Toney declines to say whether he’ll run for AG again, says Republicans united after Trump assassination attempt

Fond du Lac DA Eric Toney in a WisPolitics-WisconsinEye interview declined to say whether he’ll run for attorney general again after his unsuccessful 2022 bid against AG Josh Kaul. 

“I’m very humbled by the number of times people have asked me that,” Toney said. “And I, you know, I still care very deeply about the issues in Wisconsin and public safety, which is a primary responsibility of our Department of Justice. But I’m running for reelection for district attorney right now and unopposed, which is always a good feeling.”

Toney added he’s also focused on supporting candidates in other races, including the U.S. Supreme Court race to succeed outgoing liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, and working with Gov. Tony Evers office to extend federal funding for district attorney positions through the next year, or at least until July. 

Toney also said the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump has helped unite Republicans. He said he hopes people are able to tone down their rhetoric and focus on issues that matter. 

“Because I think over the last few years, that’s what we’ve really seen Wisconsinites care about are the issues, where we’ll see conservative values on constitutional amendments have passed, but conservative candidates have lost in some of those same elections,” Toney said. “And it makes it so important that we talk about the issues and that we do so in a way that tones down that rhetoric.”

He said Trump signaled a move in that direction, “and he has just an incredible opportunity Thursday night to change the trajectory of that dialogue.”