Republican Candidates for Wisconsin Governor in 2026
Representative Tom Tiffany (R-WI) is currently leading in a recent poll among potential candidates for Wisconsin’s next governor in 2026. The poll, conducted by Platform Communications/badger battlefield, surveyed 500 general election voters between September 28 and 30, 2025.
According to the findings, Tiffany enjoys support from Republican voters for the upcoming GOP primary. On the Democratic side, former Lieutenant Colonel Mandela Burns is currently the frontrunner with 16% backing.
Following Tiffany among Republicans is Eric Hoffde, a former Wisconsin Senate candidate and businessman, who secured 14% of the votes. Tim Michelles, another businessman, came in third with 9%. Notably, 9% of voters opted for “none of these” as their choice, and 34% of Republican voters remain undecided.
On the Democratic front, current Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Rodriguez announced her candidacy in July but only garnered 8% support. Similarly, 12% of voters chose “none of these,” with 38% of Democrats undecided.
The poll results indicate that Republicans currently hold a slight lead overall, with 43% support compared to 40% for Democrats in the general governor’s vote.
The memorandum from Platform Communications noted that while Republicans are viewed positively by 48% of voters, they also faced an unfavorable rating of 44%. In contrast, Democrats had a more unfavorable perception among voters, with 54% viewing them unfavorably.
Additionally, the data showed that approximately 46% of voters identify with some form of magazine readership.
These polling results came shortly after Tiffany announced his candidacy for governor in September, following Governor Tony Evers’s (D) declaration in July that he would not run for re-election.
In a campaign video, Tiffany shared his background, emphasizing his upbringing on a dairy farm in western Wisconsin, highlighting the opportunities the state has provided him. He has also made promises including freezing property taxes and protecting Wisconsin farmland from foreign purchases.
Tiffany emphasized the importance of maintaining traditional values, declaring that “girls’ sports will stay for girls” and criticizing changes in wording within state law regarding parental references in state budget language.
Earlier reports indicated that Hofde and Michelles were weighing a run for governor, but Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Brian Simming expressed skepticism regarding Michelles’s potential candidacy.
