Latest news with #BillBerrien
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
7th District's Tom Tiffany teases potential run for Wisconsin governor
WASHINGTON – 7th District Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany has not yet said whether he plans to join the GOP primary for governor. But he's been happy to tease a run after pushing back his timeline for a potential announcement. Tiffany recently tweeted out a picture of himself holding a crappie after a conservative website demanded that "all future Wisconsin gubernatorial candidates prove they know how to hold a fish." And he's hinted at a potential statewide campaign in more concrete ways: The website domain name " leads directly to his current congressional campaign site. That site's homepage labels Tiffany a "proven conservative for Wisconsin." The hints are not unusual or new for the third-term congressman from Wisconsin's northwestern 7th Congressional District, whose office is located in Wausau. But they represent the latest moves for one of the only Republicans still publicly considering a 2026 gubernatorial run. Tiffany recently told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he'd make his decision "after July." Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann was the first Republican to enter the race in May, and Bill Berrien, a Navy SEAL veteran and manufacturing CEO from Whitefish Bay, launched his own campaign earlier this month. State Senate President Mary Felzkowski, former U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde and former U.S. Senate and governor candidate Tim Michels are also considering bids, though Tiffany is the only person in that group to publicly express interest in a gubernatorial campaign. More: Statewide 'Good Trouble' protests include several central Wisconsin events "I'm gonna make a decision after July here, and we'll see," Tiffany told the Journal Sentinel last week when asked about his thinking. He previously said he would make a decision after the April 1 state Supreme Court race before extending that timeline to the summer. "I'm steadily, methodically going through the process." Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is expected to decide whether to seek reelection in the coming weeks. Tiffany has claimed that Evers's decision won't factor into his consideration of a gubernatorial run and said his choice "is not predicated on" who is running on the Republican side, either. "It is, where can I do the most good for the people of the state of Wisconsin? Do I believe I'm the best candidate on our side to be able to win this race? That's the decision points for me," Tiffany said last week. He's repeatedly and publicly attacked Evers on both on social media and in his weekly constituent newsletter over immigration and Democrats' pushback on President Donald Trump's priorities. Still, Tiffany's moves are not new. He previously purchased website domain names as he considered a 2024 U.S. Senate bid against Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, though he never launched a campaign. Multiple local GOP leaders in the 7th District have said they are uncertain Tiffany will make a move for governor. Tiffany raised a little more than $147,000 in the first half of 2025 and had about $124,859 in cash on hand in his House campaign account, according to Federal Election Commission records. Schoemann raised a little over $424,000 since launching his campaign in May, and Berrien's political action committee raked in more than $1 million before Berrien formally entered the race this month. A spokeswoman for Tiffany this week called securing the gubernatorial website domain name "standard practice for campaigns and public officials" and said it would prevent the site "from being used for nefarious purposes." The domain name, she said, was purchased in April 2023 — the same day Tiffany bought the domain names for a potential Senate run. And the campaign threw cold water on any idea that the post featuring Tiffany holding the crappie was a subtle campaign announcement. "Congressman Tiffany has not made a decision regarding a future run," the spokeswoman said on July 21, "and any announcement will come at a later time." This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 7th District Rep. Tom Tiffany teases a run for Wisconsin governor
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
What to know about Bill Berrien, latest Republican to jump into Wisconsin governor race
A second Republican has officially joined next year's race for Wisconsin governor, though current Democratic Gov. Tony Evers hasn't announced whether he'll run for a third term. Bill Berrien, a Navy SEAL veteran and manufacturing CEO, launched his campaign July 9. He joins Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann, who's also running as a Republican. More candidates could join the GOP primary field. In his first campaign ad, Berrien likened himself to President Donald Trump as "an outsider and a businessman." "The globalists shipped our jobs in factories to China and the career politicians let it happen. Not us. We went all-in on Wisconsin," Berrien says, referring to his manufacturing business. Here's what to know about Berrien, the latest Republican to declare a run for governor: What is Bill Berrien's political experience? Berrien describes himself as a "political outsider" and hasn't campaigned for or held elected office. In April, Berrien formed a political action committee, making him the first Republican to make a public move toward running for governor. What is Bill Berrien's military background? Berrien was a Navy SEAL for nine years, according to his campaign website, and served as a team officer and platoon commander. He attended Army Ranger School and the SEAL Sniper Course. His PAC is called "Never Out of the Fight," inspired by the Navy SEAL team ethos. What is Bill Berrien's manufacturing business? Berrien is the CEO of Pindel Global Precision and Liberty Precision, which is based in New Berlin. He acquired the company in 2012. The company is a contract manufacturer of precision machined components for industries like aerospace, defense and agriculture. Pindel also manufactured parts for ventilators during the COVID pandemic. What is Bill Berrien's platform? Among Berrien's top priorities are promoting Wisconsin's manufacturing industry, lowering taxes and ensuring local law enforcement work with federal agencies to carry out deportations. Berrien criticized Evers for vetoing legislation that blocks transgender students from participating in sports teams that align with their gender identity, calling it "radical social experimentation." In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Berrien said he was opening to legalizing marijuana in some capacity and keeping Wisconsin's current 20-week abortion law. More: Where Wisconsin GOP governor candidate Bill Berrien stands on Trump, abortion, marijuana and more How old is Bill Berrien? Berrien is 56. Who is in Bill Berrien's family? Berrien and his wife, Betsie, have three children — Grace, Will and Joe. He coaches his son's high school lacrosse team. Where did Bill Berrien go to college? Berrien received his bachelor's degree in politics from Princeton University, a master's from Johns Hopkins University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School, according to his LinkedIn profile. While attending Princeton, he was captain of the school's water polo team. Where is Bill Berrien from? Berrien, who grew up in New York City, describes himself as a Wisconsin "convert" who moved to the state two decades ago for his career and chose to raise his family here. He lives with his family in Whitefish Bay, a northern suburb of Milwaukee. Does Bill Berrien support Trump? Berrien is seeking to align himself with Trump. In the 2024 Republican presidential primary, he supported former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley but switched his support to Trump in the general election. Berrien told the Journal Sentinel he supports Trump's tariff policies and posture toward China, saying he wants to replicate such policies at the state level. What are Democrats saying about Bill Berrien? In a statement, Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairman Devin Remiker said Berrien is "rich enough to buy himself some attention and clueless enough to think that's going to work — just like Elon Musk did this past April only to see his political career end." Who else is running for governor in Wisconsin? Evers hasn't announced whether he'll seek a third term, telling reporters July 7 his decision would come in a "couple weeks." If he chooses not to run, it could open up a Democratic primary. Attorney General Josh Kaul, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez are among the potential Democratic contenders. On the Republican side, possible candidates include Senate President Mary Felzkowski, former U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde, former U.S. Senate and governor candidate Tim Michels, and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany. More: Businessmen Tim Michels, Eric Hovde considering return to politics with runs for Wisconsin governor This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Who is Bill Berrien, Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor?
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GOP businessman Berrien discusses candidacy for governor
CHIPPEWA FALLS — Bill Berrien believes his background in manufacturing and in the military have prepared him to become the next governor of Wisconsin. 'A big part of leadership is vision, and seeing a better future, and being able to articulate and craft a plan to get there,' Berrien told the Leader-Telegram on Tuesday. 'I've always been a team guy, in Seal Team Six. It's the mindset of building a team, aligning the team, and leading the team.' Berrien, 56, a suburban Milwaukee businessman and former Navy SEAL, announced last week his candidacy for governor. He is the second Republican to announce a run. Washington County executive Josh Schoemann, 43, announced his candidacy in May, and he stopped at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair last week. A Republican primary will be held Aug. 11, 2026, ahead of the November 2026 election. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, 73, has indicated he will announce in coming weeks if he will seek a third term. Berrien served nine years as a Navy SEAL and has been owner and CEO of Pindel Global Precision and Liberty Precision, manufacturers of precision-machined components in New Berlin, a Milwaukee suburb, for the past 13 years. Bringing back jobs to Wisconsin was one of the topics he stressed during the 30-minute interview. 'We want to help them create more value and capture more value,' he said. 'My vision for Wisconsin is prosperity for everyone, through work. Wisconsin needs to be open for business again. We need to help the businesses that are already here, and attract new businesses.' Berrien said both the military and being a businessman has shaped his character. Berrien served in the military from 1991 to 1999 and he served alongside U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien.) 'It's about building America and hiring American, and taking the fight to China,' Berrien said during a Zoom call. He said President Donald Trump is having success with the economy. 'He's trying to take back Washington, and I'm trying to take back Madison. We should be the manufacturing powerhouse again.' Berrien was critical of the new 2025-27 biennial budget, and he contends the state has taken a step backwards in education under Gov. Evers. 'It does feel like the gears are in reverse under the governor's leadership with K-12 standards and the performance of students,' he said. 'Our schools need to be excellent, full stop. That needs to be the reputation. He was supposed to be the education governor, and education is going in reverse.' Berrien added that the state needs to set the pace on AI and make sure Wisconsinites benefit from those new technologies. He added: 'I think about the recent budget, and I think it shows why we need a Republican governor. There wouldn't have been a need for so many compromises.' Berrien said he started contemplating the run at the end of last year. So, he has started hitting the road to meet Wisconsin residents. 'I'm looking forward to all the conversations with meetings and chats all across Wisconsin. I like people and I like connecting with people,' he said. Berrien issued a press release Tuesday, announcing he has purchased about $400,000 in cable TV, radio and online ads. 'I think it's important to help define myself for listeners and viewers,' he said. 'I come from manufacturing, I don't come from the world of politics. My name is not front and center for most folks. Those ads can be little touchpoints. We can talk about Harleys, or shooting, or manufacturing.' Berrien is positioning himself as a staunch backer of President Donald Trump in his first ads of the race. They are airing statewide, but with an emphasis on Milwaukee and Green Bay, his campaign said. The largest number of Republican voters in the state are in the Milwaukee media market, and Green Bay is a critical GOP area, especially in primaries. In the ads, Berrien calls himself 'an outsider and a businessman just like President Trump.' Berrien says he's running for governor to 'advance the Trump agenda, shake up Madison and put Wisconsin citizens first.' The Democratic Party of Wisconsin issued a press release Tuesday, criticizing Berrien for expressing support for Trump's tariffs. 'Bill Berrien is so desperate to win Trump's affections that he wants to double down on the president's failed tariff war by slapping taxes on goods from other states like Iowa — this is a uniquely stupid idea that will further raise prices for Wisconsin's farmers and families,' said Philip Shulman, Democratic Party of Wisconsin communications director. 'While Bill Berrien may have the money to spend nearly half a million dollars on ads showing his allegiance to Trump, working families are trying to figure out how to balance their checkbooks as a result of Trump's tariffs, which will only get worse if Berrien is elected and gets his way.' While Berrien has shown support for Trump, some conservative talk radio hosts have questioned some of Berrien's older comments. Berrien criticized Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and said during an August 2020 interview with Fox Business that he hadn't decided whether to support Trump for president that year. In 2024, Berrien supported former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley's run for president in the GOP primary and donated more than $30,000 to her campaign. Berrien was also a member of the bipartisan group Democracy Found, which advocates for using ranked-choice voting and making primaries nonpartisan, but Berrien told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week that he no longer supports those ideas.
CBS News
14-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Wisconsin's governor's election is more than a year away, but the ads are already starting
Wisconsin's race for governor is hitting the airwaves more than a year before voting begins. Republican candidate Bill Berrien announced the purchase of about $400,000 in cable TV, radio and online ads Monday. The buy comes 13 months before the Aug. 11, 2026, primary. Berrien is the first candidate to purchase ads of any kind in the race. Berrien and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann have announced bids as Republicans. It is the first campaign for each of them. Several other Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, two-time losing U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde and state Senate President Mary Felzkowski are all considering running. Schoemann has been traveling the state and meeting with voters since he launched his campaign in May, but he has yet to spend any money on ads like Berrien is doing. "Money buys ads, but as we've seen far too often in Wisconsin, it can't buy wins," Schoemann adviser Ben Voelkel said. "It takes hard work and authenticity to earn voters' support, not just slick ads." Democratic Gov. Tony Evers hasn't said whether he will seek a third term. He has suggested that he will announce his decision within weeks. A spokesperson for Evers had no immediate comment on the Berrien ads. Wisconsin Democratic Party spokesperson Phil Shulman accused Berrien of trying to "buy himself Trump's affections." "Sadly, for Bill Berrien, he's going to learn the hard way that money can't buy you an election in Wisconsin," Shulman said. Berrien's ads are slated to begin airing Tuesday, less than a week after he launched his campaign. The ads lean into Berrien's support for President Donald Trump, which has been questioned by influential conservative talk radio hosts. Berrien criticized Trump's handling of the COVD-19 pandemic and said during an August 2020 interview with Fox Business that he hadn't decided whether to support Trump for president that year. In 2024, Berrien supported former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley's run for president in the GOP primary and donated more than $30,000 to her campaign. Berrien was also a member of the bipartisan group Democracy Found, which advocates for using ranked-choice voting and making primaries nonpartisan. But Berrien told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week that he no longer supports those ideas. Berrien is positioning himself as a staunch Trump backer in his first ads of the race. They are airing statewide, but with an emphasis on Milwaukee and Green Bay, his campaign said. The largest number of Republican voters in the state are in the Milwaukee media market, and Green Bay is a critical GOP area, especially in primaries. In the ads, Berrien calls himself "an outsider and a businessman just like President Trump." Berrien says he's running for governor to "advance the Trump agenda, shake up Madison and put Wisconsin citizens first." Berrien, 56, served nine years as a Navy SEAL and has been owner and CEO of Pindel Global Precision and Liberty Precision, manufacturers of precision-machined components in New Berlin, a Milwaukee suburb, for the past 13 years.
Washington Post
14-07-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Voting in Wisconsin's governor's race is a year away, but the ads are starting
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin's race for governor is hitting the airwaves more than a year before voting begins. Republican candidate Bill Berrien announced the purchase of about $400,000 in cable TV, radio and online ads Monday. The buy comes 13 months before the Aug. 11, 2026, primary. Berrien is the first candidate to purchase ads of any kind in the race.
