Wisconsin GOP Candidate Survives Lake Emergency Landing

Wisconsin’s Republican gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Representative, Tom Tiffany, and a pilot escaped with minor injuries following an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau on Saturday night. Their small plane lost power as it neared Wausau Downtown Airport.

Tiffany, who was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner, reported the aircraft’s power loss leading the pilot to land on the lake’s surface. In a statement on X, Tiffany described their response: “After landing, we called 911. As the plane began to submerge, we exited the aircraft and swam to a shallow area where we waited until emergency responders reached us by boat.”

The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident, reporting a private aircraft descended into Lake Wausau around 9 p.m. Saturday. Local sources indicate that two individuals were injured and taken to a hospital. Tiffany noted that the Wausau Fire Department and first responders transported them to Aspirus Wausau Hospital. “Thankfully, both the pilot and I sustained only minor injuries,” Tiffany said.

Expressing gratitude, Tiffany thanked the pilot and emergency teams, adding: “God was watching over us tonight, and I am incredibly grateful to be here in the hospital with my wife, Chris, by my side. An experience like this reminds you how precious life is.”

Who Is Tom Tiffany?

Tom Tiffany serves as a Republican congressman for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District. He is a candidate for governor in 2026, having entered Congress through a special election in 2020. Tiffany previously served in both the Wisconsin State Assembly and State Senate. Raised on a dairy farm, he later operated a Northwoods excursion-boat business with his wife. He currently sits on the House Judiciary and Natural Resources committees.

Politicians and Small-Plane Travel

Small aircraft are a common choice for American politicians, especially in vast or rural states. These planes are integral for travel between events. Aviation incidents have significantly affected political landscapes. Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone died in a crash near Eveleth in 2002, while Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan perished in a 2000 Cessna crash en route to a campaign event. Former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens was killed in a 2010 floatplane crash, having survived a previous accident decades earlier.

This news story is developing and updates will follow.