Milwaukee businessman and entrepreneur Andy Gronik told The Associated Press he would launch his run for governor as a Democrat on Tuesday.
Gronik, 60, calls himself a “progressive businessperson,” and says he’ll campaign on restoring collective bargaining rights that Governor Scott Walker and the Republican legislature have stripped away.
Gronik has spent the last year traveling the state, meeting with Democratic insiders and voters, and polling would-be voters. The Wisconsin Republican Party filed an ethics complaint about one of those polls, but the complaint was dismissed in June.
Gronik’s business ventures helped companies leverage assets to borrow money and grow strategically. He also owned a marketing firm for 12 years.
State schools superintendent Tony Evers, who was overwhelmingly elected to a third term in April, said last week he was considering a run for governor. Other possible Democrats include state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, who won a straw poll at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin state convention, state Rep. Dana Wachs, Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, Jefferson County District Attorney Susan Happ, who unsuccessfully ran for Attorney General, and longtime political activist Mike McCabe.
Two unknown newcomers, Bob Harlow and Ramona Whiteaker, have already registered to run as Democrats.
The primary is Aug. 14, 2018, and the general election is Nov. 6, 2018.
