Wisconsin 2026 Governor Race Shows Tiffany Barnes Leads Amid High Voter Uncertainty

The 2026 Wisconsin governor race is shaping up to be a highly competitive and open contest, as incumbent Governor Tony Evers will not seek a third term. Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany leads the GOP primary field with 30% support, though a significant 34% remain undecided; key Republican contenders include Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann and potential candidates Eric Hovde and Tim Michels. On the Democratic side, former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes tops the primary field with 16%, followed by Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez at 8%, with nearly 38% of Democratic voters undecided. The Democratic field is crowded, including Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, State Rep. Francesca Hong, State Sen. Kelda Roys, Missy Hughes, and potential candidates like Attorney General Josh Kaul and former party chair Ben Wikler. The race is attracting national attention due to Wisconsin's purple status and the potential for Democrats to regain control of the state legislature. Both parties are actively preparing for the contest, with the state Democratic Party launching a "Wisconsin Governor Readiness Project" to support its eventual nominee.