Yee Leng Xiong Defeats Incumbent John Lieber in Race for State Treasurer
Xiong, a Democrat, is the first Hmong American in the nation to be elected to statewide office.
Yee Leng Xiong.
Incumbent John Leiber, a Republican, was defeated by challenger Yee Leng Xiong, a Democrat, in the race for state treasurer.
Xiong is the first Hmong American in the nation to be elected to a statewide office.
Leiber, who was elected to the office in 2022, said his goal was to keep the office small and noted that it was the smallest state treasurer’s office in the country. “I’m not attempting to take on new duties or responsibilities,” Leiber said.
Xiong argued the treasurer should have a bigger role, acting as an “independent fiscal watchdog,” ensuring there is no “waste and fraud” in state spending, and helping citizens understand how their taxes are being spent.
Over the years, the Wisconsin Legislature, under both Republican and Democratic governors, has removed most of the job duties of state treasurer. In a 2018 referendum, voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate the position.
One duty that remains: the treasurer is one of three Wisconsin elected officials who manage the state’s Common School Fund and other trust funds for education. The Common School Fund supports libraries in public K-12 schools and distributed $73.5 million last year. Xiong said he would like to see the treasurer’s office explore ways to generate new revenue for the schools.
Leiber argued instead for consistency, noting that the office has been marked by turnover for two decades, with voters electing a new state treasurer every four years since 2006. He said the office would benefit from continuity.
“It’s hard to build connections with legislators and other officials when they think you’re not going to be there that long,” Leiber said.
The son of Hmong refugees, Xiong led the Hmong American Center in Wausau for eight years and currently serves on the Marathon County Board and the D.C. Everest Area School Board. In the August primary for state treasurer, he easily defeated A.J. Helmenstine, getting nearly 58% of the vote.
Before taking office in 2023, Leiber worked as a tax adviser for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and a private attorney in real estate and wills. In 2018, he ran for state Assembly in District 62, but lost the Republican primary.
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