2026 Wisconsin elections
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April 7, 2026
November 3, 2026 | |
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| Elections in Wisconsin |
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The 2026 Wisconsin fall general election will take place in the U.S. state of Wisconsin on November 3, 2026. All of Wisconsin's partisan executive and administrative offices will be up for election, as well as all of Wisconsin's eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The fall election will also fill the seventeen odd-numbered seats in the Wisconsin Senate and all 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly for the 108th Wisconsin Legislature, and will also present three state constitutional amendments to voters for ratification. The 2026 Wisconsin fall primary took place on August 11, 2026.
The incumbent governor, state Senate majority leader, and state assembly speaker have all announced that they will not run for re-election in 2026, meaning that this will be the first time since 2010 when all three of the top executive and legislative offices in Wisconsin will change hands at the same time.
The 2026 Wisconsin spring election was held on April 7, 2026. Among the nonpartisan local and judicial races, the premier race on the spring ballot was a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court; Democrats' preferred candidate, Chris Taylor, defeated the Republicans' preferred candidate, Maria S. Lazar, expanding the liberal majority on the court from 4–3 to 5–2. The Democrats' preferred candidate also won a narrow victory in the closely-watched mayoral election in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The 2026 spring primary took place on February 17, 2026.
Federal offices
[edit]U.S. House
[edit]State offices
[edit]Executive
[edit]All of Wisconsin's partisan executive offices will be up for election in November 2026, with partisan primaries held on August 11.
Governor
[edit]Incumbent Democratic governor Tony Evers, first elected in 2018, has announced that he will not run for re-election. This will be the first open seat gubernatorial election in Wisconsin since 2010. In the general election, the Democratic nominee is David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, and the Republican nominee is Tom Tiffany, U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district.[1][1]
In the Democratic primary, Crowley defeated state representative Francesca Hong, state senator Kelda Roys, and former state secretary of administration Joel Brennan. Incumbent lieutenant governor Sara Rodriguez, former lieutenant governor Mandela Barnes, former CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Missy Hughes, former state representative Brett Hulsey, Oshkosh Defense assembler Tim Jacobson, and stadium vendor Ryan Strnad all withdrew before the primary.[2]
In the Republican primary, Tiffany defeated medical services technician Andy Manske. Washington County executive Josh Schoemann and manufacturing executive Bill Berrien withdrew before the primary.[3]
Lieutenant governor
[edit]Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Sara Rodriguez, first elected in 2022, did not run for re-election—she instead sought the Democratic nomination for governor.[4] In the general election, the Democratic nominee is Sarah Godlewski, the incumbent secretary of state, and the Republican nominee is David Varnum, the former mayor of Lancaster.[5]
Godlewski faced no opposition in the Democratic Primary. In the Republican primary, Varnum defeated Will Martin, a small business owner from Racine; this was a mild upset, as the Republican State Convention had officially endorsed Martin for lieutenant governor.[5]
Attorney general
[edit]Incumbent Democratic attorney general Josh Kaul, first elected in 2018, is running for a third four-year term. He will face Republican candidate Eric Toney, the Fond du Lac County district attorney, in the general election.
Neither Kaul nor Toney faced opposition in their respective primaries.
Secretary of state
[edit]Incumbent Democratic secretary of state Sarah Godlewski, did not run for re-election. This will be the first open seat secretary of state election in Wisconsin since 1978. In the general election, the Democratic nominee is JoCasta Zamarripa, a Milwaukee alder and former state representative, and the Republican nominee is Jay Schroeder, a businessman from Clintonville.[6]
Zamarripa faced no opposition in the Democratic primary. In the Republican primary, Schroeder defeated farmer Nate Pollnow, realtor Cindy Werner, and legislative staffer Brayden Myer; this was also considered an upset, since the Republican State Convention had unanimously endorsed Pollnow for this office.[6]
Treasurer
[edit]Incumbent Republican state treasurer John Leiber, first elected in 2022, is running for re-election. He will face Democratic candidate Yee Leng Xiong, a Marathon County supervisor, in the general election.
Leiber faced no opposition in the Republican primary. In the Democratic primary, Xiong defeated Dylan Helmenstine, a school board member from Black Earth.[7]
Legislature
[edit]State senate
[edit]
Democratic incumbent
No incumbent
No election
| Party (majority caucus shading) |
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | |||
| Last election (2024) | 6 | 10 | 16 | |
| Total after last election (2024) | 15 | 18 | 33 | |
| Total before this election | 15 | 18 | 33 | |
| Up for election | 5 | 12 | 17 | |
| of which: | Incumbent retiring | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Vacated | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Open | 0 | 5 | 5 | |
| Unopposed | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
State assembly
[edit]
Republican incumbent retiring
Democratic incumbent
Democratic incumbent retiring
| Party (majority caucus shading) |
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | |||
| Last election (2024) | 35 | 64 | 99 | |
| Total after last election (2024) | 45 | 54 | 99 | |
| Total before this election | 45 | 54 | 99 | |
| Up for election | 45 | 54 | 99 | |
| of which: | Incumbent retiring | 3 | 9 | 12 |
| Open | 3 | 9 | 12 | |
| Vacated | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Unopposed | 2 | 6 | 8 | |
Judiciary
[edit]State Supreme Court
[edit]
50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%
Lazar:
50–60% 60–70%
A regularly scheduled Wisconsin Supreme Court election was on the ballot for the spring general election, April 7, 2026, for a ten-year term on the court. The incumbent justice, Rebecca Bradley, did not run for re-election, retiring after 11 years on the court.[8] Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge Chris Taylor defeated fellow Court of Appeals judge Maria S. Lazar, expanding the liberal majority on the court from 4–3 to 5–2.[9]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, April 7, 2026[10] | |||||
| Nonpartisan | Chris Taylor | 905,490 | 60.09% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Maria S. Lazar | 600,256 | 39.84% | ||
| Scattering | 1,096 | 0.07% | +0.01pp | ||
| Plurality | 305,111 | 20.25% | +10.16pp | ||
| Total votes | 1,506,442 | 100.0% | -36.30% | ||
State Court of Appeals
[edit]Three seats on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals were on the ballot for the spring general election, April 7, 2026.
- In District I, incumbent judge Joe Donald was unopposed for a second six-year term. He was appointed to the court by Governor Tony Evers in 2019 and won election in 2020 without opposition.
- In District II, incumbent judge Lisa Neubauer did not seek a fourth six-year term. Conservative attorney Anthony LoCoco was elected without opposition. Administrative law judge Christine Hansen sought to run, but was disqualified by the Wisconsin Elections Commission because her nomination forms were notarized by her husband, making the notarization voidable under Wisconsin law.[11]
- In District IV, incumbent judge Rachel A. Graham was unopposed for a second six-year term. She was appointed to the court by Governor Tony Evers in 2019 and won election in 2020 without opposition.
State circuit courts
[edit]Twenty six of the state's 261 circuit court seats were on the ballot for the Spring general election, April 7, 2026. Only six seats were contested; four incumbent judges faced a challenger, one was defeated.[12][13]
- In Dane County's branch 1 race, incumbent judge Benjamin Jones defeated a challenge from immigration law advocate Huma Ahsan. Attorney Nathan Wagner was eliminated in the primary.[14][15]
- In the Florence & Forest county race, attorney Robert A. Kennedy Jr. defeated incumbent district attorney Alex Seifert for the judicial seat being vacated by the retirement of judge Leon D. Stenz.[13]
- In Marathon County's branch 3 race, attorney Michael D. Hughes defeated attorney Douglas Bauman for the seat being vacated by the retirement of judge Lamont K. Jacobson.[13]
- In Washburn County, incumbent judge Angeline E. Winton-Roe defeated a challenge from incumbent district attorney Aaron B. Marcoux.[13]
- In Washington County's branch 2 race, assistant district attorney Grant Scaife defeated incumbent circuit judge Gordon Leech.[13]
- In Wood County's branch 3 race, incumbent judge Emily Nolan-Plutchak defeated a challenge from former Langlade County District Attorney Elizabeth Gebert.[13]
| Circuit | Branch | Incumbent | Elected | Defeated | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Entered office |
Name | Votes | % | Name | Votes | % | ||
| Barron | 3 | Maureen D. Boyle | 2014 | Maureen D. Boyle | 8,652 | 99.24% | --Unopposed-- | ||
| Brown | 8 | Beau G. Liegeois | 2019 | Beau G. Liegeois | 42,255 | 98.72% | |||
| Chippewa | 3 | Benjamin J. Lane | 2020 | Benjamin J. Lane | 11,198 | 98.91% | |||
| Dane | 1 | Benjamin Jones | 2025 | Benjamin Jones | 98,072 | 55.66% | Huma Ahsan | 77,367 | 43.91% |
| 8 | Stephanie Hilton | 2025 | Stephanie Hilton | 140,195 | 99.05% | --Unopposed-- | |||
| Dodge | 1 | Brian A. Pfitzinger | 2008 | Brian A. Pfitzinger | 15,463 | 100.0% | |||
| 4 | Kristine A. Snow | 2020 | Kristine A. Snow | 15,709 | 100.0% | ||||
| Dunn | 1 | James M. Peterson | 2014 | James M. Peterson | 8,109 | 100.0% | |||
| Florence–Forest | Leon D. Stenz | 2008 | Robert A. Kennedy Jr. | 2,179 | 57.01% | Alex Seifert | 1,640 | 42.91% | |
| Iron | Anthony J. Stella Jr. | 2019 | Anthony J. Stella Jr. | 1,274 | 99.84% | --Unopposed-- | |||
| Juneau | 2 | Paul S. Curran | 2008 | Paul S. Curran | 4,737 | 99.39% | |||
| Marathon | 3 | Lamont K. Jacobson | 2013 | Michael D. Hughes | 18,720 | 64.60% | Douglas Bauman | 10,180 | 35.13% |
| Milwaukee | 2 | Milton Childs | 2019 | Milton Childs | 120,482 | 98.77% | --Unopposed-- | ||
| 7 | Thomas J. McAdams | 2014 | Susan M. Roth | 119,303 | 98.75% | ||||
| 16 | Brittany Grayson | 2019 | Brittany Grayson | 119,845 | 98.86% | ||||
| 27 | Kevin E. Martens | 2001 | Kevin E. Martens | 118,171 | 98.73% | ||||
| 29 | Rebecca A. Kiefer | 2020 | Rebecca A. Kiefer | 119,135 | 98.81% | ||||
| 32 | Laura Gramling Perez | 2014 | Laura Gramling Perez | 119,567 | 98.87% | ||||
| Outagamie | 2 | Emily I. Lonergan | 2019 | Emily I. Lonergan | 33,276 | 100.0% | |||
| 3 | Mitchell J. Metropulos | 2007 | Kyle Joseph Sargent | 32,554 | 100.0% | ||||
| St. Croix | 1 | Scott J. Nordstrand | 2019 | Scott J. Nordstrand | 17,041 | 98.49% | |||
| Washburn | Angeline E. Winton-Roe | 2019 | Angeline E. Winton-Roe | 2,795 | 58.56% | Aaron B. Marcoux | 1,973 | 41.34% | |
| Washington | 2 | Gordon Leech | 2025 | Grant Scaife | 22,211 | 60.54% | Gordon Leech | 14,352 | 39.12% |
| Waukesha | 5 | Jack Melvin | 2020 | Jack Melvin | 84,825 | 98.26% | --Unopposed-- | ||
| Waupaca | 2 | Vicki L. Clussman | 2014 | Vicki L. Clussman | 10,252 | 99.16% | |||
| Wood | 3 | Emily Nolan-Plutchak | 2025 | Emily Nolan-Plutchak | 9,588 | 51.67% | Elizabeth Gebert | 8,929 | 48.12% |
Ballot measures
[edit]Three new amendments to the Constitution of Wisconsin are presented to voters for ratification at the fall general election, November 3, 2026.[16]
Question 1
[edit]This amendment would attempt to place new limits on the partial veto powers of the governor of Wisconsin, to prohibit the governor from creating or increasing or authorizing new taxes or fees through the exercise of a partial veto. This was proposed by Republican lawmakers largely in response to Governor Tony Evers' partial veto in the 2023 state budget, which authorized municipalities to increase education funding through referenda for "400 years".[17]
The question reads:
Partial veto. Shall section 10(1)(c) of article V of the constitution be amended to prohibit the governor, in exercising his or her partial veto authority, from creating or increasing or authorizing the creation or increase of any tax or fee?[16]
Question 2
[edit]This amendment would attempt to insulate religious institutions from future state government emergency orders. This amendment was proposed by Republican lawmakers as a reaction to the public health lockdowns that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020–2023.[18]
The question reads:
Freedom to gather in places of worship during an emergency. Shall section 18 of article I of the constitution, which deals with religious liberty, be amended to prohibit the state or a political subdivision of the state from ordering the closure of, or forbidding gatherings in, places of worship in response to a state of emergency, including a public health emergency?[16]
Question 3
[edit]This amendment would attempt to prevent entities of the state government from discriminating or granting any preferential treatment on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. This amendment was devised by Republican lawmakers as an attempt to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion policies from state government.[18]
The question reads:
Governmental entity discrimination prohibited. Shall section 27 of article I of the constitution be created to prohibit governmental entities in the state from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education, public contracting, or public administration?[16]
Local offices
[edit]Brown County
[edit]De Pere mayor
[edit]A regularly scheduled mayoral election was held in De Pere, Wisconsin, concurrent with the Spring general election, April 7, 2026. Incumbent mayor James Boyd was re-elected without opposition.[19]
Kenosha County
[edit]Kenosha County executive
[edit]A regularly scheduled county executive election was held in Kenosha County, concurrent with the Spring general election, April 7, 2026. Incumbent county executive Samantha Kerkman was re-elected without opposition.[20]
Manitowoc County
[edit]Manitowoc County executive
[edit]A regularly scheduled county executive election was held in Manitowoc County, concurrent with the Spring general election, April 7, 2026. Incumbent county executive Bob Ziegelbauer declined to seek re-election.[21] Manitowoc County Board chair Tyler Martell was elected without opposition.[22]
Pierce County
[edit]River Falls mayor
[edit]A regularly scheduled mayoral election was held in River Falls, Wisconsin, concurrent with the Spring general election, April 7, 2026. Incumbent mayor Dan Toland was defeated by River Falls school board member Alison H. Page.[23]
Waukesha County
[edit]Waukesha County executive
[edit]A special election for Waukesha County executive will be held on December 15, 2026, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Paul Farrow; if three or more candidates run, a special nonpartisan primary will be held on November 17, 2026.[24] Republican state senator Chris Kapenga[25] and Republican state representative Adam Neylon[26] have declared their candidacy for the office. Republican state senator Rob Hutton and Republican state representative Scott Allen are also potential candidates.[27]
Delafield mayor
[edit]A regularly scheduled mayoral election was held in Delafield, Wisconsin, concurrent with the Spring general election, April 7, 2026. Incumbent mayor Tim Aicher defeated businessman Aaron Werner in the general election to win a second two-year term.[28][29]
Muskego mayor
[edit]A regularly scheduled mayoral election was held in Muskego, Wisconsin, concurrent with the Spring general election, April 7, 2026. Incumbent mayor Rick Petfalski defeated former Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti in the general election.[28]
Oconomowoc mayor
[edit]A regularly scheduled mayoral election was held in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, concurrent with the Spring general election, April 7, 2026. Incumbent mayor Robert Magnus did not run for re-election. City councilmember Matthew Rosek was elected mayor, defeating fellow councilmember Karen Spiegelberg.[28]
Waukesha mayor
[edit]A regularly scheduled mayoral election was held in Waukesha, Wisconsin, concurrent with the Spring general election, April 7, 2026. Incumbent mayor Shawn Reilly, first elected in 2014, did not seek re-election. City council president Alicia Halvensleben was elected mayor, defeating incumbent state representative Scott Allen.[30][31][28]
Winnebago County
[edit]Neenah mayor
[edit]A regularly scheduled mayoral election was held in Neenah, Wisconsin, concurrent with the Spring general election, April 7, 2026. Incumbent mayor Jane Lang did not run for re-election.[32] School teacher Brian Borchardt was elected mayor, defeating policy consultant Scott Becher.[33]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 LOVADINOV, NADJA (August 12, 2026). "Takeaways from Wisconsin and Minnesota primaries, Trump addresses Air Force One ruse, inside AP's wildfire reporting". AP. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- ↑ Sandler, Larry (July 31, 2026). "Here Are All the Candidates Running for Wisconsin Governor in 2026". Milwaukee Magazine. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- ↑ Johnson, Shawn (January 28, 2026). "Republican Josh Schoemann drops out of Wisconsin governor's race". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- ↑ JOHNSON, SHAWN (July 17, 2026). "Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez ends bid for Wisconsin governor". WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO. Archived from the original on July 17, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- 1 2 "Varnam wins GOP nomination for lt. governor". Wispolitics.com. August 11, 2026. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- 1 2 "Schroeder wins GOP primary for Secretary of State". Wispolitics.com. August 11, 2026. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Xiong wins Dem primary for state treasurer". Wispolitics.com. August 11, 2026. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
- ↑ "Rebecca Bradley won't run in 2026". Wispolitics.com. August 29, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
- ↑ "Judge Maria Lazar concedes Wisconsin Supreme Court election". WITI (TV). April 7, 2026. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Wisconsin State Supreme Court Results 2026". NBC News. April 7, 2026. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
- ↑ Kirchner, Margo (January 13, 2026). "Wisconsin Elections Commission strikes District 2 Court of Appeals candidate". Wisconsin Justice Initiative. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
- ↑ Incumbents Who Have Filed a Notification of Noncandidacy (EL-163) for the 04/07/2026 2026 Spring Election (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 12, 2025. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Judicial elections roundup: results from around the state". Wisconsin Justice Initiative. April 8, 2026. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
- ↑ Waheed, Omar (September 18, 2025). "Huma Ahsan announces candidacy for Dane County Judge". Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ↑ DuClos, Danielle (April 7, 2026). "Ben Jones wins Dane County Circuit Court Branch 1 election". The Capital Times. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Notice of Referendum Election, November 3, 2026 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
- ↑ Kremer, Rich; van Wagtendonk, Anya (February 20, 2026). "Assembly Republicans pass proposed '400-year veto' constitutional amendment". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
- 1 2 Johnson, Shawn (January 21, 2026). "Wisconsin Republicans add proposed amendments to November ballot on DEI, public health orders". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
- ↑ Lin, Jesse; Mathew, Benita (January 7, 2026). "Candidates set for spring elections in Brown County, Green Bay, suburbs". Green Bay Press Gazette. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ↑ Mathewson, Kevin (January 7, 2026). "Kerkman Runs Unopposed For County Executive As County Board Races Take Shape Across Kenosha County". Kenosha County Eye. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ↑ Brahm, Ryan (October 30, 2025). "Manitowoc County Executive Will Not Run for Another Term". Seehafer News. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ↑ Schafer, Alisa M. (November 11, 2025). "Manitowoc County Board Chairman Tyler Martell makes announcement on steps of courthouse". Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Page upsets Toland as RF mayor; Abdouch, Walker elected as alderpersons". Pierce County Journal. April 7, 2026. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
- ↑ Jordan, Ben (July 10, 2026). "Waukesha County sets Dec. 15 special County Executive election; interim exec explains process". WTMJ-TV. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Kapenga Announces Run for Waukesha County Executive". The Heartland Post. July 13, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ Pilarski, Karen (September 10, 2026). "Neylon announces campaign for Waukesha County executive". gmtoday. Archived from the original on September 10, 2026. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ Kremer, Rich (July 16, 2026). "Can Chris Kapenga Win Waukesha County While Snubbing GOP Insiders?". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Urban Milwaukee.
- 1 2 3 4 Riccioli, Jim (January 13, 2026). "Spring elections will feature mayor races in 4 Waukesha County cities". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
- ↑ Riccioli, Jim (April 7, 2026). "Incumbents keep mayoral seats, new mayors elected in Waukesha County". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
- ↑ "Allen campaign: Announcing campaign for mayor of Waukesha". WisPolitics. May 8, 2025. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
- ↑ "Halvensleben announces campaign for mayor of Waukesha". The Waukesha County Freeman. October 4, 2025. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ↑ Loroff, Rebecca (December 4, 2025). "Neenah mayor Jane Lang will not seek re-election this spring". Appleton Post Crescent. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ↑ Behnke, Duke (December 9, 2025). "Scott Becher, Brian Borchardt enter 2026 Neenah mayoral race". Appleton Post Crescent. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
