Former Evers cabinet official weighs run for governor; Brennan to announce in "a few days"

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A crowded Democratic primary field in the race for governor could get even more packed in the coming days. Joel Brennan, a former top cabinet official under Gov. Tony Evers, said Thursday he's considering a bid for office and will announce his plans shortly after Thanksgiving.

Brennan, 55, is currently president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee. Prior to accepting that job in December 2021, he served as secretary of the Department of Administration (DOA) during the first three years of Evers' first term as governor.

Brennan said that experience in governing and overseeing entire organizations sets him apart in a Democratic race that currently has eight candidates and could grow as Mandela Barnes, was lieutenant governor during Evers' first term before running unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2022, signals interest in running for governor next year.

"In talking to people around the state over the last few months, I think they’re still looking for, or they think that there are qualifications that are maybe not demonstrated in the field as it is," Brennan said. "And some of those are ones that I bring."

Brennan touted his experience at the DOA during the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted the agency was largely responsible for handling federal relief dollars as they came into the state.

"Virtually all of those dollars came to the Department of Administration," he said. "And I worked with a very small group of individuals to figure out, ‘How are we going to make sure those resources get out to places that were desperately in need?’"

Brennan said he will announce his plans "a few days after" Thanksgiving. When asked whether that meant he'll share his plans before Christmas, Brennan said yes.

Currently, the Democratic field includes Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, State Sen. Kelda Roys (D-Madison), State Rep. Francesca Hong (D-Madison), former Secretary of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Missy Hughes, American Family Field beer vendor Ryan Strnad, former State Rep. Brett Hulsey and 22-year-old college student Zachary Roper.

On the Republican side, Northwoods Congressman Tom Tiffany and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann are running for the GOP nomination.

An extension of Evers? Yes and no

When asked if his administration would be a continuation of Evers' eight years in power, Brennan said he'd continue some aspects of Evers' leadership but maintained the political landscape could also be markedly different.

Brennan referred to that's new legislative maps, which are more competitive after the liberal majority on the state Supreme Court struck down maps based on ones Republicans had drawn in 2010.

"I would say there’s an Option C in there," he said. "I would want it to be an extension of the integrity, of the openness, of the communication and a lot of the issues Tony Evers stood for, but I would tell you we’re going to have a different dynamic with the next governor, whoever that is."

Brennan said a more evenly divided Legislature could allow him to make the most of relationships he's maintained with lawmakers in both parties.

He said while Evers largely played the role of a goalie, deflecting away GOP bills, he could have a more active role in reaching a bipartisan consensus on bills.

"If we looked at my cell phone number, it may be crazy, but I’ve got numbers of the legislative leaders," he said. "I’ve got cell phone numbers of the legislative leaders in the Assembly and Senate now, and that wouldn’t change. These people wouldn’t lose my number if I got elected."

'Ideology, strategy and style'

A Marquette University Law School poll from late October found the vast majority of voters don't know who they're backing in the governor's race. 81% of Democrats and 70% of Republicans said they were undecided.

UW-La Crosse Political Science Professor Anthony Chergosky said that meant candidates still had a lot of work to do in terms of defining themselves, and it also meant there are wide open lanes for candidates who haven't yet launched campaigns.

"The Marquette poll indicated that not only are most Democratic voters undecided," Chergosky said. "But most voters have not even really heard of these candidates."

Chergosky noted Democratic candidates have a couple different options in terms of how they present themselves. Do they take a fiery tone, vowing to fight the Trump administration? Do they position themselves as dealmakers willing to work across the aisle?

Beyond that, do they align those approaches with a pledge to pursue an openly progressive policy platform? Or do they adopt more moderate positions?

"I think there are some interesting conversations happening within the Democratic Party right now about ideology, strategy and style," Chergosky said.

Brennan indicated his campaign would have a relatively calm tone.

"If it’s about who’s the angriest or who has the reddest face, or who just wants to wreak vengeance, then I may not be successful," he said. "But if it’s about, ‘Yes, we’re angry, but yes, we also want to get something done,’ I think I’ve got the ability, and I think I’ve proven and demonstrated that’s who I have been."

You can watch past CBS 58 interviews with the following candidates:

Ryan Strnad

David Crowley

Kelda Roys

Francesca Hong

Missy Hughes

Tom Tiffany