MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin Democratic candidate for governor Sara Rodriguez announced Monday that her campaign holds hundreds of thousands of dollars less cash than she believed after planned advertisements failed to air last week due to unpaid invoices.

The current lieutenant governor dismissed her campaign manager late Sunday, just a month ahead of the Aug. 11 primary. She found that contributions had been recorded twice while expenses were listed too low, leaving the operation with far less money than reports indicated.

At a news conference with supporters, Rodriguez pledged to stay in the race and described the situation as a bump in the road.

This campaign will continue moving forward, she said during the appearance at headquarters.

Rodriguez faces a crowded Democratic primary for the open governor seat that includes democratic socialist Francesca Hong, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, state Sen. Kelda Roys and Joel Brennan, a former top aide to Gov. Tony Evers. Evers has not endorsed any candidate.

The primary winner will face Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in November, as he encounters only minor opposition in his own primary.

Barnes campaign manager Darby O Connor called such an error unheard of in professional politics and added that a campaign this poorly managed has no chance against Tom Tiffany this fall.

Hong issued a statement saying she remains focused on her own effort yet stressed that every candidate must uphold standards of trust, honesty and accountability.

Brennan labeled the mistakes disqualifying.

Roys spokesperson Jalen Knuteson said the episode fits a pattern showing Rodriguez is unprepared for the demands of a general election or governing.

Rodriguez had announced a one million dollar television ad purchase last week. When the spots did not begin as scheduled she investigated and uncovered the reporting problems.

I am hurt, angry and deeply disappointed by someone I trusted to run my campaign, Rodriguez said of fired manager Kara Spencer. I was continually getting inaccurate reports from my campaign manager.

Spencer did not respond to a request for comment.

Rodriguez next filing, covering fundraising and spending in the first half of the year, is due Wednesday.

She said the campaign notified the Wisconsin Ethics Commission on Monday and is working to correct the January report on last year activity.

The 618,000 dollars she reported raising in 2025 ranked second among Democratic candidates, behind only Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley with roughly 800,000 dollars. Crowley exited the race last week and endorsed Rodriguez after the million dollar ad buy was announced.

Former candidate Missy Hughes, a onetime state economic development director, also endorsed Rodriguez after ending her own bid last month.

Rodriguez said the delayed ads will begin next week. She declined to specify the exact size of the discrepancy while reconciliation continues but noted the campaign has raised about one million dollars and holds roughly 200,000 dollars in cash.

She emphasized transparency about the issue.

If I were trying to hide something I would not be here today telling you about it, she said. Most people are not going to stand in front of this many cameras and microphones to talk about fixing an error.