Democratic Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers will not seek a third term, leaving the race open for a potential Republican pickup.
Evers made the announcement in a social media post Thursday, where he said he “of course” could have won reelection, citing his previous statewide victories. However, he wanted to spend time with his family and “focus on doing all the things we enjoy and love doing together.”
A poll from Marquette Law School last month showed that only 42 percent of Wisconsinites wanted Evers to run for a third term, while 55 percent preferred he retire. Nevertheless, multiple prominent Democrats publicly encouraged Evers to run again, including Representative Mark Pocan.
Evers was first elected governor in 2018, defeating incumbent Republican Scott Walker. He was successfully reelected in 2022 over challenger Tim Michels.
Two Republicans have already declared their candidacy for governor: Washington County executive Josh Schoemann and businessman Bill Berrien. Representative Tom Tiffany is expected to announce whether he will run in August, and 2024 Senate nominee Eric Hovde is also considering a bid. Walker, who previously said he would not attempt a comeback in 2026, also made a cryptic social media post suggesting he was open to running.
Schoemann said, “Whatever Democrats that line up to run will be more of the same status quo but even more extreme than Gov. Evers.” Berrien claimed Evers was “too scared to run on the Madison Democrats’ record of failure.”
“I thank Governor Evers for his years of service and wish him well as he announces his retirement,” Tiffany told NR. “However, he leaves behind a legacy of decline—under the ‘education governor,’ student achievement has fallen behind Mississippi, Wisconsin faces a structural deficit, and energy costs now rank second highest in the Midwest. Wisconsinites deserve better.”
With Evers out of the race, the Democratic primary is wide open. Some of the top potential contenders include Attorney General Josh Kaul, Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, and State Senator Kelda Roys.
Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Devin Remiker said, “While Republican candidates rush to embrace the most extreme elements of their party and face another divisive and bitter primary battle, we will be prepared to hold them accountable and ensure Wisconsin elects a Democratic governor in 2026.”
President Donald Trump carried Wisconsin in 2016 and 2024, but he lost the state in 2020. Democrats were victorious in the 2025 state supreme court election and the 2024 Senate race, but Republican Senator Ron Johnson was reelected in 2022. Gubernatorial elections in the dairy state are often close, but they tend to go to the party opposite the White House. The only exception in the last three decades was Evers’s win in 2022.
Democrats will be defending governors’ mansions in multiple other swing states in 2026, including Pennsylvania and Michigan.