The Chronicle reached out to candidates for their thoughts on antisemitism
According to a recent audit by the Jewish Community Relations Council, antisemitic incidents in Wisconsin have increased by 923% since 2015. As primary elections for Wisconsin’s attorney general and lieutenant governor approach, this rise in antisemitic incidents is a concern for many Jewish voters.
Elections for both attorney general and lieutenant governor will take place on Nov. 3, with the primaries on Aug. 11.
Last month, we featured candidates for governor. This month, we again asked candidates two questions, but this time we focused on the attorney general and lieutenant governor races.
The first question read, “Confirmed antisemitic incidents in Wisconsin surged to 174 in 2025, an 83% increase from 2024 to 2025, according to the 2025 Audit of Antisemetic Incidents released in late May 2026 by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Milwaukee Jewish Federation. Since 2015, the number of incidents has risen by 923%. Do you have any thoughts on what can be done about this problem? What is the attorney general’s (or lieutenant governor’s) role to help, if any?”
The second question read, “The Wisconsin Jewish community also cares deeply about our state. In general, what are your top three priorities for the state of Wisconsin as attorney general (or lieutenant governor)?”
We asked candidates to limit their responses to 300 words per question.
Eric Toney
Attorney general – Republican
Eric Toney
Eric Toney is a Wisconsin prosecutor who has worked on crimes including human trafficking, homicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, drug trafficking, financial crimes and racketeering. Toney has previously served as president of the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association and was named Wisconsin’s 2024 District Attorney of the Year. According to his campaign site, as attorney general, he “will restore the Department of Justice’s mission to fight crime, support law enforcement, protect families and enforce the law.”
On antisemitism:
“The 83% spike in antisemitic incidents in Wisconsin is alarming – and it’s part of a broader, deeply troubling pattern. According to FBI data, hate crimes statewide have increased 127% since our current Attorney General Josh Kaul took office. That’s not a coincidence. It’s a failure of leadership. As Fond du Lac County District Attorney for 13 years, I have personally prosecuted hate crime. Accountability matters – and it starts at the top. When the Attorney General treats violent crime as a political issue rather than a public safety crisis, perpetrators get the message. As AG, my approach will be direct: investigate hate crimes aggressively and make clear that Wisconsin will not tolerate bias-motivated violence of any kind, including antisemitism. I will partner with law enforcement, and local DAs to ensure incidents are investigated, and prosecuted fully. I’ll also fix the broken crime labs that are slowing justice across the board – including for hate crime victims. Under Kaul, DNA testing backlogs have grown longer despite more staff, more resources, and testing significantly less. Delayed evidence means delayed justice. No victim – of any crime – should wait years for accountability. I’ll bring the same accountability to the AG’s office that I’ve brought to Fond du Lac County for over a decade.”
On top state priorities:
“My three priorities as Attorney General reflect what law enforcement and Wisconsin families tell me they need most: First: Fix the crime labs. Kaul promised to improve forensic testing. Seven years later, turnaround times are longer and fewer items are being tested – despite more resources. The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau documented this failure. Day one, I will establish public metrics, clear timelines, and real accountability to cut the backlog and deliver justice for victims. Second: Confront the drug crisis. There are currently zero DOJ narcotics investigative agents in northern Wisconsin – down from four in 2013. Tribal Chairwoman Nicole Boyd confirmed this on the floor of the State of the Tribes address, saying it caused “many unnecessary deaths.” I will restore those DOJ resources and empower law enforcement to aggressively pursue drug traffickers from the border to every corner of our state. Third: Target violent crime and stand with victims. Milwaukee ranks among the most violent large cities in America. I will bring conservative, common-sense leadership focused on prosecuting violent offenders, backing law enforcement in all 72 counties, and ensuring no victim ever learns from the media that their attacker has been released. Put public safety before politics – that’s my promise to every Wisconsinite.”
Josh Kaul
Attorney general – Democrat
Josh Kaul (Incumbent)
Josh Kaul is the current attorney general of Wisconsin, serving since January 2019. According to his campaign website, his administration has fought crime, protected natural resources and defended Wisconsinites’ rights. Before he was elected, he was a federal prosecutor in Baltimore where he prosecuted murderers, gang members and drug traffickers. When he moved back to Wisconsin, he worked to protect Wisconsinites’ right to vote, when he went to court to challenge voting restrictions, according to his site.
On antisemitism:
“The surge in antisemitic incidents in Wisconsin and across the country is deeply disturbing. No one should be targeted, harassed, threatened, or made to feel unsafe because of their religion. In 2021, I joined a bipartisan group of attorneys general in calling for passage of the NO HATE Act, which sought to improve the response to hate crimes, including through improved hate crime reporting. That legislation was enacted that year as part of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. I believe we can and should do more to combat hate and discrimination. I support the creation of a hate crime hotline in Wisconsin. In addition, I have advocated for legislation that would provide significant civil rights enforcement authority to the attorney general. Further, elected officials should be willing to speak out against hate and discrimination, and they should oppose discriminatory policies.”
On top state priorities:
“My top priority as attorney general has been and will continue to be public safety. I advocated for reforming Wisconsin laws regarding sexual assault kits and my administration launched a sexual assault kit tracking system. My administration sought accountability relating to the opioid epidemic, helping to secure hundreds of millions of dollars. I have also fought for funding for crime victim services and the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Office of School Safety. In another term as AG, I will continue advocating for additional resources that can help make communities safer and for common-sense gun-safety measures, such as expanding background checks for firearms transfers. Protecting Wisconsinites’ quality of life is also a priority. The AG has an important role to play as a watchdog for Wisconsinites against special interests and others who harm consumers, taxpayers, or our natural resources. We need to continue to have an AG who stands up for all Wisconsinites and not one who would be reluctant to stand up to corporate special interests and the well-connected. Protecting our freedoms and the rule of law is a priority as well. I have stood up for reproductive freedom and our democracy, and my administration has joined many multistate cases alleging that the Trump administration has acted unlawfully. Our AG should defend our rights and be willing to challenge federal government actions that violate the law and harm Wisconsinites.”
Will Martin
Lieutenant governor – Republicans
Will Martin
Will Martin is a conservative talk radio host for “The Difference” on Milwaukee’s WNOV 860 AM. He has also been a small business owner and entrepreneur for the past 25 years. In the past, he served in senior leadership roles for two Wisconsin governors, Tommy Thompson and Scott Walker. In a note accompanying the below responses, he said:“I have lived, studied, and worked in Israel. I have met survivors and descendants of survivors of the Holocaust as well as victims of other antisemitism. As a person of color, I know what it is like to face discrimination borne out of ignorance and prejudice.”
On antisemitism:
“Wisconsinites deserve state leaders who are aware of, and have zero tolerance for, such hatred. As Lt. Governor, I would be honored to meet with representatives of the Milwaukee and Madison Jewish Federations throughout the year, speak out on the issue of antisemitism, and work with the community to offer concrete strategies for eradicating this evil in our state. I would seek to coordinate with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Wisconsin Technical Colleges, and Universities of Wisconsin and well as with civic and ecumenical leaders to discuss ways of incorporating opportunities to raise antisemitism awareness. Of course, we will respect free speech, but there can be no room in this state for inciting fear and violence among any part of our population. I would reach out to the Attorney General to ensure hate speech and actions leading to intimidation and violence are being prosecuted fully. Where current law is insufficient, I would help the community take those concerns to the Wisconsin Legislature to strengthen statutes. Given my strong relationships with much of Wisconsin’s federal delegation, I would be happy to do the same with our U.S. Senators and Representatives. Wisconsin must be a welcoming place for all, and I intend to be proactive in making it so in partnership with the Jewish community.”
On top state priorities:
“First and foremost, we have to make Wisconsin affordable again. HOUSING is well out of reach for far too many. The typical first-time homebuyer in the Badger State today is 40 years old. Homeownership is one of the foundational means of building generational wealth, and even being able to invest in college for one’s children or starting a business. We have to build more housing, including more “starter homes,” across our communities. If elected, I would work with the industry as well as municipal leaders to reduce administrative and zoning barriers, both of which can make housing much more expensive and/or greatly limit the ability to deliver more units. STREAMLINING is absolutely necessary, but sorely lacking, in state government. State government’s biennial budget has grown by nearly 50% in the last 7 years. We are now spending approximately $55 billion annually—about as much as the State of Illinois, which has double the population. It is time to consolidate some of state government’s more than 70 departments, agencies, commissions, and boards, and cut red tape in the process. It is time to reduce some of the 2.5 million square feet of office space the state owns or leases, too much of which is often empty. By prioritizing, we can reduce the size, cost, and intrusion of state government in the lives, wallets, and businesses of Wisconsinites. In turn, we will be able to freeze and/or cut property taxes and shift funding from the state to municipalities and school districts. SKILLS are critically important to compete in today’s workforce as well as among states and the globe. I have experience in developing public-private partnerships to accelerate workforce development, from information technology to construction trades, and look forward to championing again.”
David Varnam
David Varnam
David Varnam served as mayor of Lancaster, Wis., for six years until 2022, after serving for about three years as a member of the Common Council. According to his campaign website, he vetoed a 40% stormwater fee increase, defeated a proposed wheel tax — a local annual fee applied to registered vehicles — and kept property taxes low. Varnam is a past president of Grant County Economic Development, and he previously worked as a congressional aide and a policy analyst at Focus on the Family.
On antisemitism:
“These numbers are alarming and should not be occurring in Wisconsin. The Jewish community should not live in fear as they go through their day. Antisemitism should not be tolerated in the workplace or in schools, whether K-12 or college, and I would support policies that combat it.”
On top state priorities:
“We can all think of politicians that said what they would do if elected, then after being elected seemed to do the opposite. When I ran for Mayor of Lancaster in 2016, I ran as a fiscal conservative. When I left office in 2022 after serving three terms, Lancaster had the lowest property taxes and lowest utility fees of any city in Grant County. I was the first Mayor of Lancaster in over 20 years to use the veto, and I used it multiple times including to veto a 40% stormwater fee increase. I broke a tie to defeat a “wheel tax.” I did what I told voters I would do. I am running for Lieutenant Governor, hoping to work with Congressman Tom Tiffany to make Wisconsin a leader in the Midwest again. I have traveled to all corners of our state since announcing my candidacy in late September, driving more than 50,000 miles and visiting more than 60 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. Together we can be bold on lowering taxes, protect the sanctity of life, and keep men out of women’s sports and their bathrooms. We need to improve our education system and the opportunities it provides our children. I will work to give parents a choice and a voice in education, and work to raise test scores, standards and expectations for our students.”
Lieutenant governor – Democrat
Sarah Godlewski
Sarah Godlewski
Sarah Godlewski is currently serving as Wisconsin’s Secretary of State, after being appointed in 2023. From 2019 to 2023, she served as Wisconsin’s state treasurer, where she delivered record-breaking investments in public schools and created programs to keep Wisconsin families in their homes, according to her campaign team. Godlewski consulted the Department of Defense from 2004 to 2012. Later, she co-founded MaSa Impact, a clean energy and women-owned business investment firm.
On antisemitism:
“The surge in antisemitic incidents in Wisconsin is deeply alarming and demands a clear, unequivocal response: this has no place in our state. I condemn these incidents without hesitation or qualification, and I will always stand with Wisconsin’s Jewish community. As Lieutenant Governor, I will use my platform to speak out every time antisemitism rears its head in Wisconsin: in our schools, our communities, or our public discourse. Leadership that consistently and loudly condemns hatred helps set the tone for an entire state. I’ll work to ensure Wisconsin has the resources and partnerships needed to track, report, and respond to hate incidents. I will continue to support organizations like the Milwaukee Jewish Federation that are doing this vital work. Wisconsin is strongest when every community feels safe, seen, and protected. Jewish Wisconsinites deserve nothing less, and I will be a Lieutenant Governor who stands with you every day.”
On top state priorities:
“My top three priorities for Wisconsin are Affordability, Housing, and Healthcare. 1. Affordability: Too many Wisconsin families are working harder than ever and still falling behind. I’ll fight to make corporations pay their fair share, expand access to affordable childcare (which currently costs more than UW-Madison tuition) and build an economy where hard work actually pays off for working families, not just those at the top. 2. Housing: Wisconsin families shouldn’t have to choose between a roof over their heads and everything else. I’ll work to expand affordable housing options across the state, address the barriers that drive up costs, and ensure that homeownership remains an achievable goal for Wisconsin families. 3. Healthcare: No Wisconsinite should have to choose between seeing a doctor and putting food on the table. I’ll fight to protect and expand access to affordable healthcare, oppose Republican efforts to gut Medicaid, and work toward a Wisconsin where a medical bill never means financial ruin. My priorities are connected by the belief that Wisconsin made a promise to its people: If you work hard, play by the rules, you can build a good life. My job as Lieutenant Governor is to make sure that promise is kept for every Wisconsinite, in every corner of our state.”
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