Testin for Lt. Governor. Image courtesy: WAOW TV
STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU-WAOW) — State Senator Patrick Testin of Stevens Point has officially announced his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor.
Testin used the Portage County Republican Party Fall Rally to make the announcement, saying Wisconsin needs new leadership.
“We have the opportunity to unhinge our economic engine here in the state to have an economy that works for all Wisconsinites,” Senator Testin said. “We have the opportunity to open the doors for more educational opportunities so parents can pick and chose a school system that works best for their sons and daughters.”
Testin has served the 24th Senate District, which includes all of Portage County and portions of three others, since 2016. He won re-election in 2020 over former Stevens Point City Clerk Paul Piotrowski.
He told WAOW TV after the event that he admired the job former Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch did during her time in Madison, but he’d like to take that a step further if elected. “She was kind of the jobs ambassador for the State of Wisconsin, I think that’s an approach I want to take on- but take it a step further by trying to take a look at our workforce development issues,” he said.
Testin is now the second announced Republican candidate for Lt. Governor in a week. Ben Voelkel, a former aid to US Senator Ron Johnson, announced his bid earlier in the week. Lancaster, WI Mayor David Varnam is also running.
Kleefisch is the big name at the top of the Republican ticket for Governor next year. Businessman Jonathan Wichmann is also in the race, while State Assemblyman John Macco is considering a run.
Current Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes will not run for a second term alongside Governor Tony Evers- as he’s running for Johnson’s US Senate seat. Evers has not yet announced who his next running mate will be.
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