Rodriguez led Wisconsin Democratic Party Convention governor straw poll

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez led a straw poll in the race for Wisconsin governor released Sunday, followed by state Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, and state Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison.

The poll, conducted by WisPolitics at the Democratic State Convention, showed former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (41 votes) running sixth behind Rodriguez (164), Hong (138), Roys (114), Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (78), businessman Joel Brennan (52) and former Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. CEO Missy Hughes (10) trailing.

“I look forward to continuing my work to earn support & ask you to join our fight,” Rodriguez posted in response to the poll. “If you want to beat @TomTiffanyWI you’re damn right I am the proven winner who is ready to do it!”

Wisconsin’s primaries will be Aug. 11.

Congressman Tom Tiffany is the favorite to win the Republican nomination with 40% support in a recent Marquette Law School poll, trailed by Andy Manske (6%) with the remainder undecided.

Hong led in that poll with 14% support, followed by Barnes (11%), Crowley (3%), Rodriguez (3%), Brennan (2%), Roys (1%) and Hughes (1%).

Those at the convention also favored former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to be the Democratic nominee for president (102), edging U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (101).

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker was third (81) was the only other candidate that received more than 50 votes.

Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin said that the straw poll results showed that Wisconsin Democrats wanted to double down on failed policies.

“While Democrats’ theme this weekend was Saving the American Dream, Tom Tiffany actually plans to save the American Dream for Wisconsin by repealing the 400-year property tax, protecting farmers, lowering utility rates, and defending education freedom,” AFP-WI State Director Megan Novak said in a statement. “We have a choice in November. Will we continue allowing Madison Democrats to push the American Dream out of reach, or will we put Tom at the helm so we can right the ship and make Wisconsin a beacon of freedom in the Midwest?”