Politics & Government
Former Lt. Gov. Kleefisch Positive For COVID-19 Amid Campaign
The gubernatorial candidate for next year's election tested positive for COVID-19 while on the campaign trail in northern Wisconsin.
WISCONSIN — Rebecca Kleefisch, a former lieutenant governor of Wisconsin and the GOP gubernatorial candidate running against incumbent Tony Evers in 2022, tested positive for the COVID-19 virus Friday.
Alec Zimmerman, the communications director for the candidate's campaign, told Patch that Kleefisch had been exposed to someone while at church on Sept 12. She learned about the exposure Thursday and took a test Friday, which showed she was positive for the coronavirus, he said.
"[Kleefisch] is feeling fine," Zimmerman said.
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The campaign has canceled its upcoming events and is notifying recent close contacts, he said. The former lieutenant governor had received the COVID-19 vaccine last spring, he added.
Posts from Kleefisch's Twitter account shows the candidate interacting with people Sept. 12-13 and mentions places such as Waupaca, La Crosse, Hudson and Eau Claire.
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Great events in Waupaca and La Crosse! Folks all across Wisconsin are ready to take on Tony Evers next fall. pic.twitter.com/a1fT4zd82x
— Rebecca Kleefisch (@RebeccaforReal) September 12, 2021
The former lieutenant governor missed several large GOP meetings over the weekend including fundraisers in Green Bay and Eau Clare, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
Kleefisch announced her bid for governor on Sept. 9, opening with a campaign video blasting Democrat Evers' leadership.
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