As Unemployment Hits 4-Year High, Missy Hughes Condemns Destructive Tariffs and GOP Congressional Inaction That Takes Away Health Care from Millions

As The Economy Worsens, Wisconsin Needs Missy’s Proven Record and Bold Economic Vision in the Governor’s Office

Missy is the Only Candidate for Governor who has Created Jobs and Expanded Economic Prosperity Across the State

VIROQUA, WI – Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Missy Hughes today called out tariffs and Republican Congressional failure on health care as yesterday’s new US Department of Commerce jobs report shows the unemployment rate has ticked up to a four-year high of 4.6%. The report, released with the holidays just around the corner, also showed wages slowed to just 3.5%, the most sluggish performance since the pre-pandemic period.

“Every day, more and more Wisconsinites are getting hammered by job-crippling tariffs, diminishing wages, and spiraling costs on everything from groceries to utilities to health care. This is exceptionally tough with the holiday season upon us, and people forced to choose between celebrations with family and friends, or necessities like food, rent or medical bills,” said Missy. “Wisconsin needs a governor who knows how to create jobs and unlock economic growth, and I’ve dedicated my career to building opportunity and prosperity for everyone in every corner of our entire state. As your governor I’ll create a Main Street Economy that thrives for every Wisconsin worker, family and business.”

Trump’s Tariffs have already reached $200 billion, higher costs that are almost universally passed on to consumers and companies. With the Affordable Care Act subsidies expiring by the end of the year thanks to Republican refusal to act in Congress, hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites could see massive increases in health insurance costs that will wreck household budgets — or have their health insurance taken away altogether. According to recent reports, worsening economic conditions are causing most people to tighten their belts this holiday season.

Missy Hughes is an industry leader and proven job creator who has spent her career delivering opportunities that move all of Wisconsin forward. For 17 years, Missy served as a dairy executive at Organic Valley, helping the farmer-owned dairy cooperative grow to $1 billion in sales while keeping 1,600 family farmers on their land. She understands Wisconsin farming and food processing industry inside and out, and knows what it takes for communities to prosper, and for this $100B+ economic sector to thrive. She was appointed by Governor Tony Evers to lead Wisconsin’s Economic Development Corporation in 2019. Under Missy’s leadership, major companies like Milwaukee Tool, Microsoft, Eli Lilly, Kikkoman and more committed to invest over $10 billion and create 45,000 good-paying jobs across Wisconsin. She also helped more than 9,500 Wisconsinites start small businesses on Main Streets across all 72 counties, launching the Main Street Bounceback Program which filled empty storefronts with small businesses like coffee shops, art studios, and barber shops.

Missy currently lives in Southwestern Wisconsin, just outside of Viroqua with her husband Tripp, their dogs, two donkeys, and a flock of seventy sheep. Missy and Tripp have three children, and she has run eight marathons and grows beautiful dahlias.

For more information, please visit missyforgovernor.com.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.