Earlier this month, current Attorney General Josh Kaul announced his intentions to run for the Attorney General’s seat in 2026. Kaul is running against Fond Du Lac District Attorney Eric Toney. Toney lost to Kaul in the 2022 election by just over 1% of the vote.
Toney has mentioned the lack of success of the Kaul tenure, particular in crime statistics. Kaul’s office has changed their focus more to climate change, and stopping the National Guard from coming in and helping combat crime in Wisconsin communities. Kaul was also a part of a coalition of AG’s to file an Amicus Brief with the U.S. The Supreme Court opposed the deployment of the National Guard into Chicago, despite one of the highest murder rates in the country accumulating almost 500 murders in 2024.
According to Wisconsin Right Now, he once touted a sexual assault charge against a man named Terence Blackmon because it stemmed from a backlogged rape kit. But his office did not ask for increased bond for years even as Blackmon reoffended sixty times.
The report for the 2023 Wisconsin Crime Lab, showed nothing but an increase in median turnaround time for cases. When Kaul took over, the median time for turnaround in a case was 39 days. Under Kaul’s leadership, it has increased to 58 days. Almost 20 days of critical time to track down suspects and solve cases. (RELATED: DOT Withholds $40 Million from California Over Truck Driver English-Proficiency Rules)
Kaul says he was “not intimidated” by “These are intimidation tactics,” Kaul said in January on “UPFRONT.” A Trump Administration memo calling for local officials to be prosecuted if they obstruct deportation efforts. President Trump proved his no nonsense approach in the National story of Judge Hannah Dugan — who was trying aiding an illegal alien in avoiding immigration enforcement after a case hearing. (RELATED: American Farmers Slam Shutdown as it Reaches Third Week)
Toney has pledged in his campaign to address issues such as the crime lab and the assistance of immigration officers/officials. During his time in office, Toney has been an outspoken supporter of police.
