Fired Rodriguez campaign manager faced personal financial troubles, records show

July 15, 2026 - 07:15

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sara Rodriguez has parted ways with her campaign manager, Kara Spencer, after what the campaign described as financial irregularities. Public records now show that Spencer was facing significant personal financial strain at the time of her dismissal, including an active eviction case.

According to court documents filed in Dane County, Spencer was served with an eviction notice in early March for nonpayment of rent on her Madison apartment. The filing shows she owed more than three months of back rent, totaling over $4,500. Additional records indicate Spencer had multiple outstanding debts, including a default judgment from a credit card company and a separate collection action from a local utility provider.

The Rodriguez campaign issued a brief statement confirming Spencer's termination but declined to elaborate on the specific nature of the financial irregularities that led to the decision. Campaign officials said they discovered discrepancies in expense reports during a routine internal audit. They have since turned over relevant documents to law enforcement for review.

Spencer has not publicly commented on her firing or the financial records. She previously worked on several state-level Democratic campaigns before joining Rodriguez's bid for governor. Political analysts say the timing is awkward for Rodriguez, who has made transparency and ethical governance a central theme of her campaign. The candidate is scheduled to hold a press conference later this week to address questions about the situation.