debating the issues. >> Tom, Tiffany, thank you
so much for coming in. >> It's great to join you,
Zach. >> Up next is the other
Republican in the primary race for governor, who was
first to throw his hat into the ring back in May.
Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann.
>> Josh Schoemann, thanks for joining us.
>> Yeah, thanks for having me. Good to be here.
>> So for voters who don't know you, give us the quick
story. Who are you and why are you running for
governor? is I'm a Christian. First,
I'm the son of a minister. My my dad's ministry was in
mostly northeastern was a registered nurse. My
wife and I have been married almost 25 years.
Both Wisconsin kids were raised our family and
mostly in Washington County, and we now have an 80 acre
farm in between West Bend and Grafton. Love,
Wisconsin through and through. Aside from a tour
of duty in Iraq in 2003, and I always joke a tour of
duty in the Chicagoland suburbs while I was getting
my master's degree at Wisconsin kid and been back
working in public service my whole life. Dedicated it
to the service and sacrifice of the guys and
gals who didn't make it back, and reflecting the
Lord's love by loving my neighbor as myself in
public service the last 12 years in Washington County.
>> So is there a single issue that would define you,
or maybe a lane within the Republican Party that helps
define you? driven being very people
focused and and mostly interested in solving
problems. That's why I got into public service. I
actually started in public administration because I
little too volatile and too theoretical. Public
administration is really where the rubber hits the
road, and you're dealing with people where they're
at. My first job back in Wisconsin was deputy clerk
treasurer in Princeton, Green Lake County, and I
ended up taking on responsibilities in public
works, literally shoveling out lift stations. So, you
know, I think those are important things, making
sure when you flush the toilet, it does what it's
supposed to do and the garbage is collected on
time. And to this day, that's who I am as
Washington County Executive and who I will be as
governor. think you're going to need
to raise to win this primary? And then what
happens after that in a general election?
>> Yeah, I mean, it's it's embarrassing the fact that
this is probably a quarter billion dollar race all in
for for both sides and all the outside spending and
just the candidate alone. I'm told about basement
floor, 20 million, first floor probably closer to 40
million. So it's it's a serious endeavor and one
that we're excited about. >> When it comes to a
competitive primary. Where do you personally draw the
line between negative campaigning versus just
defining the differences between yourself and an
opponent? gets personal, that's
really the the dividing line. There's certainly
differences in on our side of the aisle. There's only
two of us in this race right now. And there's
certainly differences between policy approach. I
think those are important to point out. And I think
that's the essence of the primary process. But once
it becomes personal attacks, I mean, I think that's
where we've seen primaries in the past go awry. And I
have no intention of going down that, that lane. And I
hope the door swings both ways.
aware of the candidates, should they be looking at
which candidate has the closest issues to them or
general electability? >> Well, I think it's both.
I mean, first and foremost, I think this has got to be
about the people and local communities a little bit
more about Washington less about Washington, D.C.
but then I also think there's there's something
to be said about the types of attributes it's going to
take to win a general election. Generals are, of
course, much different than Republican side in
particular, we've spent a little bit too much time
focusing on who can win a primary purity tests of of
sorts, and we need to spend more time thinking about
what can win in the general election. I think when you
when you put my resume next to anybody, I think the
answer is clear. If we want to be in the governor's
mansion in January of 2027, I think not only me, but my
profile and our campaign is the type that wins.
>> This is an interesting contrast because we have
the northern Wisconsin, which is kind of the the
new prime territory in Wisconsin for Republicans
versus the old guard, the wow counties, which
obviously represent. So how do you view that that
matchup. that's one of the main
contrasts north versus certainly a generational
difference. But I also think it's, you know, local
and and personal versus kind of state and DC
Madison in Washington DC, I think those are basically
the dividing lines. And I think it's a good contrast
for people to really wrestle with what's best
for us to choose in August, to put up in November for
the best shot, to have the governor's mansion in
January. >> How do you think Donald
Trump will impact this race? >> Oh, huge. I mean, you
know, it's the president's party. And that's been
clear for the last ten years. But I think one
thing to keep in mind is President Trump came on the
scene in 2015 after the 2010 Tea Party wave.
Republicans basically ran on three major points,
reduced the debt, eliminate deficits, and repeal and
replace Obamacare. Here we are 15 years later, and
we're still talking about those three things.
Sometimes President Trump one pushing the needle on
any of those by himself that can't. That's
unacceptable. And I think it's why we continue to
feel a churn in politics across America. So he's
he's got a humongous impact. I certainly am going to
work my tail off to earn his support and endorsement
and show him that he can have the confidence in me
that I've got this race. Once we get past August and