2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

Last updated

2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
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Party Democratic Republican
Incumbent Governor

Tony Evers
Democratic



The 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Wisconsin. Incumbent Democratic Governor Tony Evers is eligible to run for re-election to a third term but has not announced if he will do so. This will be one of five Democratic-held governorships up for election in 2026 in a state won by Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election and the state with the closest presidential margin of victory, just under one percentage point. [1]

Contents

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, 2024, Senate races decided by roughly a point in 2022 and 2024, a governor’s race decided by a point in 2018). [1] The past two Wisconsin elections 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 had the second highest voter turnout levels in the country behind Minnesota and one of the biggest turnout increases in the country. [1]

Both parties have seen success in the state in recent years. Republicans narrowly control both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature and hold a supermajority in Wisconsin's U.S. House delegation. However, Democrats control most statewide executive offices and have won the last two gubernatorial races.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Republican primary

Candidates

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Declined

Green primary

Candidates

Declared

  • Jill Ferguson, retiree [12]

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [13] TossupJanuary 23, 2025
Inside Elections [14] BattlegroundFebruary 6, 2025

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gilbert, Craig (November 25, 2024). "Gilbert: How small voting shifts made Wisconsin the closest state in the nation". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  2. ↑ Kenneally, Will (January 6, 2025). "Evers to decide on reelection after 2025 budget". WISC-TV . Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Andrea, Lawrence; Bice, Daniel (November 11, 2024). "After an intense election season, the political focus shifts to state races in Wisconsin" . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Beck, Molly; Andrea, Lawrence (January 14, 2025). "Republican challengers start to line up as Gov. Tony Evers considers 2026 run for 3rd term". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Shafer, Dan (November 20, 2024). "Wikler could be 'goldilocks candidate' for DNC chair". Civic Media. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  6. ↑ Karnopp, Hope (April 10, 2025). "What will Wisconsin vote for in the 2026 elections? Supreme Court, governor's races will soon take shape". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  7. ↑ Beck, Molly (April 14, 2025). "Republican businessman considering a run for governor forms political committee". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  8. ↑ Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (January 15, 2025). "Morning Digest: Top reformist prosecutor draws challenger seeking to roll back changes". The Downballot. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  9. ↑ Nir, David (April 10, 2025). "Morning Digest: A powerful office is now open for only the third time this century". The Downballot. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  10. ↑ Walters, Steven (August 1, 2024). "Who might run for Wisconsin governor in 2026?". Isthmus . Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  11. ↑ Schulte, Laura (April 8, 2025). "Scott Walker talks tariffs, Medicaid, Act 10 and his political future at UW-Madison event". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved April 8, 2025. [Scott Walker] even hinted he could run for governor again...Though he said he has no plans to run next year, he didn't close the door to another run in the future.
  12. ↑ "Green Party: Announcing candidate for WI Governor '26". Wisconsin Green Party (Press release). July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024– via WisPolitics.
  13. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
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