Who Will Run for Governor in 2026?
Potential candidates include businessmen, congressmen, and a former Green Bay Packers quarterback
The 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial election will shape the future of the state. Incumbent Democratic Governor Tony Evers has yet to announce whether he will seek a third term, leaving room for plenty of uncertainty. However, potential candidates and donors are itching to get started.
Coming out of the state supreme court and superintendent races with momentum, Democrats will probably use similar tactics, attacking the Trump Administration and talking extensively about abortion.
Should Governor Evers decide not to run, several prominent Democrats are considered contenders for his role. These include Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, and Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez.
However, the clear frontrunner would be Attorney General Josh Kaul, whose attempt to prevent Elon Musk from handing out $1 million checks as part of a voter sweepstakes was a blatant political stunt to raise his profile among the general public.
Another potential surprise could be Ben Wikler, whose unexpected exit from the role of Wisconsin Democratic Party chair opens the door to seeking public office. Wikler’s talents as a fundraising juggernaut and popularity among the Democratic base could help him alleviate concerns about never having held public office.
On the Republican side, the race will be an uphill battle, as gubernatorial elections in Wisconsin tend to go the opposite of who is in the White House. Evers broke that rule in 2022, so the GOP is hoping it can pull a similar upset, even if the national political landscape is not in its favor.
Eric Hovde, the Senate nominee in 2024, has hinted that he was open to a run for governor, while fellow businessman Bill Berrien recently launched a political action committee, signaling that he is considering entering the race as well. Even former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, who has become increasingly political in recent years, may be taking a look at the governor’s mansion.
Rep. Tom Tiffany, who considered running for Senate last cycle, is seen as another major contender, especially as his constituency is in northern Wisconsin, where non-Trump GOP candidates have struggled with voter mobilization in recent years. Tiffany has made his way down to campaign events in counties across the state, in what appears to be an attempt to raise his profile.
Other names that have been floating around include Rebecca Kleefisch, who served as lieutenant governor for eight years under Scott Walker and narrowly lost the 2022 GOP primary, and Rep. Bryan Steil, who Democrats hope to draw out of his congressional seat.
A final, and very unlikely, possibility would be that Senator Ron Johnson makes a bid for governor. Johnson concludes his, presumably, final term in the Senate in 2029, so a loss would not put any Republican seats in jeopardy. However, if Johnson won the election and left his seat, it would trigger a costly special election that Republicans could potentially lose.
If conservatives hope to regain the governor’s office, a messy primary needs to be avoided. In 2022, Tim Michels and Rebecca Kleefisch burned millions fighting each other until August, weakening the position of the party. In the end, Michels underperformed Ron Johnson by almost three percentage points.
Republicans can win this election, but they need to be serious about winning. This means organizing early, avoiding messy infighting, and getting voters to the polls.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of its author.
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