A new candidate with ties to both Democratic Governor Tony Evers and Wisconsin’s business community has declared his candidacy in an already crowded Democratic primary for Wisconsin Governor.
Joel Brennan, who served as Governor Ever’s Secretary for the Department of Administration, released a campaign launch video on Thursday, throwing his hat in the ring for Wisconsin’s top job.
In the video, Brennan highlights his experience in Ever’s administration which included navigating the state through the Covid-19 pandemic. He also used the video to make it clear that he will frame the race as a referendum on Donald Trump’s presidency.
“Thanks to Donald Trump’s chaos and incompetence, the numbers just aren’t adding up for Wisconsin families,” Brennan says in the video. “Costs, like everything else, are out of control. And coming from a family that had to make every dollar count, I know what that feels like.”
Representative Tom Tiffany, R-Wisconsin, responded to Brennan’s announcement by attacking his record on the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly his and Evers’ treatment of small businesses. (RELATED: Wisconsin Crime Labs Face Financial Strain Resulting in Longer Turnaround Times)
In addition to Brennan’s ties to the Evers administration, he has deep business ties in Wisconsin and the greater Milwaukee area, which include being the CEO of Discovery World Museum and serving as the President of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, a nonprofit made up of over 200 businesses that focuses on economic development.
Brennan joins a crowded Democratic primary that includes former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes , Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, current Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, and numerous other candidates.
On the Republican side, only two candidates have declared so far; Representative Tom Tiffany and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann. (RELATED: Baldwin and Van Orden Team Up on Bipartisan Bill to Support Organic Farmers)
