We got to know Republican Josh Schoemann, as he continues his bid to be Wisconsin’s next governor.

Schoemann has been Washington County executive since 2020, after serving six years as the county administrator and manager.

We started the conversation talking about his work as county exec, plus his time serving in the Army National Guard and being deployed to Iraq.

On the political side, we asked what his top three priorities would be as governor, which included a lot of discussion about housing and restoring local control.

That led to questions about minimum wage for individual communities and undoing things like former GOP Gov. Scott Walker’s plastic “bag ban-ban” — which prevented communities from banning plastic bags.

We also discussed data centers — including one located about 15 minutes from his home — and the dilemmas they pose for the state.

This conversation happened the day before Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany entered the race. Schoemann is now one of three Republicans running — along with Bill Berrien, who was on the show last month.

Five Democrats are currently in the race, including David Crowley who joined La Crosse Talk in the WIZM studio earlier this month.

The Democratic candidates are:
Ryan Strnad
Sara Rodriguez
David Crowley
Kelda Roys
Francesca Hong

 

We got to know Republican Josh Schoemann, as he continues his bid to be Wisconsin&rsquo;s next governor.
Schoemann has been Washington County executive since 2020, after serving six years as the county administrator and manager.
We started the conversation talking about his work as county exec, plus his time serving in the Army National Guard and being deployed to Iraq.
On the political side, we asked what his top three priorities would be as governor, which included a lot of discussion about housing and restoring local control.
That led to questions about minimum wage for individual communities and undoing things like former GOP Gov. Scott Walker&rsquo;s plastic &ldquo;bag ban-ban&rdquo; &mdash; which prevented communities from banning plastic bags.
We also discussed data centers &mdash; including one located about 15 minutes from his home &mdash; and the dilemmas they pose for the state.
This conversation happened the day before Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2025/09/23/trump-loyalist-us-rep-tom-tiffany-enters-wisconsins-open-governors-race/">entered the race</a>. Schoemann is now one of three Republicans running &mdash; along with Bill Berrien, who was on the show last month.
Five Democrats are currently in the race, including David Crowley who <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2025/09/11/david-crowley-on-his-run-for-wi-governor-homelessness-in-la-crosse-and-500-million-brewers-deal/">joined La Crosse Talk in the WIZM studio</a> earlier this month.
The Democratic candidates are:
<ul>
<li>Ryan Strnad</li>
<li>Sara Rodriguez</li>
<li>David Crowley</li>
<li>Kelda Roys</li>
<li>Francesca Hong</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

WIZM's LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

WIZM's LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

WIZM - La Crosse  Talk Interviews

WIZM’s La Crosse Talk brings you the voices shaping Western Wisconsin.
Broadcast live weekday mornings on WIZM News Talk 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM, 1410 AM, and streaming at wizmnews.com and on the WIZM app, La Crosse Talk dives into the headlines, local politics, community issues, and conversations that matter most to listeners in the Coulee Region. Hosted as part of the La Crosse Talk Morning Show, each episode features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, elected officials, experts, and everyday citizens offering real perspectives on the events and decisions impacting La Crosse and surrounding communities. Whether it's breaking news, civic discussions, or community stories, La Crosse Talk keeps you informed and connected to the place you call home.

WIZM&rsquo;s La Crosse Talk brings you the voices shaping Western Wisconsin. Broadcast live weekday mornings on WIZM News Talk 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM, 1410 AM, and streaming at <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/">wizmnews.com</a> and on the WIZM app, La Crosse Talk dives into the headlines, local politics, community issues, and conversations that matter most to listeners in the Coulee Region. Hosted as part of the La Crosse Talk Morning Show, each episode features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, elected officials, experts, and everyday citizens offering real perspectives on the events and decisions impacting La Crosse and surrounding communities.&nbsp;Whether it's breaking news, civic discussions, or community stories, La Crosse Talk keeps you informed and connected to the place you call home.