Sarah Godlewski

Godlewski was born and raised in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and graduated from Eau Claire's Memorial High School in 2000.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Shawn |title=Wisconsin Treasurer Sarah Godlewski To Run For US Senate |url=https://www.wpr.org/wisconsin-treasurer-sarah-godlewski-run-us-senate|date=April 14, 2021 |work=Wisconsin Public Radio |access-date=June 16, 2022 }} She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in peace and conflict resolution from George Mason University.{{cite news |last1=Bauer |first1=Scott |title=Wisconsin Treasurer Godlewski launches US Senate bid |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/wisconsin-treasurer-godlewski-launches-us-senate-bid-77062352 |access-date=June 16, 2022 |work=ABC News |agency=Associated Press |date=April 14, 2021}} She also completed a certificate in public treasury management from the National Institute of Public Finance and Pepperdine School of Management, was a national security fellow at the Air War College, and attended the University of Virginia Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership as well as the Executive Master of Public Administration program at the University of Pennsylvania.{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/madison-civil-service-education-wisconsin-archive-a6d397ebc30c4bcc8c5e46c9b2b381bf|work=Associated Press|agency=Wisconsin State Journal |title=Candidate Q&A: State Treasurer Democratic Party |date=August 12, 2018 |last=Wroge |first=Logan}}

Godlewski has worked in philanthropy. Projects included education reform and public health in Uganda.{{cite news|last1=Bahrampour|first1=Tara|title=Learning Experience After building a life in Arlington, Ugandan immigrant John Wanda decided to build something more ambitious – a school for his native village|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/2006/05/21/learning-experience-span-classbankheadafter-building-a-life-in-arlington-ugandan-immigrant-john-wanda-decided-to-build-something-more-ambitious-a-school-for-his-native-village-span/cdaee937-65bc-4c1f-88b9-2c9b62dfb2b1/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 21, 2006|access-date=February 21, 2018}} Between 2004 and 2012, Godlewski worked for defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton.{{Cite news|last=Bice|first=Daniel|title=Bice: U.S. Senate candidate Sarah Godlewski says she saved taxpayers 'tens of millions of dollars.' She just can't prove it.|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/investigations/daniel-bice/2021/05/24/senate-candidate-sarah-godlewski-cant-verify-pentagon-savings-claim/5163800001/|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=May 24, 2021|access-date=June 10, 2021|language=en-US}}

Image:Sarah_Godlewski_and_Hillary_Clinton.jpg in 2016]]

Godlewski worked for Arapahoe County, Colorado, from 2012 to 2016 as the director of the Office of Strategy and Performance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.td.org/magazines/the-public-manager/creating-a-strategy-that-speaks-to-everyone|title=Creating a Strategy That Speaks to Everyone|website=Association for Talent Development|access-date=December 23, 2018}}{{cite press release|title= Arapahoe County hires new Director of Performance Management Sarah Godlewski will support and assist departments, elected offices with the County's Align Arapahoe initiatives and performance measures|url=http://www.co.arapahoe.co.us/Archive/ViewFile/Item/146|date=December 18, 2012|work=Arapahoe County, Colorado|access-date=February 21, 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181012214520/http://www.co.arapahoe.co.us/Archive/ViewFile/Item/146 |archive-date= October 12, 2018 |via= Wayback Machine}} During that time, Godlewski was a member of the Joint Task Force on Veterans with PTSD which made recommendations to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Congress.

In 2015, Godlewski co-founded investment firm MaSa Impact with her husband Max Duckworth.{{Cite web|title=MaSa Partners Investor Profile: Portfolio & Exits |url=https://pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/164283-58|access-date=2021-06-10|website=pitchbook.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Wisconsin Treasurer Godlewski launches US Senate bid|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/wisconsin-treasurer-godlewski-launches-us-senate-bid-77062352|access-date=2021-06-10|website=ABC News|language=en}} They first met in 2013 on a regional volunteer board of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/courtship-children/21981|title=A Courtship for Children|date=February 15, 2015|access-date=February 15, 2025 |website=UNICEF USA! |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180222050108/https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/courtship-children/21981 |archive-date= February 22, 2018 |via= Wayback Machine }}

In 2016, Godlewski was the director of Women's Outreach for Wisconsin in Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Godlewski caucused for Clinton in Colorado in March 2016. She did not vote in the general election in Wisconsin, because she was unsure of whether she qualified as a resident, according to a spokesperson.{{Cite web|last=Bice|first=Daniel|title=Bice: U.S. Senate candidate Sarah Godlewski didn't vote in 2016 election despite working on Hillary Clinton campaign|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/investigations/daniel-bice/2021/06/29/sarah-godlewski-didnt-vote-2016-despite-role-clinton-campaign/7786423002/|date= June 29, 2021|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|language=en-US|access-date=2021-07-17}}

Godlewski served on the board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and served as chairperson of the UNICEF Advocacy Committee. She also served on the board for mOm Incubators,{{cite news|title=Innovators & Disruptors: The 2017 Tech 25|url=http://washingtonlife.com/2017/11/07/2017-tech-25/|work=Washington Life Magazine|date=November 7, 2017|access-date=February 22, 2018}} the Arlington Academy of Hope, and George Mason University's School of Visual and Performance Arts. Godlewski has also been an investor with WE Capital.{{cite web|title=Interview: Sarah Godlewski|url=http://iknowpolitics.org/en/learn/interviews/sarah-godlewski|website=iKnowPolitics|date=July 27, 2016 |access-date=February 21, 2018}}

In the spring of 2018, Godlewski led a campaign coalition opposing a Wisconsin ballot measure that would have eliminated the office of the state treasurer from the Constitution of Wisconsin.{{Cite news |title=Wisconsin State Treasurer Godlewski launches US Senate bid |url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-eau-claire-wisconsin-b806ac128115228676eb393ea180c110 |last=Bauer |first=Scott |date=April 14, 2021 |work=Associated Press}} Voters rejected the constitutional amendment, with 62% voting against eliminating the office of state treasurer.{{Cite report|url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Amended%2520Cty%2520Report-4.3.18-Spring%2520Election-Stwd%2520Referendum-Includes%2520Washburn%2520Co%2520Results.pdf |title=County by County Report - 2018 Spring Election |publisher= Wisconsin Elections Commission |date= May 7, 2018 |accessdate= February 15, 2025 }} Just after the referendum, in April 2018, Godlewski announced her candidacy for state treasurer.{{Cite web|url=https://shepherdexpress.com/api/content/cbb35a74-dc86-11e8-a2c6-128d24488d16/|title=Sarah Godlewski for Wisconsin State Treasurer |date=October 30, 2018|work=Shepherd Express|language=en-us|access-date=December 23, 2018}} Godlewski won a three-way primary on August 14, 2018, receiving 43.5% of the vote.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/14/us/elections/results-wisconsin-primary-elections.html|title=Wisconsin Primary Election Results|last=Almukhtar|first=Sarah|newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 14, 2018 |access-date=August 16, 2018|language=en}} Her opponents were former television anchor Cynthia Kaump and former state treasurer Dawn Marie Sass.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbc15.com/content/news/Wisconsin-commission-certifies-election-results-501818201.html|title=Wisconsin commission certifies election results|agency=Associated Press|website=WMTV|date=December 3, 2018 |language=english|access-date=December 16, 2018}}

For the general election, Godlewski raised over $700,000 for her campaign, while Travis Hartwig, her Republican opponent, raised less than $13,000.{{Cite web|title=2018 Campaign Finance Profile - Sarah Godlewski|url=https://www.wisdc.org/follow-the-money/125-campaign-finance-profiles-2018/candidate-profiles-2018/6481-2018-campaign-finance-profile-sarah-godlewski#money|access-date=2021-06-12|website=www.wisdc.org}} Godlewski and her husband contributed over $300,000 to her own campaign.{{Cite web|title=GODLEWSKI, SARAH - FollowTheMoney.org|url=https://www.followthemoney.org/entity-details?eid=43118503|access-date=2021-06-12|website=www.followthemoney.org}} She won the general election with 50.9% of the vote, to Hartwig's 46.8%.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/story/news/2018/11/07/wisconsin-elections-democrat-sarah-godlewski-leads-state-treasurer-race/1835960002/|title=Wisconsin elections: Democrat Sarah Godlewski wins state treasurer race|work=Wisconsin Rapids Tribune|date= November 7, 2018|access-date=November 8, 2018|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.wbay.com/content/news/Democrat-Godlewski-wins-State-Treasurers-office-499911642.html|title=Democrat Godlewski wins State Treasurer's office|work=WEAU |date= November 7, 2018|via=WBAY-TV|access-date=November 8, 2018|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/29/new-wave-of-democrats-owe-huge-debt-people-power|title=The new wave of Democrats owes a huge debt to people power |last=Younge|first=Gary|date=November 29, 2018|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=December 23, 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} She took more of the vote share than the newly elected Democratic governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general and flipped 9 counties that had voted for Trump in the 2016 presidential election.{{Cite news |last=Holbrook |first=Liz |date=2021-07-21 |title=Wisconsin Senate Candidate Sarah Godlewski Tours Merrill Manufactuer |work=WOZZ |url=https://947thebeast.com/2021/07/21/wisconsin-senate-candidate-sarah-godlewski-tours-merrill-manufactuer/}}

After being elected, Godlewski received a memo from the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau that identified 16 responsibilities that the state treasurer should be doing but had neglected in recent years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/future-state-treasurer-finds-responsibilities-not-addressed-in-years|title=Future state treasurer faces tough challenges|date=December 4, 2018|work=WTMJ-TV|language=en|access-date=December 16, 2018}} During the transition for Governor-elect Tony Evers, Godlewski was appointed to serve as a member of the Next Generation Workforce and Economic Development Policy Advisory Council.{{Cite web|url=https://madison365.com/evers-and-barnes-announce-next-generation-workforce-and-economic-development-policy-advisory-council/|title=Evers and Barnes Announce Next Generation Workforce and Economic Development Policy Advisory Council|website=Madison365|date=December 7, 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=December 16, 2018}}{{Cite press release|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/governor-elect-tony-evers-and-lt-governor-elect-mandela-barnes-announce-next-generation-workforce-and-economic-development-policy-advisory-council/|title=Governor-elect Tony Evers and Lt. Governor-elect Mandela Barnes Announce Next Generation Workforce and Economic Development Policy Advisory Council|date= December 7, 2018|work= Office of Governor-elect Tony Evers |via=Urban Milwaukee|language=en|access-date=December 16, 2018}} In January 2019, Godlewski was unanimously elected to serve as chairwoman of the state Board of Commissioners of Public Lands.{{Cite web|url=https://www.leadertelegram.com/features/on-campus/godlewski-to-chair-public-lands-board/article_5be561d5-ff20-5fe6-b321-f0ff17cc412d.html|title=Godlewski to chair Public Lands board|work= Eau Claire Leader-Telegram|date=January 19, 2019 |language=en|access-date=January 20, 2019}} The state Board of Commissioners of Public Lands voted to lift a GOP mandated gag order prohibiting staff from discussing or considering the material risk of climate change to state investments.{{Cite news|title=Board of Commissioners of Public Lands overturns gag order on climate change|last=Weihert|first=Sarah|date=February 11, 2019|work=Lake Mills Leader}} In August 2019, Godlewski and Governor Evers established a Retirement Task Force to create new investment options and expand awareness of retirement planning in Wisconsin.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wpr.org/wisconsin-state-treasurer-governor-launch-retirement-task-force|title=Wisconsin State Treasurer, Governor Launch Retirement Task Force|last=Kirwan|first=Hope|date=August 22, 2019|work=Wisconsin Public Radio|language=en|access-date=January 14, 2020}} In February 2021, the task force presented its results to Governor Evers. Its recommendations included five proposals: WisconsinSaves, 401(K)ids, Emergency Savings, Incentivize Participation, and Interactive E-Commerce Portal.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.wisbusiness.com/2021/state-treasurer-godlewski-governors-task-force-unveils-innovative-bipartisan-proposals-to-strengthen-retirement-security-for-wisconsin-workers-and-families/|title=State Treasurer Godlewski: Governor's Task Force Unveils Innovative, Bipartisan Proposals to Strengthen Retirement Security for Wisconsin Workers and Families |date=February 11, 2021 |work= Office of the Treasurer of Wisconsin |via= Wisbusiness.com}} In March 2020, Godlewski created the Treasurer's Homeowners Task Force.{{cite news |title=State Treasurer Godlewski brings together Homeowners Task Force to help Wisconsinites buy homes and stay in them |url=https://www.seehafernews.com/2020/03/08/state-treasurer-godlewski-brings-together-homeowners-task-force-to-help-wisconsinites-buy-homes-and-stay-in-them/ |access-date=April 17, 2021 |publisher=Seehafer News |date=March 8, 2020}} In her role as the chair of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, she released an additional $5.25 million to aid in virtual learning on top of a record $38.2 million to public school libraries.{{cite news |title=State Treasurer announces $5.25 million for public schools during COVID19 |url=https://www.weau.com/content/news/State-distributes-525-million-to-help-remote-learning-569659391.html |access-date=April 17, 2021 |work=WEAU |date=April 15, 2020}}

{{main|2022 United States Senate election in Wisconsin#Democratic primary}}

On April 14, 2021, Godlewski announced that she would run for United States Senate in the 2022 election.{{Cite news|title=Wisconsin Treasurer Godlewski launches US Senate bid|url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-eau-claire-wisconsin-b806ac128115228676eb393ea180c110|last=Bauer|first=Scott|date=2021-04-14|work=Associated Press}} She was endorsed by EMILY's List, a Democratic political action committee (PAC) that seeks to elect pro-choice women.{{Cite news|title=EMILY's List endorses Democrat Sarah Godlewski in 2022 Senate Race|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2021/06/29/sarah-godlewski-claims-emilys-list-endorsement-u-s-senate-race/7789196002/|last=Glauber|first=Bill|date=June 29, 2021|access-date= November 12, 2021}}

Godlewski's investments in 14 pharmaceutical companies drew scrutiny from a reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel due to her attacks on big pharma in advertisements for her Senate run. Godlewski's campaign responded that the stocks had all been sold by early 2022 and she had not been involved in routine investment management.{{Cite web |last=Bice |first=Daniel |title=Bice: Sarah Godlewski hates how much Big Pharma charges for drugs. But she didn't mind owning its stock. |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/investigations/daniel-bice/2022/04/04/sarah-godlewski-sells-stock-drug-companies-before-attacking-them/7244298001/|date= April 4, 2022 |access-date=June 13, 2022 |work= Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |language=en-US}}

Godlewski dropped out of the race in July 2022 prior to the August 2022 Democratic primary and endorsed Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes.{{cite news |last1=Greenwood |first1=Max |title=Sarah Godlewski ends Senate bid in Wisconsin, clearing path for Barnes |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3579518-sarah-godlewski-ends-senate-bid-in-wisconsin-clearing-path-for-barnes/|work=The Hill |date=July 29, 2022 |access-date= July 29, 2022 }} By the time she dropped out of the Senate race, it was too late to file to run for re-election as treasurer, and Godlewski's term in office expired in January 2023.

In a surprise announcement on March 17, 2023, Governor Tony Evers revealed that the recently re-elected secretary of state, Doug La Follette, would retire after forty years in office. Evers then said that he would immediately appoint Godlewski to serve out the remainder of La Follette's four-year term, expiring January 2027.{{cite news|url= https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/03/17/doug-la-follette-to-retire-as-secretary-of-state-evers-taps-godlewski/70020959007/ |title= Secretary of State Doug La Follette to retire, Gov. Tony Evers appoints Sarah Godlewski to post |first= Molly |last= Beck |newspaper= Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date= March 17, 2023 |accessdate= March 17, 2023 }}

{{Reflist}}

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• [https://statetreasurer.wi.gov/Pages/Home.aspx Government website]
• [https://sarahforwisconsin.com/ Campaign website]

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