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2w ago

Rodriguez Fires Campaign Manager After Finance Errors Leave Campaign Short

Double-counted donations and unpaid vendor invoices prompted the campaign to notify the Wisconsin Ethics Commission, casting new doubt on Rodriguez’s viability in the Democratic primary.

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez stands at the back of the WisDems Convention before beginning her speech as candidate for governor Sunday, June 14, 2026, at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wis. Angela Major/WPR
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Overview

  • Rodriguez fired campaign manager Kara Spencer on Monday after an internal review found donations were double-counted and expenses were underreported, leaving far less cash on hand than the campaign had reported.
  • The problems came to light when scheduled TV ads did not run and a media invoice went unpaid during the July 7–9 period, which led staff to discover a shortfall of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
  • Public records and news reviews show the campaign’s January finance filing contained dozens of duplicate entries and was amended multiple times, prompting scrutiny of the bookkeeping process.
  • The campaign says it has notified the Wisconsin Ethics Commission and is working to reconcile and amend filings ahead of the mid‑July reporting deadline.
  • Rival Democrats and Republicans have seized on the revelations to demand explanations, a shift that could change donor flows and voter perceptions as the Aug. 11 primary and a July 28 debate approach.