Wisconsin’s next gubernatorial election is this year, with a primary Aug. 11 and the general election Nov. 3. Incumbent governor, Democrat Tony Evers, is not running for a third term.
The Wisconsin Election Commission has finalized which candidates will be on ballot Aug. 11.
Republicans
Tom Tiffany
Current occupation: U.S. Representative
Tiffany currently represents a Northern Wisconsin district in Congress. Before being elected to Congress in 2020, Tiffany was a state legislator. On his candidate website, Tiffany says he will freeze property taxes, do away with Gov. Evers' 400-year revenue increase for schools, and cut regulations to make housing, childcare and healthcare more affordable. Tiffany has been endorsed by President Trump.
Andy Manske
Current occupation: Medical service tech
Manske’s campaign website says he was born in Milwaukee and raised in Franklin. He proposes reforming property taxes so homeowners who have paid off their homes pay less. Manske also supports embracing AI to reduce government size, legalization of marijuana and building high speed rail.
Democrats
David Crowley
Current occupation: Milwaukee County executive
Crowley was the first Black man elected Milwaukee County executive. He’s been in that job since 2020 and before that represented a Milwaukee district in the state Assembly. In his campaign announcement, Crowley touted his experience leading Wisconsin’s largest county. He said if elected, he would fight to lower costs for families.
Sara Rodriguez
Current occupation: Lieutenant governor
Rodriguez was elected lieutenant governor, serving alongside Gov. Tony Evers in 2022. Before that, she represented portions of Waukesha and Milwaukee counties in the state Assembly. On her campaign website, she also highlights her experience as a registered nurse. Rodriguez says her priorities include: reproductive rights, cutting costs for families, strengthening schools and protecting natural resources.
Missy Hughes
Former occupation: WEDC CEO
Hughes stepped down from her role leading the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to run for governor. She previously was an executive in dairy industry. On her campaign website, she says her priority is to create a better economy for Wisconsinites by raising wages, making childcare and healthcare more affordable and funding public schools.
Francesca Hong
Current occupation: State representative
Hong has represented a Madison district in the state Legislature since 2021. She used to work as a chef, and highlighted her service industry experience and her experience as a single mom in her campaign announcement. Hong says she aims to represent working class people as governor by supporting fully funding public schools, universal childcare and affordable healthcare.
Kelda Roys
Current occupation: State senator
Roys is an attorney who represents Madison in the state Legislature. She previously served in the state Assembly. On her campaign website, Roys’ priorities if elected include: standing up to the Trump administration, creating economic opportunity for all, championing public education, building affordable housing, and standing up for reproductive freedom.
Mandela Barnes
Current occupation: President of Power to the Polls Wisconsin
Former Wisconsin lieutenant governor and state legislator Mandela Barnes previously ran for U.S. Senate in 2022, narrowly losing to Republican incumbent Ron Johnson. Now he's running to take over from Gov. Tony Evers, who Barnes served with as lieutenant governor. In a press release announcing his campaign for governor, Barnes pledged to "stand up to Trump to bring down costs and keep our communities safe." He says if elected, he'll work to expand Badgercare, close tax loopholes for the rich, and cut taxes for middle-class families.
Joel Brennan
Former occupation: President of Greater Milwaukee Committee
Brennan served under Gov. Tony Evers as secretary of the Department of Administration. Brennan's campaign website says in that position, he "helped generate a nearly $4 billion dollar budget surplus and grew the state’s rainy-day fund." In a campaign announcement video, Brennan blames President Trump for rising costs and says if elected, he'll focus on improving life for Wisconsinites.
