Sara Rodriguez

Sara Rodriguez graduated from Brookfield East High School.[1] She earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Johns Hopkins University, a bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Illinois Wesleyan University, and a master's degree in community health nursing from Johns Hopkins University. Her career experience includes founding Lamplight Healthcare Consulting and working as its principal, the vice president of clinical services with Honeywell Life Care Solutions, and the vice president of population health services and integrated care management with Advocate Aurora Health.[2]

Sara Rodriguez did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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Campaign websiteRodriguez's campaign website stated the following:As governor, Sara will lower costs, deliver results, and put Wisconsinites first.Make Health Care More AffordableAs governor, Sara Rodriguez will lower prices and guarantee affordable, reliable health care for every person in Wisconsin.Health care in Wisconsin has become harder to afford and harder to count on. People are being squeezed by rising premiums, sky-high deductibles, and unexpected bills – all while worrying that their coverage could change or disappear without warning. Every dollar swallowed by health care is a dollar that can’t go toward everyday needs, and too often people are forced to put off doctor visits, ration medications, or hope a problem doesn’t get worse because they simply can’t afford to deal with it right now.At the same time, Wisconsinites are caught in the middle of political dysfunction. Decisions made in Washington, DC and stalemates in Madison have left care more expensive, less accessible, and increasingly uncertain – from expiring ACA tax credits to hospital closures, gaps in mental health care, and ongoing threats to reproductive freedom. People deserve better than a system that shifts with elections and court cases. Wisconsin can build a health care system that is affordable, dependable, and protected. As governor, Sara Rodriguez will:Launch BadgerChoice: A Wisconsin Public Health Insurance OptionSara will launch BadgerChoice, a Wisconsin-governed public option offering affordable and reliable coverage.This allows anyone priced out of private insurance – farmers, small business owners, early retirees, young adults – to buy in.Use Wisconsin’s bargaining power to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs, hospital care, and mental health services.Allow people to keep their current plan but expand choice.Pass a Wisconsin Health Care Bill of RightsSara will enshrine core health protections into Wisconsin law so they can’t be rolled back by Congress or the courts.Permanently protect people with pre-existing conditions from being denied coverage, charged more, or kicked off their plan.Ban lifetime and annual coverage limits so no family is cut off from care when they need it most.End surprise medical billing and strengthen hospital financial assistance requirements.Protect and Expand BadgerCareDefend and strengthen BadgerCare so more Wisconsinites can access affordable coverage.Ensure people aren’t pushed off coverage because of political gridlock or shifting federal priorities.Guarantee Mental Health Care as Equal to Physical Health CareSara will enforce true mental health parity so insurance covers mental health and addiction care the same way it covers physical care.Expand access to crisis intervention, adolescent mental health services, and substance-use treatment.Give the state real authority to hold insurers accountable when they deny or delay mental health care.Protect Reproductive FreedomSara will codify Roe vs. Wade into Wisconsin law and protect access to abortion, miscarriage care, ectopic pregnancy care, and fertility treatments.Protect Rural Hospitals and Emergency CareSara will work with the legislature to establish a Rural Health Stabilization Fund to keep ERs, maternity wards, and behavioral health services open.This expands telehealth and mobile crisis services so people aren’t driving hours for care and ensures fair reimbursement so hospitals can keep their doors open.Cut Your Property TaxesAs governor, Sara Rodriguez will lower property taxes for Wisconsin residents.Property taxes are too high in Wisconsin. We feel it every year when our bill arrives – including right now, as families are already feeling squeezed by rising prices everywhere else. And when property taxes go up, it doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It means less room in the budget for groceries, child care, health care, and saving for the future. It hits seniors on fixed incomes especially hard. And it makes it harder for people to stay in the homes and communities they love.For more than a decade, Republican leadership has underfunded public education and shortchanged local governments. When the state doesn’t do its job, communities are forced to raise property taxes just to keep schools open and basic services running. Families shouldn’t have to raise their own taxes to make up for the state’s failures. We can fully fund public education, protect seniors and homeowners, and lower property taxes while making Wisconsin more affordable overall, but only if we’re willing to fix what’s broken.As governor, Sara Rodriguez will.Make Child Care Affordable for FamiliesAs governor, Sara Rodriguez will make child care affordable and accessible for Wisconsin’s working families.Child care in Wisconsin is broken and working families are paying the price. The monthly bill for child care now exceeds what most families pay in rent or a mortgage. Workers are forced out of the labor force, grandparents are drafted into caregiving they didn’t plan for, businesses can’t hire, and children are locked out of the early learning that shapes everything that comes after. For too many families, child care has become the breaking point.For decades, Wisconsin has treated child care like a personal problem instead of essential economic infrastructure. Families are left to patch together care, providers are underpaid and burning out, and communities are losing access to care altogether. We can support working parents, strengthen our workforce, and give kids a strong start. Sara Rodriguez will.As governor, Sara Rodriguez will.1. Guarantee Affordable Child Care for Working FamiliesSara will establish a universal child care guarantee so families pay no more than 7% of their income for care – the nationally recognized affordability benchmark.The state will cover the remaining cost through child care affordability grants.This ensures child care prices are predictable, manageable, and fair for families at every income level. 2. Give Families Real Choices That Fit Their NeedsSara will support a mixed-delivery system that includes center-based care, home-based providers, faith-based programs, and communities models.This ensures families can choose care that fits their schedules, values, and needs.3. Raise Wages and Support the Child Care WorkforceSara will ensure providers receiving state support will pay at least $18/hour, with clear pathways to higher wages and training.Early educators have been underpaid for decades while being asked to do one of the most important jobs in a child’s life. Wisconsin will start treating them like it.4. Expand Access to Child Care for Working Families, Especially in Care DesertsSara will launch a low-interest loan and grant program to help providers expand, renovate, or open new facilities.This program will prioritize rural communities and neighborhoods designated as child care deserts, where supply is most limited.5. Build a Long-Term Funding ModelSara will work with the legislature to establish reliable, long-term funding for child care – including dedicated revenue streams, trust funds, tax reforms, and public-private partnerships with business owners.Stability ensures providers can plan, families can rely on care, and communities don’t lose access overnight.Make it Possible to Buy a HomeAs governor, Sara Rodriguez will increase access to affordable housing and make it easier to buy a home in Wisconsin.Housing has become unaffordable for too many people in Wisconsin. Young families can't scrape together a down payment. Renters are being priced out of their communities by landlords raising rent faster than wages. Seniors are house-rich but cash-poor, stuck paying rising property taxes on homes they own outright. And across the state, there simply isn't enough housing – especially housing that working families can actually afford.This didn't happen by accident. For years, we've made it harder to build housing, easier for investors to buy up properties, and more expensive for first-time buyers to compete. Meanwhile, rent keeps going up, evictions keep happening, and people are being pushed further from their jobs, schools, and communities just to find something they can afford. We can build more housing, help first-time buyers get in the door, and protect renters from unfair practices – but only if we're willing to fix what's broken.As governor, Sara Rodriguez will.Lower Utility Costs and Energy BillsAs governor, Sara Rodriguez will lower utility prices and keep energy bills affordable for Wisconsin families.Utility bills in Wisconsin have become harder to manage and harder to predict. Families open their statements each month bracing for another increase, unsure how high the bill will climb or what’s driving it. When energy prices jump, households are forced to make tradeoffs – turning down the heat, delaying other expenses, or dipping into savings just to get through the month. For seniors on fixed incomes and families already balancing tight budgets, energy bills have become a constant source of stress.Wisconsin’s energy system has been built in a way that allows rising prices and new infrastructure expenses to be pushed onto everyday ratepayers, while large corporate users and out-of-state interests avoid paying their fair share. Families shouldn’t be left subsidizing corporate demand or unchecked utility spending. We can meet growing energy needs, support economic development, and keep bills affordable, but only if the system puts consumers first. As governor, Sara Rodriguez will:Temporarily Freeze Utility Rate IncreasesUse executive authority to temporarily freeze utility rate increases while the state implements a long-term strategy to lower prices.This gives families immediate breathing room while Wisconsin addresses the root causes of rising bills.End Cost-Shifting from Corporations to FamiliesEnsure data centers and other energy-intensive corporate users pay the full cost of their energy use, including new generation, transmission lines, and grid upgrades.Those prices should not be shifted onto residential customers or small businesses; families should not be subsidizing corporate growth through higher monthly bills.Hold Data Centers Accountable and Engage CommunitiesData center projects must be developed collaboratively with local communities, with early input and transparent planning.All project details must be negotiated up front in binding agreements; if corporations make investments and a project is delayed or canceled, developers must be financially responsible – not ratepayers or local governments.Modernize the Public Service Commission to Protect ConsumersModernize state law so the Public Service Commission has clearer authority to protect ratepayers.Utilities should still be able to recover legitimate costs, but not by passing corporate expenses onto households.Produce More Affordable Energy In-StateSupport development of lower-cost renewable energy like solar, wind, and battery storage to reduce long-term energy prices.This includes cutting red tape so utilities can modernize and expand existing facilities faster and more affordably.Give Families Tools to Lower Their Own BillsExpand opportunities for homeowners and small businesses to sell energy back to the grid.This ensures clean-energy investments actually reduce bills for consumers, not just boost utility profits.Fully Fund Our Public SchoolsAs governor, Sara Rodriguez will fight to fully fund public schools so every kid gets a quality education and property taxes stop going up.Our public schools are the foundation of strong communities. They're where kids learn, grow, and get ready for the future. They're where neighbors come together. And they're where Wisconsin builds the workforce, the citizens, and the leaders of tomorrow. But for years, Republicans have underfunded public education, diverted public dollars to private voucher programs, and forced local school districts to keep coming back to voters to raise their own property taxes just to keep the lights on.This didn't happen by accident. It's been a deliberate strategy: starve public schools, expand vouchers, and shift the bill onto homeowners. Meanwhile, teachers are underpaid and leaving the profession. Classrooms are overcrowded. Special education services are stretched thin. And parents are being asked to fundraise for basics like books, supplies, and staff positions that should already be covered. We can fully fund public schools, pay teachers what they deserve, and cut property taxes at the same time – but only if we're willing to prioritize public dollars for public schools.As governor, Sara Rodriguez will.Keep Our Communities SafeAs governor, Sara Rodriguez will stand up to reckless federal immigration enforcement and protect Wisconsin communities.No one should be afraid to drop off their kids at school, seek medical care, go to court, or attend worship because federal agents are operating without clear rules or accountability. Wisconsin can be a state that enforces the law AND a state that protects families, patients, students, and worshippers from reckless and unaccountable actions. Those goals are not in conflict – in fact, they are inseparable.Right now, Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is operating with little oversight, no transparency, and no consequences when constitutional rights are violated. If someone is convicted of a violent crime and is in the country unlawfully, federal law requires deportation. But unidentified, masked agents conducting civil arrests at schools, hospitals, or courthouses undermines safety, trust, and the rule of law. Wisconsin has both the right and the responsibility to demand better. As governor, Sara Rodriguez will:Protect Sensitive LocationsBan civil immigration enforcement actions in and around:CourthousesHospitals and health clinicsLicensed child-care centers and daycaresSchools and institutions of higher educationDomestic violence sheltersPlaces of worshipExceptions:A judicial warrantImminent threats to public safetyRequire Warrants, Identification, and TransparencyA judicial warrant required for any civil immigration arrest or detention.No civil immigration enforcement inside state offices or agencies without a warrant.ICE agents must be unmasked, clearly identify themselves, and wear uniforms displaying a name or badge number.Body cameras required for ICE agents operating in Wisconsin.All ICE facilities and leases in Wisconsin must be fully disclosed to the state.Enforce Accountability When Rights Are ViolatedAllow individuals to sue any officer — federal or otherwise — who knowingly violates constitutional rights. Providing for:Statutory damages of at least $10,000Compensatory and punitive damagesAttorneys’ feesSupport Communities and Access to ServicesOffer remote options, deadline extensions, or alternative access where possible.Ensure people can access courts, health care, education, and public services without fear.Protect Our Clean Air and WaterAs governor, Sara Rodriguez will protect Wisconsin's air, water, and land for future generations.Wisconsin's natural resources are part of who we are. Clean water to drink and swim in. Clean air to breathe. Healthy land to farm, hunt, and pass on to our kids. These aren't luxuries – they're necessities. Our climate is changing, bringing more extreme weather and threatening farms, forests, and shorelines. And the Trump administration is rolling back protections we fought decades to win.For years, polluters have been allowed to dump chemicals into our water, corporations have fought accountability, and state and federal governments have looked the other way. Meanwhile, Wisconsin families are stuck with the bill – paying for bottled water, dealing with health problems, and watching their property values drop because their wells are contaminated.We can protect our air, water, and land. We can hold polluters accountable. We can invest in clean energy that creates jobs and lowers costs. And we can preserve Wisconsin's outdoor heritage for future generations – but only if we're willing to put people and communities ahead of corporate polluters.As governor, Sara Rodriguez will.Keep Our Kids Safe OnlineAs governor, Sara Rodriguez will protect kids from predatory tech companies and make the internet safer for children.Our kids are growing up online – and tech companies are exploiting them for profit. Social media platforms are designed to be addictive, hooking kids on endless scrolling and damaging their mental health. Predators use apps and games to target children. Companies collect massive amounts of data on kids without parents' knowledge or consent. And algorithms push dangerous content – eating disorders, self-harm, suicide, violence – because it keeps kids engaged and keeps profits rolling in.This didn't happen by accident. Tech companies designed it this way. They studied how to make their platforms as addictive as possible. They buried parental controls and privacy settings. They lobbied against regulation. And they prioritized growth and profits over the safety and well-being of children.Parents are doing everything they can – monitoring screen time, setting limits, having conversations – but they're up against billion-dollar companies with teams of engineers whose job is to override parental control and keep kids hooked. Parents shouldn't have to fight tech giants alone. We can protect kids online, hold companies accountable, and give parents the tools they need – but only if we're willing to stand up to Big Tech. As governor, Sara Rodriguez will:Hold Big Tech Companies and Tech CEOs Accountable for HarmAllow parents to sue social media companies when platforms lead to addiction and promote damaging content to children – including content related to eating disorders, substance abuse, self-harm, or exploitationHold tech companies accountable when social media companies and AI chatbots cause harm to kids.Wisconsin families fought to protect kids against Big Tobacco, and won. Now it’s time to fight to protect our kids from Big Tech.Support Cell Phone-Free SchoolsSupport and strengthen legislative efforts to ban cell phones during the entire school day in Wisconsin schools.Phone-free schools help kids focus on learning, reduce cyberbullying during school hours, and take pressure off parents by creating environments where kids aren't constantly connected to their devices.This complements platform accountability by addressing both the technology and the environment where kids use it.Ban Addictive Design Features for KidsProhibit online platforms from deploying addictive features designed to maximize screen time and cause addiction for users under the age of 18 - including infinite scroll, autoplay, and manipulative notifications – applying to all platforms regardless of size.Kids' brains are still developing, making them more vulnerable to addiction by design – tech companies know this and exploit their vulnerability by hiring psychologists and brain scientists to manipulate them into compulsively using their platforms.Recent legislation requires some large platforms to turn off these features for kids – Sara's plan bans them from being accessed by kids in the first place.Unlike the Assembly bills, Sara’s plan puts the responsibility on tech companies to prevent kids from accessing addictive features – not on parents.Ban Surveillance Advertising to ChildrenProhibit all forms of surveillance advertising to anyone under the age of 18, including ads based on kids’ personal data, browsing history, political views, religious beliefs, or algorithmic profiling.Tech companies shouldn't be spying on kids across the internet to sell their data to advertisers or manipulate their behavior.Platforms must verify age without requiring invasive data collection from parents.Strengthen Protections Against Online PredatorsSupport stronger criminal penalties for online child exploitation, grooming, and sextortion.Require platforms to implement proactive detection and reporting systems to identify and remove predatory behavior.Ensure law enforcement has the training and resources to investigate online crimes against children.Hold tech companies accountable when their products sexualize kids, including creating nonconsensual sexual imagery of kids and by engaging in sexual roleplay conversations with minors. Require Transparency and Independent AuditsRequire social media platforms to disclose how their algorithms work, what content is being promoted to children, and what data is being collected.Independent audits will verify compliance with safety standards and identify harm.Parents and policymakers deserve to know what these platforms are doing to our kids and whether they are keeping our kids safe.Create an Office of Digital and Technology PolicyEstablish an executive branch office to coordinate across state agencies and strengthen protections for kids online, modernize technological governance, and lead state efforts in online safety, artificial intelligence oversight, cybersecurity, and emerging technology policy.This office will modernize our approach to digital governance, ensuring strong consumer protections, safeguarding kids and families, and strengthening Wisconsin’s commitment to innovation, economic growth, and responsible leadership in emerging industries.Defend Reproductive RightsAs governor, Sara Rodriguez will protect reproductive freedom and ensure every person can make their own health care decisions.Abortion is health care. In Wisconsin, we're still operating under an 1849 law that banned abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest – a relic from before women could vote, own property, or serve on juries. Republicans have tried over and over to restrict access further. And now the Trump administration is threatening to ban abortion nationwide, restrict access to contraception, and punish states that protect reproductive freedom.It's been a decades-long campaign to take away people's freedom to make their own health care decisions. And the consequences are devastating: Women are being forced to carry nonviable pregnancies. Doctors are afraid to provide miscarriage care. People are traveling out of state for care they should be able to access at home. And maternal mortality is rising in states with abortion bans.We can protect reproductive freedom in Wisconsin. We can codify the right to abortion into state law. We can ensure access to contraception, fertility treatments, and comprehensive reproductive health care. And we can stand up to the Trump administration when it tries to take those rights away – but only if we're willing to fight for them. As governor, Sara Rodriguez will.Stand Up to Trump and Federal OverreachAs governor, Sara Rodriguez will protect Wisconsin from Trump administration attacks on our health care, schools, environment, voting rights, and communities.The Trump administration is attacking everything Wisconsin values. They're trying to gut Medicaid and end the Affordable Care Act. They're rolling back clean water protections and environmental rules. They're threatening to cut funding for public schools. They're undermining voting rights and fair maps. And they're conducting reckless ICE operations that terrorize communities and violate constitutional rights.This is a deliberate strategy to consolidate power in Washington, punish states that don't fall in line, and roll back decades of progress on health care, civil rights, and environmental protection. And it's working – because too many governors and state leaders are either cheering it on or staying silent while their constituents suffer.Wisconsin won't be bullied by Washington. We've fought too hard for our rights to let the Trump administration take them away. As governor, Sara Rodriguez will stand up, fight back, and use every tool available to protect Wisconsin families, communities, and values.Use Every Tool Available to Fight BackUse executive authority, state law, litigation, and interstate partnerships to protect Wisconsin from federal overreach.Join with other governors to fight unconstitutional federal actions in court.Use the bully pulpit to call out attacks on Wisconsin values and rally public support.Build a Justice System That Actually WorksAs governor, Sara Rodriguez will reform our criminal justice system so it keeps communities safe, treats people fairly, and gives people a second chance.Wisconsin's criminal justice system is in need of real reform. We lock up more Black men per capita than almost any other state in the country. We send people to prison for low-level offenses and then make it nearly impossible for them to get jobs, housing, or a fresh start when they get out. We spend hundreds of millions of dollars warehousing people instead of investing in prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. And meanwhile, violent crime goes unsolved, victims don't get justice, and communities don't feel safe.For decades, politicians have played tough-on-crime politics while ignoring what actually works. We've built more prisons instead of addressing root causes. We've criminalized addiction instead of treating it. We've imposed mandatory minimums that tie judges' hands. And we've created a system that falls hardest on Black and brown communities while letting wealthy people buy their way out.We can keep communities safe AND treat people fairly. We can hold people accountable for harm they've caused AND give them a path to redemption. We can invest in prevention AND ensure consequences when people commit serious crimes. These goals aren't in conflict – they're how you build a justice system that actually works. As governor, Sara Rodriguez will.Make AI Work for Wisconsin WorkersAs governor, Sara Rodriguez will ensure artificial intelligence creates opportunity for Wisconsin workers – not just profits for tech companies.Artificial intelligence is being sold as the future – a tool that will make everything faster, cheaper, and more efficient. And it can be. But right now, AI is being deployed in ways that threaten Wisconsin workers, students, and families. Companies are using AI to replace workers instead of supporting them. Algorithms are making decisions about hiring, firing, credit, and health care – often with bias baked in. Students are being taught by AI tutors instead of qualified teachers. And tech companies are profiting massively while communities bear the costs: lost jobs, lower wages, and systems that don't work for real people.Big Tech is racing to deploy AI as fast as possible with little regard for the consequences. They're automating jobs, collecting massive amounts of data, and building systems that reflect – and amplify – existing inequalities. Meanwhile, they're demanding huge amounts of energy to power data centers, driving up utility bills for Wisconsin families while claiming AI will solve all our problems.Wisconsin can benefit from AI – but only if we set the rules, protect workers, and make sure the technology serves people instead of replacing them. We can use AI to improve health care, education, and public services while ensuring workers aren't left behind. We can demand transparency and accountability. And we can make sure Wisconsin workers share in the economic gains instead of just absorbing the losses. As governor, Sara Rodriguez will.— Sara Rodriguez's campaign website (June 12, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Sara Rodriguez did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Rodriguez's campaign website stated the following:

PUBLIC HEALTH

As a nurse, I believe that no one should have to go into debt just to get the medical care they need. In the Assembly, I led the fight to expand BadgerCare, and as Lieutenant Governor I will continue to fight for affordable, quality health care access for all. As a public health professional, I view many issues through the lens of public health, including gun violence and community safety, mental health and substance abuse, and climate change. As Lieutenant Governor I will work every day to improve the quality of life for every person in Wisconsin.

EDUCATION

A fully funded public education system is critical to creating thriving communities.

As Lieutenant Governor, I will advocate for birth through college opportunities so that all students and families have equitable access to education throughout their life, and ensure that every child has access to the social support and mental health resources they need to live healthy lives.

It’s time to start treating Wisconsin educators like the superheroes they are and support students like our future depends on it - because it does.

OUR ECONOMY

Raised in a union-values family, I know that family-supporting wages are the foundation for a vibrant middle class in Wisconsin. As Lieutenant Governor, I will support investments in technical assistance, and workforce and talent development to foster entrepreneur and small business growth and success in Wisconsin.

REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM

I am the only pro-choice woman running for Lieutenant Governor. As a healthcare professional, I know that the recent SCOTUS decision puts real lives at risk. In the Assembly, I co-sponsored legislation to repeal Wisconsin's 1849 law criminal