Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez ended her Democratic gubernatorial bid Friday, saying campaign finance issues had become too serious to keep from overshadowing a race Democrats need to win.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars were missing from campaign cash on hand compared with what Rodriguez expected, a gap she uncovered days after firing her campaign manager.
The withdrawal reshapes the Democratic primary less than a month before the Aug. 11 vote to choose a successor to Gov. Tony Evers, who is not seeking a third term.
Rodriguez had been one of the party's establishment contenders from the Milwaukee suburbs and had won the endorsement of Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who exited the race on July 8.