A Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor who had campaigned on a platform of family values quit the race Friday after a report revealed that he followed sexually explicit internet social media accounts.
Bill Berrien, a manufacturing executive and former Navy SEAL, dropped out after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on Berrien’s history on the blogging website Medium, where he followed a transgender adult film star named Jiz Lee and authors of sexually explicit essays, including some about polyamory. His Medium account has since been deleted.
“Looking towards what is in the best interest of the party, voters, donors, and my family, I have decided to end my campaign,” Berrien said in a statement on his website.
Berrien told The Associated Press that the media focused on “stupid articles I read years ago” and had “painted a salacious and sensational picture that was clearly targeted to force me out of this governor race. It was a major attack piece.”
“And for what? For reading!” Berrien said in his published statement. “Nothing illegal, nothing unethical, and nothing immoral. Just reading. Wouldn’t you want your political and business leaders (and all of society, frankly) to be widely read and thoughtful and aware of different perspectives and ideas?”
Berrien, a supporter of Donald Trump, had vowed to “defend parents’ rights, push back on the left’s radical agenda, and refocus education on the values Wisconsin families believe in,” according to his campaign website. He also said “our daughters’ sports teams and locker rooms are at risk because of radical social experimentation.”
The Republican primary for governor is in August 2026. With Berrien’s departure from the race, three other Republican candidates — U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann and Andrew Manske — remain.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers announced in July that he would not run for re-election.
