Wisconsin governor 2026

Compare candidates running in this Wisconsin federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

David Crowley

Party: Democrat

Sara Rodriguez

Party: Democrat

Mandela Barnes

Party: Democrat

Tom Tiffany

Party: Republican

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governor

Wisconsin governor

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 10, 2026
toss up★ Flip Potential— Cook Political Report

Wisconsin is a battleground state with the closest presidential margins in the nation and control of the governorship can shift partisan balance. This is one of five Democratic-held governorships at risk in states won by Trump in 2024, making it critical for Democrats' national strategy.

David CrowleyD
Sara RodriguezD
Mandela BarnesD
Tom TiffanyR

Summary

David Crowley is Milwaukee County Executive since 2020, the first African American to serve in that position and the youngest, having taken office at age 33. He previously served three years in Wisconsin State Assembly representing Milwaukee (2017-2020). Crowley rose from poverty in 53206 zip code, one of the most incarcerated in the nation, to become a community organizer and elected official. As county executive, he oversaw $1.4B budget and led passage of Act 12 with bipartisan support to increase state funding to municipalities. He graduated UW-Milwaukee in 2024 while serving as county executive.

Sara Rodriguez is Wisconsin's incumbent Lieutenant Governor since 2023, serving alongside Gov. Tony Evers. She is a registered nurse with extensive public health experience, including work as an ER nurse, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officer, health care system executive, and small business owner. Rodriguez was the first Democrat to announce her 2026 gubernatorial campaign (July 25, 2025), just 24 hours after Evers announced his retirement. She has raised over $2.5 million and received a historic $2 million commitment from the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, the largest investment in a lieutenant governor seeking higher office.

Mandela Barnes is former Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor (2019-2023) and former state representative from Milwaukee (2013-2017). He narrowly lost a 2022 U.S. Senate race to Republican Ron Johnson by 1 percentage point, running 50,000 votes behind Gov. Evers. Barnes has the highest name recognition among Democratic primary candidates (56% in March 2026 polling) due to his statewide experience and high-profile Senate campaign. He runs Forward Together Wisconsin, a nonprofit harnessing clean energy investments, and leads Power to the Polls Wisconsin, which recruits poll workers.

Tom Tiffany is a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District serving since 2020. A member of the House Freedom Caucus, Tiffany grew up on a dairy farm in western Wisconsin and worked as a dam tender for 29 years before becoming a businessman and politician. He previously served seven years in the Wisconsin State Senate and two years in the State Assembly. He has been endorsed by President Donald Trump and has received endorsements from all Wisconsin Republican House members.

View David Crowley's Full Profile →View Sara Rodriguez's Full Profile →View Mandela Barnes's Full Profile →View Tom Tiffany's Full Profile →

Campaign Promises

Economy
  • Tackle affordability crisis through 30-Day Plan focused on housing, energy, childcare, healthcare
  • Hold data centers accountable
Housing
  • Make affordable and attainable housing priority
Other
  • Champion women's rights to choose and abortion access
  • Work across the aisle for bipartisan solutions
Education
  • Close special education funding gap
Public-Safety
  • Strengthen and fund domestic violence prevention
Healthcare
  • Launch BadgerChoice public health insurance option
  • Expand Medicaid and end 60-day postpartum cutoff
  • Establish Rural Health Stabilization Fund
Economy
  • Restore collective bargaining rights and repeal right-to-work
  • Community-based approach to data centers
Education
  • Fully fund public schools and give teachers raises they've earned
Other
  • Enshrine Roe v. Wade protections in Wisconsin law
Housing
  • Address affordable housing crisis with comprehensive strategy
Healthcare
  • Expand BadgerCare on day one
Economy
  • Increase minimum wage
  • Close tax loopholes for the ultra-rich
Education
  • Fully fund public schools
Other
  • Protect abortion rights
  • Stand up to Trump administration
Environment
  • Make Wisconsin outdoor recreation capital of the U.S.
Economy
  • Freeze property taxes
  • Lower income taxes
  • Cut regulations to make housing, childcare and healthcare more affordable
  • Protect farmland from foreign ownership
Education
  • Improve schools without increasing state spending
Environment
  • Overhaul the state Department of Natural Resources
Other
  • Uphold Wisconsin's 20-week abortion ban

Key Issue Positions

Executive experience and proven track record
Only candidate in race with major government executive experience managing $1.4B budget
Crowley emphasizes he's the only candidate with proven ability to balance budgets and deliver results for constituents
Affordability
30-Day Plan to immediately tackle affordability in housing, energy, childcare, healthcare
Promises pragmatic approach rather than vague promises; will deliver immediate help
Bipartisan cooperation
Demonstrated ability to work across aisle; passed Act 12 with GOP-controlled Legislature
Strategy to work with Republicans on wildly popular support items starting with public school funding
Statewide appeal beyond Milwaukee
Emphasizes need to show up across entire state of Wisconsin outside comfort zone
Crowley has strongest name recognition in Milwaukee County with 85% reelection vote in 2024
Healthcare affordability
Central pillar of campaign; comprehensive health care proposal to lower prices and guarantee affordable coverage
Rodriguez has health care background and emphasized this as primary focus for reducing costs for working families
Medicaid expansion
Expand BadgerCare to join 41 other states that have done so
Called out that Arkansas expanded Medicaid but Wisconsin has not; says 'I'll get it done'
Trump administration opposition
Critical - Called Trump a 'maniac' in campaign launch; emphasized tariffs hurting farmers and policies harming kids
Early contrast strategy focused on Trump and GOP Legislature dysfunction
Working across aisle pragmatically
Willing to work with Republicans on broadly popular issues like public school funding
Strategy to start with wildly popular support items before tackling more contentious issues
Affordability crisis
Affordability-focused campaign centering on making life more affordable for working families
Barnes emphasizes how rising costs are affecting Wisconsin families, farmers, and small businesses through his 'Wisconsin Way Tour'
BadgerCare expansion
Makes Medicaid expansion central pillar with veto threat on any budget without it
Community-based approach
Emphasizes bringing people together and getting things done
Points to experience as lieutenant governor and work with Democratic candidates in 2023-2024
Evers' use of veto power
Critical - Tiffany emphasized painting a clear contrast with Evers' extensive veto use
Tiffany criticized Evers' use of the veto to block Republican-backed bills during his current term
School funding
Opposes 400-year revenue increase - Wants to do away with Evers' line-item veto on school spending
Tiffany's campaign website says he will cut regulations and limit school spending increases
Abortion
Supports 20-week ban - Previously supported federal 6-week ban
As U.S. Representative, Tiffany voted against establishing Juneteenth as federal holiday and supported Trump's agenda
Tariffs
Supports Trump's tariff policies
Democratic critics call him 'Tariff Lover Tom Tiffany' for his support of Trump's trade war policies

Top Donors

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

Contradictions

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

What Opponents Say

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez

Crowley lacks statewide experience compared to Rodriguez who won statewide election in 2022

Rodriguez contrasted herself with Crowley in statement reacting to his candidacy, emphasizing her statewide election win

No opponent claims documented.

Wisconsin GOP

Barnes' positions on crime, policing, and economy were out of step with hardworking Wisconsin families

Response to Barnes entering 2026 gubernatorial race; they vowed to remind voters why they rejected him in 2022

Democratic Party of Wisconsin

Tiffany is 'Tariff Lover Tom Tiffany' whose policies are jacking up prices on Wisconsin families

Democrats criticize his blind support for Trump's trade war as making everything from beer to beef to school supplies more expensive

Democratic Party of Wisconsin

Tiffany represents a Washington D.C. agenda that has consistently raised costs and gutted healthcare

Statement in response to Trump endorsement noting his voting record on healthcare and tariffs

Endorsements

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnsonindividual
President of Milwaukee Common Councilindividual
Chair of Milwaukee County Board of Supervisorsindividual
Democratic Lieutenant Governors Associationorganization
AFSCME Wisconsinorganization
314 Action Fundorganization
Community leaders across all 72 Wisconsin countiesindividual
Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrichindividual
La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spiveyindividual
Superior Mayor Jim Paineindividual
President Donald Trumpindividual
All Wisconsin Republican House membersorganization
Wisconsin sheriffsindividual