Wisconsin Governor Evers Announces No Re-election Bid

On Thursday, Democratic Governor of Wisconsin, Tony Evers, declared that he will not pursue re-election for a third term in 2026. This decision marks the beginning of a competitive gubernatorial race in the state, the first of its kind since 2010 and only the second since 1982. Evers indicated a desire to spend more time with his family in a video announcement shared on X.

In the video, Evers remarked, “When I ran for this office, I promised to always act with integrity. I’ve been a science teacher at heart, and I ended up winning five statewide elections. If I run for a sixth time, would I win? Absolutely.” But, you know, these things aren’t always certain.

Both major political parties have a variety of potential candidates considering a run. Among possible Republican contenders are Representative Tom Tiffany, Senator Patrick Testin, State Senate President Mary Felzkowski, 2024 Senate candidate Eric Hovde, and 2022 gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels. Currently declared Republican candidates include Washington County Executive Josh Schellinger and businessman Bill Verhein.

On the Democratic side, notable figures include Lt. Gen. Sarah Rodriguez, Attorney General Josh Kaul, Secretary Sarah Godlewski, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, and former Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler.

Following Evers’ announcement, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, a nonpartisan election newsletter from the University of Virginia, re-evaluated the Wisconsin governor’s race, adjusting its rating from “Lean Democratic” to “Toss-up.” Managing Editor Kyle Kondik suggested that while Democrats still have a reasonable chance, the path ahead might be unpredictable.

Republican Senator Ron Johnson commented on the situation, noting that Republicans now have a better opportunity to regain control of the governor’s mansion. “Hopefully, this opens the door for us to win the governor’s race,” he remarked.