The 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Wisconsin. Democratic Milwaukee County executive David Crowley and Republican U.S. representative Tom Tiffany are the nominees for their respective parties. Incumbent Democratic governor Tony Evers declined to seek re-election to a third term.
Primary elections were held on August 11, 2026. Tiffany won the Republican nomination without serious challenge. Crowley, despite having temporarily withdrawn his candidacy, won the Democratic nomination in an upset victory over state representative Francesca Hong, receiving 39.8% of the vote.
This is the first Wisconsin gubernatorial election since 2010 in which the incumbent is not seeking re-election, along with being one of five Democratic-held governorships up for election in 2026 in a state won by Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
If elected, Crowley would be the first African-American governor of Wisconsin.
Background Wisconsin is considered to be a purple state at the federal and state levels with a uniquely competitive track record (presidential races decided by less than a point in 2016, 2020, and 2024; Senate races decided by roughly a point in 2022 and 2024; and a governor's race decided by a point in 2018). The past two federal election cycles in Wisconsin featured split outcomes, with Democrats winning for governor and Republicans for Senate in 2022 and Democrats winning for Senate and Republicans for president in 2024. Wisconsin has voted with the winner of the last five presidential elections, and in 2024 it had the second-highest voter turnout in the country (behind Minnesota) and one of the biggest turnout increases in the country. Both parties have seen success in the state in recent years. Republicans narrowly control both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature and hold a majority in Wisconsin's U.S. House delegation. However, Democrats control most statewide executive offices and have won the last two gubernatorial races.
Incumbent Democratic governor Tony Evers was first elected in 2018, narrowly defeating incumbent Republican Scott Walker. He was re-elected by a slightly larger margin in 2022, defeating Republican businessman Tim Michels. In July 2025, Evers announced he would not seek re-election to a third term. The race is widely seen as a tossup due to Evers's retirement and the state's even partisan lean.
Democratic primary Governor Tony Evers's decision not to seek re-election triggered a competitive Democratic primary. The Associated Press described the process leading up to the August 11 primary as chaotic. Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez amassed support as a centrist candidate until she dropped out in mid-July, prompting Milwaukee County executive David Crowley to re-enter the race ten days after withdrawing. The race became a showdown between Crowley, who was endorsed by Evers and other establishment figures, and state representative Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist. Crowley narrowly won the Democratic nomination in an upset victory over Hong, as polls showed him trailing Hong by nearly 20 points just a week earlier.
Candidates Nominee David Crowley, Milwaukee County Executive (2020–present) (previously withdrew, endorsed Rodriguez)
Eliminated in primary Joel Brennan, former secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration (2019–2022) Francesca Hong, state representative from the 76th district (2021–present) Kelda Roys, state senator from the 26th district (2021–present), candidate for Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district in 2012, and candidate for governor in 2018
Withdrawn Mandela Barnes, former lieutenant governor (2019–2023) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2022 (remained on ballot) Missy Hughes, former CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (2019–2025) (remained on ballot; endorsed Rodriguez, later endorsed Crowley) Brett Hulsey, former state representative from the 78th district (2011–2015) and candidate for governor in 2014 (endorsed Crowley) Tim Jacobson, Oshkosh Defense assembler (ran for Winnebago County Board of Supervisors) Sara Rodriguez, lieutenant governor (2023–present) (remained on ballot) Ryan Strnad, stadium vendor (endorsed Crowley)
Disqualified Kirk Bangstad, business owner
Declined Tony Evers, incumbent governor (2019–present) (endorsed Crowley) Sarah Godlewski, Wisconsin Secretary of State (2023–present) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022 (running for lieutenant governor) Cavalier Johnson, mayor of Milwaukee (2021–present) (endorsed Crowley) Josh Kaul, Attorney General of Wisconsin (2019–present) (running for re-election) Tip McGuire, state representative from the 64th district (2019–present) (running for re-election) Ben Wikler, former chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party (2019–2025) and candidate for Democratic National Committee chair in 2025
Endorsements
Fundraising Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate Campaign finance reports as of July 15, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handMandela Barnes (D)$1,397,005$1,196,887$204,207Joel Brennan (D)$1,231,839$872,254$359,583David Crowley (D)$1,039,328$724,579$316,178Francesca Hong (D)$1,077,568$667,690$410,563Missy Hughes (D)$613,841$588,052$26,788Sara Rodriguez (D)$1,180,101$657,178$34,990Kelda Roys (D)$882,886$612,361$408,482Source: Wisconsin Ethics Commission
Polling Aggregate polls {|class="wikitable sortable"style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;line-height:17px" !Source of pollaggregation !Datesadministered !Datesupdated !style="width:100px;"|MandelaBarnes !style="width:100px;"|DavidCrowley !style="width:100px;"|FrancescaHong !style="width:100px;"|Other/Undecided !Margin |- |270toWin |July 18 – August 6, 2026 |August 7, 2026 |19.0% |14.0% ||42.7% |23.9% ||Hong +23.7%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin MandelaBarnes JoelBrennan DavidCrowley FrancescaHong SaraRodriguez KeldaRoys MissyHughes Other UndecidedState NavigateAugust 3–6, 20261,473 (LV)± 2.3%6%5%22%44%3%11%0%9%3%5%24%44%3%11%0%10%5%5%21%42%3%10%0%14%Public Policy Polling (D)August 4–5, 2026753 (LV)24%42% July 30, 2026Barnes withdraws from the raceMarquette UniversityJuly 22–27, 2026407 (RV)± 6.6%21%4%11%46%4%14%16%2%7%38%2%34%State NavigateJuly 23–26, 20261,085 (LV)± 3.0%14%4%15%44%4%4%1%13%13%4%12%42%3%4%1%22%Public Policy Polling (D)July 20–22, 2026708 (LV)15%3%14%35%5%28%Impact Research (D)July 18–20, 2026621 (LV)26%6%11%39%7%11%Wedgewood PollsJuly 18–20, 2026505 (LV)± 4.4%30%9%38%23% July 18, 2026Crowley re-enters the race July 17, 2026Rodriguez withdraws from the raceMarquette UniversityJuly 8–16, 2026430 (RV)± 6.1%15%2%26%11%1%45%18%5%27%2%48% July 8, 2026Crowley withdraws from the race, endorses RodriguezWedgewood PollsJuly 2–4, 2026413 (LV)± 5.3%28%30%19%23%The Public Sentiment InstituteMay 13–15, 2026880 (RV) 877 (LV)± 4.2%24%2%8%9%12%0%8%39%Marquette UniversityMarch 11–18, 2026393 (RV)± 6.7%11%3%14%3%1%1%65%Patriot Polling (R)March 10–16, 2026 (LV)27%6%18%6%43%Marquette UniversityFebruary 11–19, 2026394 (RV)± 6.9%10%2%3%11%6%1%2%1%65%TIPP Insights (R)February 6–12, 20261,524 (RV)± 2.7%28%0%7%5%20%2%1%1%35% December 2, 2025Barnes enters the raceMarquette UniversityOctober 15–22, 2025378 (RV)± 6.9%3%6%4%3%2%0%81%
with Josh Kaul and Sarah Godlewski Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DavidCrowley FrancescaHong MandelaBarnes SaraRodriguez JoshKaul SarahGodlewski Other UndecidedTIPP Insights (R)November 17–21, 2025589 (LV)6%21%6%8%3%3%52%Platform CommunicationsSeptember 28–30, 2025 (LV)7%4%16%8%7%19%39%
Debate and forums + 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial election Democratic primary debate and candidate forums Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic DemocraticKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Mandela Barnes Joel Brennan David Crowley Francesca Hong Missy Hughes Sara Rodriguez Kelda Roys1 Jan. 21, 2026 Civic MediaMain Street Action Dan Shafer YouTube 2 Apr. 14, 2026 Citizen Action of Wisconsin Priscilla BortRobert Kraig YouTube 3 Jul. 28, 2026 Marquette UniversityWISN-TV Gerron JordanMatt Smith YouTube
Results
Lieutenant governor Candidates Nominee Sarah Godlewski, Wisconsin Secretary of State (2023–present) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022
Declined Sara Rodriguez, incumbent lieutenant governor (2023–present) (ran for governor)
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of July 15, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handSarah Godlewski (D)$292,267$230,391$77,917Source: Wisconsin Ethics Commission
Results
Republican primary
Tom Tiffany, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, was expected to obtain the nomination without meaningful challenge. Tiffany received an endorsement from Donald Trump, who Tiffany believes may have won the 2020 presidential election. As a member of the federal House, Tiffany objected to the certification of Pennsylvania's and Arizona's electoral results on January 6, 2021, and was prevented from objecting to Wisconsin's electoral results because the Capitol building was stormed by pro-Trump insurgents. He has kept mention of Trump to a minimum during his primary campaign.
Governor Candidates Nominee Tom Tiffany, U.S. representative for (2020–present)
Eliminated in primary Andy Manske, medical service technician
Withdrawn Bill Berrien, manufacturing executive Josh Schoemann, Washington County Executive (2020–present)
Declined Rohn W. Bishop, mayor of Waupun, Wisconsin (2022–present) Eric Hovde, bank executive, nominee for U.S. Senate in 2024 and candidate in 2012 Ron Johnson, U.S. senator (2011–present) Mary Felzkowski, president of the Wisconsin Senate (2025–present) from the 12th district (2021–present) Bill McCoshen, WTMJ-TV host and owner of the Janesville Jets Tim Michels, co-owner of the Michels Corporation, nominee for governor in 2022 and U.S. Senate in 2004 Matt Neumann, business owner Bryan Steil, U.S. representative for (2019–present) (running for re-election; endorsed Tiffany) Tommy Thompson, former governor (1987–2001), former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (2001–2005), and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2012 (endorsed Tiffany) Scott Walker, former governor (2011–2019)
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handAndy Manske (R)$1,484$114$1,370Tom Tiffany (R)$10,842,318$7,854,693$2,998,334Source: Wisconsin Ethics Commission
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BillBerrienAndyManskeJoshSchoemannTomTiffany Other UndecidedMarquette UniversityJuly 8–16, 2026399 (RV)± 6.5%2%67%30%Marquette UniversityMarch 11–18, 2026396 (RV)± 6.3%6%40%0%54%Patriot Polling (R)March 10–16, 2026 (LV)8%65%27%Marquette UniversityFebruary 11–19, 2026371 (RV)± 6.4%2%35%63% January 28, 2026Schoemann withdraws from the raceMarquette UniversityOctober 15–22, 2025406 (RV)± 6.9%0%6%23%70% September 26, 2025Berrien withdraws from the raceFabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)July 28–31, 2025600 (LV)± 4.0%10%13%40%37%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error EricHovde JoshSchoemann Mary Felzkowski TimMichels TomTiffany Other UndecidedTIPP Insights (R)November 17–21, 2025586 (LV)25%5%12%17%2%37%Platform CommunicationsSeptember 28–30, 2025 (LV)14%4%1%9%30%9%33%
Results
Lieutenant governor Candidates Nominee David Varnam, former mayor of Lancaster (2016–2022) and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2022
Eliminated in primary Will Martin, former director of strategic workforce initiatives for the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2022
Withdrawn Nick Polce, business owner and candidate for Wisconsin's 1st congressional district in 2018 (ran for state senate)
Did not file Cyril Sablich, college student John Totz, Oakfield school board member
Endorsements
Fundraising