Parkside. Running on the Republican ticket, Leiber shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: John Leiber
Age: 48
Seat/office sought: Wisconsin State Treasurer (incumbent)
Background/education: JD University of Wisconsin Law School, BA in History from UW-Parkside.
What is your basic philosophy for governing/representation? I believe in small government. I don’t make promises I can’t keep and I don’t look for ways to expand the power of my office. Instead, I seek to continue to do my job well and provide value for every Wisconsinite. Most of this work does not make the news, but it is important and it needs to be done right. The State Treasurer oversees a $1.6 billion fund, and experience matters when investing the people’s money. Serving the public is an honor and I take very seriously the trust that has been placed in me.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? The top priority for my second term is to continue growing money from our state investments and turning over record breaking amounts to our schools. The money that the Common School Fund earns is distributed to schools across the state, and this money helps prevent your property taxes from being even higher. If the fund does not perform well, school districts would have to raise taxes to make up the difference in funding. It is vitally important to have a State Treasurer who understands the job and remains committed to smart financial management, otherwise we may all end up paying more in taxes.
Campaign Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeiberForTreasurer
Campaign page: https://www.leiberfortreasurer.com/
Next on the rundown of state offices to be decided this election is state attorney general. On the ballot are two candidates, Josh Kaul (Democrat) and Eric Toney (Republican). A Wisconsin attorney general is the state’s chief legal officer and head of the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Responsibilities include representing the state in court, providing legal opinions, enforcing open government laws, overseeing criminal investigations and protecting crime victims, as well as supporting local prosecutors, protecting consumers, and serving on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. Following are the attorney general candidates.
Eric Toney
Starting with Toney, he is 42 years old, born and raised in Fond du Lac, with a B.A. in history and political science from St. Norbert College, also holding a J.D. in Criminal Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Toney shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Eric Toney
Age: 42
Seat/office sought: Attorney General
Background/education? Born and raised in Fond du Lac. I have a 12-year-old dog, Patton. B.A., History and Political Science, St. Norbert College, and J.D., Criminal Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
What is your basic philosophy for the attorney general post? When I survived open heart surgery at 39 years old, I reflected on my life and didn’t have any regrets. I love helping keep people safe, and I’ve done that for nearly 14 years as the district attorney in Fond du Lac County. I was named Wisconsin’s 2024 District Attorney of the Year. As past president of the Wisconsin District Attorneys’ Association, I worked with the Republican Legislature and a Democratic Governor to secure crime lab positions, internet crimes against children DOJ positions, over 50 new prosecutors where they were needed most, and increased resources for prosecutors and public defenders. I’d be honored to take my bipartisan record to our DOJ and put public safety over politics.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? The Department of Justice needs leadership that will put public safety over politics. That means an immediate priority is to fix the crime labs. I’ll support the great lab analysts, end misguided policies that limit law enforcement’s ability to have evidence tested, end work-from-home policies that take analysts away from the lab, and ensure we’re filling the vacant positions we learned about in the nonpartisan audit. Second, confront the drug crisis by empowering public safety leaders to aggressively prosecute drug crimes, especially fentanyl and methamphetamine, and restore the drug investigations in northern Wisconsin that Kaul eliminated, which a tribal leader said is unnecessarily costing lives. Third, back victims, survivors, and law enforcement in all 72 counties by putting public safety over politics.
Campaign Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/EricToneyWI, https://x.com/EricJToney
Josh Kaul
Also on the ballot for attorney general is Democrat Josh Kaul, the incumbent. Kaul is 45 years old with an education from Stanford Law School and Yale University before that. Citing public safety as his most important priority, Kaul shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Josh Kaul
Age: 45
Seat/office sought? Attorney General of Wisconsin
Background/education?
Stanford Law School
Yale University Undergraduate
What is your basic philosophy for the attorney general post? Wisconsin DOJ’s investigative and prosecutorial resources should be used to protect the public as effectively as possible, with decisions about specific cases made based on the facts and law.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? My top priority as AG has been and will continue to be public safety. Wisconsin DOJ should continue working to reduce violent crime, fight the opioid epidemic, and make our schools safer. In another term as AG, I will continue advocating for common-sense gun-safety measures and additional resources that can help make communities safer.
Campaign Social Media:
https://x.com/JoshKaulWI
https://www.facebook.com/JoshKaulWI/
https://bsky.app/profile/joshkaulwi.bsky.social
https://www.instagram.com/joshkaulwi/
Next week’s edition will feature questionnaires from candidates in Assembly Districts 28, 29 and 30.
