Yee Leng Xiong Wins Wisconsin State Treasurer Race
Democratic nominee Yee Leng Xiong defeated Republican incumbent John Leiber to become the first Hmong American elected to a statewide office in the United States.
Yee Leng Xiong defeated Republican incumbent John Leiber in the Wisconsin state treasurer race, securing 51.1% of the vote compared to Leiber's 48.9%. The victory makes Xiong the first Hmong American in the United States to be elected to a statewide office.
Xiong campaigned on a platform of expanding the treasurer's role to serve as an independent fiscal watchdog to prevent fraud and waste. Her goals include increasing budget transparency and growing the Common School Fund. The state treasurer is responsible for managing that fund and serves on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, which oversees public forest lands and state trust funds.
John Leiber advocated for maintaining a small office and emphasized the need for institutional continuity. He argued that the office has suffered from a pattern of switching parties every four years since 2006, which he claimed hindered the ability to build lasting connections with legislators.
