Latest news with #Evers
3 days ago
- Politics
Wisconsin's Democratic secretary of state won't run for governor but mulls lieutenant governor bid
MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin's Democratic Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski doesn't plan to run for governor or for a full term in her current position, but she is considering running for lieutenant governor next year, an adviser said Monday. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers announced Thursday that he won't seek a third term in the battleground state, creating an open race next year. Godlewski was one of several Democrats mentioned as a possible contender. But on Monday, Godlewski made it clear that she is instead looking into running for the state's No. 2 role, instead of governor or secretary of state. 'She is making calls to leaders across the state and will make a final decision on a run in the coming weeks,' adviser Scott Spector said. 'If she gets in this race, it will be with significant support from elected and local Democrats from across Wisconsin.' Godlewski, 43, was appointed by Evers as secretary of state in March 2023 after the incumbent resigned less than three months into his term. Unlike in most states, the office does not run elections in Wisconsin and has almost no official duties. Godlewski previously served as state treasurer from 2019 to 2023 and ran for U.S. Senate in 2022 but she dropped out of the race to clear the way for then-Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes to win the nomination. He lost in the general election and is now among those considering a run for governor. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez announced her candidacy for governor on Friday, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said he plans to take steps soon to mount a run. Other Democrats considering a run include Attorney General Josh Kaul, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, state Sen. Kelda Roys and Barnes. Evers told reporters in Milwaukee on Monday that he was unlikely to endorse anyone in the primary. 'I'll never say never, but I want to make sure who the rest of the candidates are before I even make that decision," Evers said. There are two announced candidates on the Republican side: Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann and manufacturer Bill Berrien. Other Republicans considering running for governor include U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and state Senate President Mary Felzkowski, Former Republican Gov. Scott Walker released a video on Sunday saying he would not be running for the office he held from 2011 until 2019. Walker had jokingly hinted that he might consider a run in a post on X last week, but on Sunday said he would instead be focused on his work as president of the Young America's Foundation, which tries to get college-aged conservatives involved in politics.
Mint
5 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Washington is jumping into rare earths. Investors have run the other way.
A promising mining find in Wyoming aims for lightning-fast production of a resource that is a key chokepoint in America's standoff with China. Federal officials have signaled a potential investment in the project of close to $500 million. Yet the company behind it is a penny stock. The paradox of American Rare Earths, whose biggest prospect is the Wyoming site about three hours north of Denver, is endemic to the mostly small firms trying to extract rare-earth elements crucial to everything from electric vehicles to jet fighters. Shares often trade on smaller stock exchanges in Canada or Australia. Banks proceed with caution toward projects that can take a decade to materialize, if they ever do. That has left the U.S. with a quandary as China wields its dominance over global rare-earths production as a cudgel in the countries' simmering trade dispute. The U.S. has rare earths. What it lacks are investors willing to gamble on an industry dominated by Beijing. Washington in recent years has tried to pump the market, throwing hundreds of millions of dollars at new mines and processing plants. A Pentagon deal this month with the country's largest producer may be the biggest such investment ever. Even so, the difficulty of standing up a domestic industry backed by limited private capital has exposed a weak point in the White House's push to wean America off cheap Chinese supplies. 'The financing piece is a big question mark," said Joe Evers, president of American Rare Earths' Wyoming project. Ubiquitous commodities like oil boast corresponding financial markets where companies can shield themselves from volatility and traders can bet on it. The resulting prices help investors value companies and banks structure loans. That isn't the case for the 17 rare-earth elements needed in relatively tiny quantities across many high-tech industries. For rare earths, Evers added, the market 'really hasn't evolved at all, in my opinion, because there's such a dominant player in the form of China." Beijing has spent decades expanding its rare-earths footprint at home and abroad, commanding a huge portion of the world's ability to refine the elements and process them into magnets used by robotics firms, phone makers and other businesses. More than two-thirds of U.S. imports last year came from China, according to S&P Global. China also dominates many of the industries that rely on rare earths, including EVs. After China imposed export controls earlier this year, automakers like Ford Motor scrambled for supplies, giving Beijing leverage over Washington in trade talks. June shipments abroad were down 38% from a year earlier, even after the countries struck a deal that included China lifting some of the restrictions. Now, American miners hope tension with China's state-backed model will push the feds to fight fire with fire—and gin up interest among unenthusiastic investors. 'The government has realized that that game ain't gonna work," said Randall Atkins, chief executive of Ramaco Resources, a Kentucky-based coal producer that recently opened a coal and rare-earths mine in Wyoming. Earlier this month, Nevada-based MP Materials announced a massive Defense Department investment to expand rare-earths production and processing capacity. Analysts say the deal, which includes a loan, a decadelong offtake agreement and equity investment that makes the Pentagon MP's largest shareholder, could total billions and require additional money from Congress. Apple soon after announced its own supply deal with MP. The moves set off wild price swings in stocks of similar companies that are draping themselves in the American flag—both figuratively and literally—as they vie for government cash. Shares in Sydney-based American Rare Earths, which last year earned a letter of interest from the Export-Import Bank for debt financing up to $456 million, nearly doubled in value within a week to 46 Australian cents apiece. Spanning less than half a square mile, the company's proposed Cowboy State Mine sits on land where the state of Wyoming owns both the surface and the minerals, giving it the potential for expedited permitting. The find holds metals including the 'core four" rare earths necessary for powerful permanent magnets: neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium. But the chief executive of American Rare Earths, which aims to start mining and processing as soon as 2029, resigned Monday in the second such shake-up since last year. On Thursday, the company announced a capital raise equivalent to nearly $10 million. Ramaco stock similarly rocketed higher after the MP deal. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony this month attended by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Atkins described Ramaco's Wyoming project as 'America's mine" and part of a broader push 'to win a war being waged below our soil." The executive said in an interview that his firm will seek private and public backing as it pilots a processing facility and builds out the mine's full capacity in the coming years. 'We have to have realistic throughput agreements that aren't subject to Chinese manipulation," he added. There are dangers to relying on government aid. U.S. policy toward critical minerals—a broader basket of materials that includes rare earths—has long been inconsistent. Tax credits for domestic production were included in President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, but now will sunset starting in 2030 under Trump's new tax-and-spending law. With a drawdown in other credits for EV purchases and renewable-energy development, 'you risk killing a demand signal to ensure that these new industries, many of which are coming from startups, are going to have a market," said Milo McBride, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. It is unclear if the MP deal can or will be replicated for other rare-earth miners. The Pentagon didn't respond to requests for comment. But analysts warn that jumping headfirst into the mining business comes with risks inherent to sometimes speculative projects. An Idaho cobalt mine three decades in the making has been mothballed for years despite tens of millions in government support. 'For any of these projects, [commercial production] is probably a long shot," said Rod Eggert, an economics professor at the Colorado School of Mines. 'But that's the nature of the business." Write to David Uberti at and Jennifer Hiller at
UPI
6 days ago
- Health
- UPI
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez launches gubernatorial bid
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez is running for governor, the former emergency room nurse confirmed Friday. Photo courtesy of Governor of Wisconsin's office July 25 (UPI) -- Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez is running for governor, the former emergency room nurse confirmed Friday. "I'm used to being on my feet and getting right to the point, so let's go. First, I have an announcement. I'm running for governor," Rodriguez announced in a video released Friday, her 50th birthday. Rodriguez joins the Democratic primary field to replace Gov. Tony Evers, D-Wis. Evers, 73, announced in a video Thursday he would not seek re-election in November when he will turn 74. Evers has been the Governor of Wisconsin for six years and in public service for 50 years. Rodriguez is the first big name to enter the race to replace Evers. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley confirmed Thursday to Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin that he plans to run. Former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes posted a photo of himself with Evers on X Thursday, thanking him for his service. Barnes served as lieutenant governor during Evers' first term and has hinted at a run for the office. Rodriguez previously worked in the emergency department of Baltimore's Mercy Medical Center. She later took a job at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 2004 and 2006 before returning to Wisconsin. Increasing salaries for public teachers and expanding Medicaid access are among the promises Rodriguez makes in the video. "Look, we've got a real shot at flipping the state Legislature and with a Democratic governor, we can finally expand Medicaid and boost our healthcare workforce," Rodriguez says in the video, that also touches on her family's working-class roots in Wisconsin. "With a Democratic governor, we can finally expand Medicaid and boost our healthcare workforce, strengthen our farms, unions, and small businesses, fund our public schools and give teachers the raise they've earned. That's the right path."
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
NE Wisconsin reacts to no third term for Evers announcement
MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) – Governor Tony Evers announced that he will not run for a third term, prompting a flood of reaction from both sides of the aisle. Some Republicans tell Local 5 News that they feel like they have a better chance of winning back the governor's office with Evers out of the race. 'Well, to be honest Tony Evers is tough to beat and he'd be tough to beat again,' said Republican state representative David Steffen. 'He was very good at finding the middle and had kind of a folksy way about himself that connected with people.' Steffen said it's now anybody's guess who will emerge as the frontrunners in the gubernatorial race for both parties. 'It is now a jump ball there is now an opportunity for just about anyone to take this race and that's exciting for us as Republicans who are looking to take that seat back,' he said. While Steffen said he believes Evers bowing out of the race helps Republicans, others in his party think that the governor would have been a terrible candidate. A recent Marquette Law School poll found that 55 percent of Wisconsinites didn't want to see Evers run again. 'Tony Evers saw the writing on the wall: Wisconsinites are fed up with far-left policies,' said Wisconsin GOP chairperson Brian Schimming. 'While Wisconsin Democrats continue to lose the approval of voters, Republicans are already working on winning up and down the ballot.' Appleton continues Children's Week with Parks and Recreation Department's Playground Fair Washington County executive Josh Schoemann and business owner and Navy Seal Bill Berrien have launched their campaigns for governor on the GOP ticket. 'Well we need a great candidate and certainly we have the policies,' Steffen said when asked what it is going to take for Republicans to win the gubernatorial race this time around. 'We're going to be looking to cut taxes, limit government, and make everything work a little smarter for the people.' Lawrence University history professor Jerald Podair said he thinks if Evers ran again he would have won by a thin margin. He said attorney general Josh Kaul is the likely frontrunner with Evers out of the race. He said lieutenant governor Sara Rodriguez and Milwaukee mayor Cavalier Johnson are other people to keep an eye on in what could be a very crowded primary field for the Democrats. On Thursday afternoon after Evers announcement, many Democrats here in Northeast Wisconsin wanted to thank Evers for his efforts throughout his time as the state's governor. 'I think that Governor Evers was a respectable and kind leader who was really steadfast in his priorities but also knew he needed to work in a bipartisan way,' said Democratic Party of Outagamie County chairperson Emily Tseffos. 'Champion our public schools, make life more affordable for everyday Wisconsinites while dealing with a Republican controlled legislature.' Community gathers to celebrate Wautoma woman's 110th birthday 'Green Bay loves Governor Evers,' said state representative Amaad Rivera-Wagner. 'One thing he's been instrumental in is moving the coal piles, a once in a generation project, he also helped us secure funding for the NFL draft and the public safety costs afterwards.' Local Democrats said they're sad to see Governor Evers step away from politics, but that they're confident that strong candidates will emerge. 'We on the Democratic side are trying to do what's right for our neighbors, our community, state, and nation and we just need to remind the electorate of that,' Emily Tseffos said. 'I was surprised Governor Evers (didn't run for a third term), he is one of the most popular political figures in the state, popular among independents, even some Republicans,' Rivera-Wagner added. 'I think that is a testament to the work he's done.' As far as his legacy, professor Podair said that he thinks that people will remember Evers much more for his politics than his policy. 'He certainly is leaving the Democratic party better than when he found it in 2019,' Podair said. 'Tony Evers may be remembered most among Democrats as the man who slew the Scott Walker dragon. I think his legacy will be more political than policy although we will have school funding for the next 400 years thanks to him and that is policy.' The Wisconsin gubernatorial primary is in August 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Governor Evers won't seek third term in battleground Wisconsin
The Brief Gov. Tony Evers announced Thursday that he will not seek a third term in 2026. This will create the first open race for governor in the battleground state in 16 years. It will be Wisconsin's highest profile race next year, as Democrats also angle to take control of the Legislature thanks to redrawn election maps that are friendlier to the party. MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin's Democratic governor, Tony Evers, announced Thursday that he will not seek a third term in 2026, creating the first open race for governor in the battleground state in 16 years. It will be Wisconsin's highest profile race next year, as Democrats also angle to take control of the Legislature thanks to redrawn election maps that are friendlier to the party. They are also targeting two congressional districts as Democrats nationwide try to retake the House. The Legislature has been under Republican control since 2011, and some Democrats had hoped that Evers, 73, would run for a third term to give him a chance to potentially work with a Democratic-controlled one. Evers often clashes with Republicans The backstory Evers has drawn the ire of President Donald Trump's administration, and his tenure has been marked by his often contentious relationship with the Legislature. Before Evers even took office, Republicans convened a lame-duck session to pass a package of laws to weaken his power. Evers angered Republicans during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when he ordered schools and nonessential businesses to close, issued a statewide mask mandate and tried, unsuccessfully, to delay the state's April presidential primary. Republicans broke with tradition to reject 21 Evers appointees. They also blocked many of his proposals, including expanding Medicare, legalizing marijuana and spending more on child care, K-12 schools and higher education. Evers used his broad veto powers to stop Republicans from enacting a wide range of conservative priorities, including making voting requirements more strict, expanding gun rights, growing the private school voucher program and making abortions more difficult to obtain. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android But Evers did work with Republicans to pass the most recent state budget, which included $1.5 billion in tax cuts prioritized by the GOP and more funding for both K-12 special education and the University of Wisconsin. Evers also worked with Republicans to keep the Brewers in Milwaukee and funnel more money to local governments. Evers pushed for the redrawing of Wisconsin's legislative boundary lines, which the state Supreme Court ordered after liberal justices gained a majority in 2023. The maps drawn by Republicans, which had been in place for more than a decade, were widely regarded as among the most gerrymandered in the country. The new maps drawn by Evers are more favorable to Democrats and helped them pick up seats in last November's election. Democrats are optimistic that they can win control of at least one legislative chamber next year. Evers waited until after he signed the state budget before making his retirement announcement. "Would I win if I ran a sixth time? Of course. No question about that. But whether I'd win or not has never been part of my calculus about running again," Evers said in a video he posted on X. "For five decades, my family has sacrificed to give me the gift of service. They're my world. And I owe it to them to focus on doing all the things we enjoy and love doing together. "It's why, Wisconsin, I'm announcing that I will not be running for a third term. I'm so humbled to be your governor. This is the best job I've ever had. And folks, we are not done yet." Evers still has 17 months left in his term. Possible candidates Dig deeper The open race is sure to attract several Democratic and Republican candidates. Democrats mentioned as potential candidates include Attorney General Josh Kaul, Lt. Gov. Sarah Rodriguez, state Sen. Kelda Roys, Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann and suburban Milwaukee businessman Bill Berrien are running as Republicans. Others, including U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and state Senate President Mary Felzkowski, are considering it. The last open race for governor was in 2010, when Democratic incumbent Jim Doyle, similar to Evers, opted not to seek a third term. Republican Scott Walker won that year and served two terms before Evers defeated him in 2018. The only Wisconsin governor to be elected to a third four-year term was Republican Tommy Thompson, who served from 1986 to 2001. He resigned midway through his fourth term. Evers won his first race by just over 1 percentage point in 2018. He won reelection by just over 3 points in 2022. Before being elected governor, Evers worked for 10 years as state superintendent of education after a career as a teacher and school administrator. The folksy governor What we know Evers positioned himself as a folksy governor who would sprinkle the occasional mild swear word into his comments and other Midwestern colloquialisms such as "holy mackerel" and "folks." His mild-mannered demeanor stood in stark contrast to Trump and other political firebrands. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News "I think he is the most quintessential Wisconsin politician I've ever seen," said Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, who has been in elected office since 1991. After winning reelection in 2022, Evers noted that he is frequently described as boring, but said: "As it turns out, boring wins." Back to the budget Dig deeper Just Wednesday, a number of liberal state lawmakers, teachers unions and community leaders wrote an open letter to Wisconsin. It didn't use the governor's name, but it targeted the governor. They criticized him over the budget that he signed earlier this month. "I'm deeply appreciative that Gov. Evers stepped aside, and made some room for some other folks," State Rep. Ryan Clancy (D-Milwaukee) said. "Right now, I'm at a conference for educators, where people have been really crushed with the last few budgets that Evers and his administration have put forward. They have been terrible for public education." Evers said the budget gave the largest increase to special education reimbursement rates in state history and the largest increase to the UW System in two decades. The Source The Associated Press contributed to this report.
