Former Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch officially launched her much anticipated gubernatorial campaign setting in motion a high stakes, competitive race for Wisconsin Governor next year. Kleefisch, 46, a conservative from Concord in southeastern Wisconsin, is the first known Republican candidate to join the statewide race in challenging first term incumbent Democratic Governor Tony Evers. Evers announced earlier this year that he is running for re-election to a second term.
From 2011 to 2019, Kleefisch served as Lieutenant Governor under former Governor Scott Walker. Prior to her public service, Kleefisch worked as a reporter for WIFR-TV in Rockford, Illinois after graduating from the University of Wisconsin. She later became a reporter and then news anchor for WISN-TV in Milwaukee where she worked until starting her own media and marketing firm.