The Wisconsin governor race reaches a major turning point on August 11, 2026, as voters choose the Democratic and Republican nominees for an open governor’s seat. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is not seeking a third term, leaving both parties competing for control of the governor’s office.
The Democratic primary has attracted the most attention. State Rep. Francesca Hong has led the field in recent polling, while Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has mounted the strongest challenge with Evers’ endorsement. State Sen. Kelda Roys and former state Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan are also competing.
Republicans have largely united behind U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany. President Donald Trump endorsed Tiffany, and the Wisconsin Republican Party also backed his campaign. Tiffany faces Andy Manske in the Republican primary.
The August 11 primary will determine which candidates advance to the November 3 general election.
Why the Governor’s Seat Is Open
The 2026 election is the first open Wisconsin gubernatorial contest since 2010.
Evers won his first term in 2018 and defeated Republican Tim Michels in 2022. He announced in July 2025 that he would not seek another term.
His decision created an unusual political environment in a state where statewide elections are frequently competitive.
Democrats are trying to keep the governor’s office after eight years under Evers. Republicans are trying to win it back and place a Republican in the governor’s mansion for the first time since Scott Walker left office in 2019.
The stakes extend beyond the governor’s office. The next governor will influence state policy, budget priorities, appointments and negotiations with the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Francesca Hong Leads the Democratic Contest
Francesca Hong has become the leading Democratic candidate in the final stage of the primary.
Hong represents Madison in the Wisconsin Assembly and has built her campaign around progressive economic policies. She has described herself as a democratic socialist and has attracted support from voters looking for a major change in state policy.
Her campaign has placed affordability at the center of its message.
Hong has promoted universal child care, free school meals and expanded public investment. She has also opposed additional data-center development and called for major changes involving immigration enforcement.
Her candidacy has generated national attention because she could become Wisconsin’s first Asian American governor and the state’s first woman governor.
The campaign has also faced scrutiny over previous statements and social media posts. Those issues have become part of the debate over whether Hong could compete effectively in the November election.
Hong has continued to argue that her progressive message can bring new voters into the Democratic coalition.
Recent polling has placed her ahead of the rest of the Democratic field. That advantage has made her the candidate to beat going into primary day.
David Crowley Makes a Late Push
David Crowley has emerged as Hong’s main Democratic challenger.
Crowley is the Milwaukee County executive and entered the governor’s contest with substantial experience in local government. He briefly suspended his campaign before returning to the race after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez ended her campaign.
Gov. Evers subsequently endorsed Crowley.
That endorsement gave Crowley a major boost heading into the final stage of the primary. His campaign has emphasized experience, governing ability and the need to nominate a Democrat who can compete in a closely divided state.
Crowley has also directly challenged Hong on electability.
He has argued that Republicans will make Hong’s progressive positions a major issue in the general election. Crowley instead presents himself as a candidate capable of appealing to a broader range of Wisconsin voters.
The contest between Crowley and Hong has become the central Democratic battle.
Their campaigns represent two different approaches. Hong is running as a progressive change candidate, while Crowley has emphasized governing experience and statewide competitiveness.
Kelda Roys Remains in the Race
State Sen. Kelda Roys is another active Democratic candidate.
Roys represents Madison in the Wisconsin Senate and has previously run for statewide office. Her campaign has focused heavily on education, housing, reproductive rights and economic issues.
She has also received support from Wisconsin’s largest teachers union, giving her a significant connection with education-focused Democratic voters.
Roys entered the final weeks of the campaign as a serious but lower-polling contender.
Her presence matters because the Democratic primary has remained divided among several candidates. A candidate does not need more than 50% of the vote to win Wisconsin’s partisan primary.
That means a crowded field can produce a nominee with a relatively modest share of the total vote.
Joel Brennan Seeks the Democratic Nomination
Joel Brennan is also competing for the Democratic nomination.
Brennan previously served as Wisconsin’s secretary of administration during the Evers administration. His campaign has highlighted his government experience and record of working inside state government.
He has positioned himself as a practical candidate who can focus on governing and delivering results.
Brennan has received less attention than Hong and Crowley in the final stage of the primary, but he remains on the ballot.
His campaign has given Democratic voters another choice between progressive activism and traditional government experience.
Several Earlier Democratic Candidates Dropped Out
The Democratic primary originally featured a much larger field.
Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes was one of the most recognizable candidates to enter the contest. He later left the race in July after polling showed Hong leading the field.
Barnes had previously served as Wisconsin’s lieutenant governor and became the Democratic Senate nominee in 2022.
Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez also ended her campaign. Her departure followed controversy involving campaign-finance reporting.
Rodriguez had initially entered the governor’s contest as Evers’ lieutenant governor and was viewed as one of the leading establishment candidates.
Missy Hughes, the former leader of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., also suspended her campaign.
The withdrawals changed the Democratic field significantly.
Although some former candidates may still appear on ballots because of election deadlines, they are no longer actively campaigning for the nomination. The active Democratic contest now centers on Hong, Crowley, Roys and Brennan.
Read More – Democratic Candidates for Wisconsin Governor: Who’s Running in the 2026 Primary
Tom Tiffany Leads the Republican Side
The Republican primary is much less competitive.
U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany has become the clear Republican favorite after receiving strong party support and Trump’s endorsement.
Tiffany represents Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District and has served in Congress since 2020. He entered the governor’s race after deciding not to seek another term in the House.
His campaign has closely aligned with Trump and the national Republican movement.
Tiffany has emphasized conservative positions on taxes, government spending, immigration, public safety and education.
The Wisconsin Republican Party endorsed Tiffany at its state convention in May. Trump had endorsed him earlier in the year.
Those endorsements have given Tiffany a significant advantage over his primary opponent.
Andy Manske Challenges Tiffany
Andy Manske is Tiffany’s Republican primary opponent.
Manske is a 27-year-old medical service technician who has campaigned as an alternative to Tiffany.
The Republican contest has received considerably less attention than the Democratic primary because party leaders have largely consolidated behind Tiffany.
Manske remains on the August 11 ballot, however, giving Republican voters a choice.
The winner will become the Republican nominee for governor and advance to the November general election.
The Primary Takes Place August 11
Wisconsin’s partisan primary is being held Tuesday, August 11.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Central Time.
Voters are choosing nominees for governor as well as candidates in several congressional and state-level contests.
The governor’s primary is the highest-profile statewide race on the ballot.
Wisconsin does not require voters to register with a political party before voting in a partisan primary. However, voters select candidates from only one party’s primary.
The results will determine the candidates who move into the general-election campaign.
Why the Democratic Primary Has Drawn National Attention
The Democratic contest has become part of a larger debate within the Democratic Party.
Hong represents the progressive wing and has attracted voters seeking a more aggressive economic agenda.
Crowley has presented a more establishment-oriented campaign backed by Evers.
The disagreement is not simply about individual policy proposals. It also concerns how Democrats should compete in a politically divided state.
Progressive voters have argued that Democrats need stronger economic policies and a clearer message about affordability.
More moderate Democrats have focused on the importance of winning statewide elections and avoiding positions that Republicans could use against the nominee.
That tension has made Wisconsin one of the most closely watched Democratic primaries of 2026.
What Evers’ Endorsement Means
Evers’ endorsement of Crowley is one of the most important developments in the Democratic primary.
As the sitting governor, Evers remains a powerful figure within Wisconsin Democrats.
His decision to support Crowley signals a preference for a candidate with executive experience and a broader general-election strategy.
Crowley has used that support to reinforce his argument that Democrats should nominate someone prepared to govern immediately.
Hong, meanwhile, has argued that her campaign has developed independent momentum that does not depend on establishment backing.
The primary will provide the clearest test of which approach Democratic voters prefer.
Affordability Is Central to the Campaign
Economic concerns have played a major role throughout the Democratic primary.
Hong has made child care, education, health care and household costs major parts of her campaign.
Crowley has also emphasized affordability but has paired the issue with arguments about practical government and statewide competitiveness.
Roys has focused heavily on education and housing.
Brennan has highlighted his experience in state administration and public policy.
Although the candidates differ on specific proposals, the cost of living remains one of the major issues shaping the Democratic contest.
The General Election Will Begin After the Primary
The November 3 general election will feature the Democratic and Republican nominees.
Until the August 11 results are finalized, the general-election matchup remains unsettled on the Democratic side.
Tiffany is expected to be the Republican nominee, while the Democratic contest is considerably more competitive.
Once the nominees are determined, both parties will shift their attention toward statewide voters.
The campaign will then focus on issues affecting voters throughout Wisconsin, including taxes, education, health care, economic development, public safety and the state’s relationship with the federal government.
Wisconsin Remains a Critical Battleground
Wisconsin continues to hold an important place in national politics.
Presidential elections have been extremely close in the state, and statewide races can also be decided by narrow margins.
That history makes the governor’s election particularly important for both parties.
Democrats want to retain the office after Evers’ two terms.
Republicans see the open seat as an opportunity to regain control of the executive branch.
The result could also affect the broader balance of political power in Madison.
What Voters Should Watch on Primary Night
The biggest question in the Democratic primary is whether Hong’s polling advantage becomes a victory.
A Hong win would give progressives a major victory in a competitive Midwestern state.
A Crowley victory would reinforce the influence of Evers and the Democratic establishment.
The performance of Roys and Brennan will also show how much support remains outside the two leading campaigns.
On the Republican side, the size of Tiffany’s victory will provide an indication of how strongly the party has consolidated behind him.
After the results are known, attention will quickly turn toward November.
The Election Now Enters Its Decisive Stage
The open governor’s seat has created a rare opportunity for both Wisconsin parties.
Democrats are trying to extend their control of the governor’s office, while Republicans are seeking a return to power.
Hong has built the strongest progressive campaign and enters primary day with a polling advantage.
Crowley has countered with Evers’ endorsement and a message centered on experience and electability.
Roys and Brennan remain part of the Democratic contest, while Tiffany holds a dominant position among Republicans.
The August 11 primary will settle the nominations and establish the candidates who will compete for Wisconsin’s governorship on November 3.
Wisconsin voters now have the final say on which candidates will carry their parties into the November election.