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Fox News
09-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Former Navy SEAL and 'political outsider' announces GOP campaign for Wisconsin governor
FIRST ON FOX: Bill Berrien, a Wisconsin manufacturing executive, former Navy SEAL and self-described political outsider, announced his Republican campaign for governor of Wisconsin on Wednesday. In the Republican's first national exclusive interview since announcing his gubernatorial bid, Berrien told Fox News Digital, "We [have] to get away from the six years of Tony Evers, where we're going in the entirely opposite direction. This race is extremely winnable. I can win it. I can be the conservative governor that is going to make this the Wisconsin century." Berrien said Democrat Gov. Tony Evers' tenure has felt like the "gears in reverse" of any gains made by former GOP Gov. Scott Walker. The Republican hopeful called Evers a "tax and spend" Democrat who isn't moving the state forward. "I'm an outsider. I'm a businessman, just like President Trump," Berrien said. "He's taking back Washington. We need to take back Madison for Wisconsinites." Berrien is the CEO of manufacturing companies Pindel Global Precision and Liberty Precision and served as a Navy SEAL for nine years. According to his campaign website, his top priorities in the race are revitalizing Wisconsin manufacturing, restoring law and order and strengthening Wisconsin families. "Wisconsin is the best of the country," Berrien said. "We make things, we build things, we work with our hands. My vision is we can be the manufacturing powerhouse of the world again. We can be ground zero for the success of the Trump-driven re-industrialization." President Donald Trump campaigned on unleashing American manufacturing as president and, through his often controversial trade and tariff policies, seeks to return business to the United States. Trump's win in battleground Wisconsin landed him the White House in 2024. Berrien called his win "historic" and said it reflected a "shift across the board" among the Wisconsin electorate. "It is the Republican workers' party – that's due to his leadership. I think we're gonna be building on that through this campaign," Berrien said. While Trump secured Wisconsin in 2024, a liberal Democrat-backed Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate, Susan Crawford, won a contentious multimillion-dollar election over conservative Brad Schimel earlier this year. When Elon Musk was still in Trump's good graces, he invested millions to support Schimel, but Democrats from across the country threw their political weight behind Crawford, and she was ultimately elected to the open seat. "It means all the more that we need to have a Republican in the governor's mansion," Berrien said before asking, "How do we apply a military leadership-type mindset across all 72 counties, winning up and down the ticket?" And when asked about Democrats' early 2026 midterm messaging about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's Medicaid cuts, Berrien said he supports Medicaid work requirements and called Trump's megabill "wind in our sails for creating the Wisconsin century, making Wisconsin the manufacturing powerhouse to the world again." "When you look at the business incentives for factory construction, investing in technology, investing in people, it's like a Black Friday sale or factory expansion, no coupons required." Berrien announced his candidacy in a campaign video released Wednesday morning. Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann announced his own Republican gubernatorial campaign in May. Evers has yet to announce whether he will seek re-election in 2026. He did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. "When we think about the last 10 years, there has only been two candidates that have been successful on a statewide basis, [Sen.] Ron Johnson and Donald Trump. We have on my team, leaders who've been part of both of those races, and we have the team to win this. We have resources, and we have a clear lane and opportunity. Let's make this the Wisconsin century," Berrien said.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsin governor race; Republican Josh Schoemann files for 2026 run
The Brief Josh Schoemann, a Republican and Washington County Executive, has formed a committee to run for Wisconsin governor in 2026. He is unlikely to be the only Republican candidate. Democratic Governor Tony Evers has not yet announced whether he will seek re-election, stating he will decide after the state budget is finalized. WASHINGTON COUNTY, Wis. - Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann, a Republican, this week created a committee to run for governor in 2026, making him the first candidate from either major party to get into the race. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has not yet said whether he will seek a third term. Evers has repeatedly said he will announce his intentions after the state budget is passed and signed into law, which typically happens around early July. A spokesperson for Evers had no immediate comment. Schoemann, 43, filed to create a campaign committee on Wednesday. He is the executive of Washington County, one of the deepest red counties in Wisconsin, which President Donald Trump won with 67% of the vote in 2024. Schoemann has never run a statewide race before and is unlikely to be the only Republican candidate in the election that is 19 months away. What we know Bill Berrien, a Whitefish Bay manufacturing businessman, created a political action committee two weeks ago as he also considers a run. Berrien is a Navy SEAL veteran and CEO of Pindel Global Precision and Liberty Precision in New Berlin. Others mentioned as potential candidates include U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who represents northern Wisconsin, and two-time losing U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde, a Madison businessman. What's next Schoemann was elected as county executive in 2020 after previously working six years as county administrator and county manager. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and received an honorable discharge in October 2008 from the Army National Guard, according to his biography on the county website. Schoemann has a "historic summer kickoff cookout" scheduled for Sunday in West Bend where he is expected to formally announce his candidacy. Ben Voelkel, a Schoemann spokesperson, declined to comment Thursday when asked if Schoemann would be launching his run on Sunday. To learn more about Josh Schoemann in his county executive role, click here. The 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial election is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026. What they're saying "The Republican primary for governor is going to be a who's who of far-right extremists tripping over themselves to earn Donald Trump's favor — and all Josh Schoemann has going for him is that he's first off the starting line," said Sarah Abel, executive director of the Wisconsin Democratic Party. The Source Information in this post is provided by the Wisconsin Campaign Finance Information System website, and the Washington County website. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
01-05-2025
- Politics
Republican county leader Josh Schoemann enters Wisconsin governor's race
MADISON, Wis. -- Republican Josh Schoemann, the top elected official in a suburban Milwaukee county, this week created a committee to run for governor in 2026, making him the first candidate from either major party to get into the race. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has not yet said whether he will seek a third term. Evers has repeatedly said he will announce his intentions after the state budget is passed and signed into law, which typically happens around early July. A spokesperson for Evers had no immediate comment. Schoemann, 43, filed to create a campaign committee on Wednesday. He is the executive of Washington County, one of the deepest red counties in Wisconsin, which President Donald Trump won with 67% of the vote in 2024. Schoemann has never run a statewide race before and is unlikely to be the only Republican candidate in the election that is 19 months away. Bill Berrien, a Whitefish Bay manufacturing businessman, created a political action committee two weeks ago as he also considers a run. Berrien is a Navy SEAL veteran and CEO of Pindel Global Precision and Liberty Precision in New Berlin. Others mentioned as potential candidates include U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who represents northern Wisconsin, and two-time losing U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde, a Madison businessman. Schoemann was elected as county executive in 2020 after previously working six years as county administrator and county manager. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and received an honorable discharge in October 2008 from the Army National Guard, according to his biography on the county website. Schoemann has a 'historic summer kickoff cookout' scheduled for Sunday in West Bend where he is expected to formally announce his candidacy. Ben Voelkel, a Schoemann spokesperson, declined to comment Thursday when asked if Schoemann would be launching his run on Sunday. 'The Republican primary for governor is going to be a who's who of far-right extremists tripping over themselves to earn Donald Trump's favor — and all Josh Schoemann has going for him is that he's first off the starting line," said Sarah Abel, executive director of the Wisconsin Democratic Party.
