Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor has narrowed to four candidates ahead of the August 11 vote, marking a dramatic reshuffling in a race that has seen multiple exits and re-entries in the final weeks before the election.
The four remaining Democratic contenders are state Representative Francesca Hong, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, state Senator Kelda Roys, and Joel Brennan, a former state Cabinet secretary. The race has been defined by significant volatility, with former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes dropping out just days before the election, leaving a field that began with seven Democratic candidates.
Hong, a 37-year-old state representative and democratic socialist from Madison, has maintained a commanding lead in polling. A Marquette University Law School poll released in late July showed Hong at 38 percent support, with 34 percent of Democratic voters still undecided. An earlier State Navigate poll found her leading with 44 percent of the vote, according to the ALREADY_RETRIEVED sources.
Crowley, who initially left the race in July before re-entering with backing from Governor Tony Evers, holds second place with significantly lower support. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s candidate guide, Crowley is positioned as a more mainstream alternative to Hong, emphasizing his work as Milwaukee County executive and his focus on health and economic development.
The primary has been unusually chaotic for a gubernatorial race. Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez dropped out in mid-July after financial troubles emerged in her campaign. That withdrawal prompted Crowley, who had already left the race and endorsed Rodriguez, to announce his return with Evers’ explicit support. Then, less than two weeks before the primary, Barnes, a prominent progressive and former lieutenant governor, suspended his campaign.
The Wisconsin governor’s race marks the first open seat contest since 2010, when Tony Evers was not seeking re-election. The 2022 general election saw Evers defeat Republican Tim Michels with 51.1 percent of the vote, according to election records. The scale of spending in Wisconsin governor races has grown significantly—the 2022 contest cost a record $164 million, far exceeding the previous record of $93 million set in 2018.
On the Republican side, U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany, a congressman from northern Wisconsin, is positioned as the likely nominee, with businessman Andrew Manske also running in the GOP primary. Tiffany has endorsements from President Donald Trump and former Governor Tommy Thompson. The winner of the Democratic primary will face the Republican nominee in the November 3 general election.
The large number of undecided voters—34 percent in the latest Marquette poll—suggests the race remains fluid heading into election day. Roys and Brennan, who have polled in the single digits, have focused on distinct policy proposals: Roys on clean energy and health insurance expansion, and Brennan on affordable homeownership and expanding pharmacist authority.
Sources
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel — candidate backgrounds, endorsements, policy positions, and race dynamics including dropouts and re-entries
- Ballotpedia — confirmation of four remaining Democratic candidates and primary date of August 11, 2026
- Marquette University Law School Poll — polling data showing Hong at 38 percent with 34 percent undecided
- State Navigate Poll — polling data showing Hong at 44 percent support
- Wisconsin Elections Commission — 2022 general election results showing Evers’ 51.1 percent victory over Michels
- Wisdc.org — 2022 governor’s race spending record of $164.29 million and 2018 previous record of $93.06 million
