Missy Hughes stopped in studio on a frigid Friday to discuss her bid for Wisconsin governor.

We began by talking about her background leading the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation for six years under Gov. Tony Evers and her 17 years as general counsel for Organic Valley.

Then we got into her newly released “Unlock Wisconsin” economic plan, which proposes specific targets for housing, job training and small business creation.

Hughes notes she is the only Democratic candidate in the field who isn’t from Madison or Milwaukee and hasn’t run for office before. Drawing on Viroqua her roots and her tenure at Organic Valley, we talked about how she tries to get through to rural voters, who typically lean Republican.

Other topics included setting herself apart from the field, and GOP candidate Tom Tiffany. We also hit on the state’s estimated $4 billion budget surplus, plus what her priorities might be if she wins the governor’s race alongside a Democratic majority in the Legislature.

We ended the conversation by getting her take on data centers, which are a growing presence in Wisconsin.