MADISON, Wis. — Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez says she never saw herself running for governor. Still, she’s the first Democrat in the race, launching her campaign last month less than 24 hours after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers announced that he would not seek reelection .

Rodriguez has risen quickly from political unknown to the state’s second-in-command. But Wisconsin’s lieutenant governor doesn’t have many official responsibilities and doesn’t receive much name recognition. With a wide-open primary in both political parties, she hopes her early start will give her an edge in the race that’s still more than a year away.

The 50-year-old Brookfield resident began her career serving in the Peace Corps. After going back to school to become a nurse, she worked in an emergency department in Balt

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