Scott Walker won’t run for governor in Wisconsin, despite social media hints

Days after posting cryptic messages on social media hinting at a prospective run for governor, former Gov. Scott Walker says he won’t run for his old job next year.

Instead, Walker said in a video posted Sunday evening that he’ll continue at his nonprofit, which seeks to motivate young conservatives, while backing a “common sense conservative” in the 2026 governor’s race.

“I’m not going to be a candidate, at least not next year. It doesn’t mean I’ll never run again,” he said. “Looking ahead, though, (my wife) Tonette and I will do everything we can at our home here in Wisconsin to ensure that we elect a common sense conservative as governor in next year’s election.”

Shortly after Gov. Tony Evers’ bombshell announcement last week that he wouldn’t seek a third term, Walker posted a picture on the social media site X of a red “Make Wisconsin Great Again” hat with “45-47” on the side.

The post was originally accompanied with a winking emoji, but Walker later reposted it without text.

Those numbers refer to President Donald Trump’s nonconsecutive terms as both the 45th and 47th president of the United States. But Walker was the 45th governor of Wisconsin before he lost to Evers in 2018. And if Walker had sought reelection and won, he would have been the 47th governor.

Walker made no reference to the post in his Sunday announcement. Rather, he said he would focus on promoting conservative ideals among young people through his Young America’s Foundation, with an eye on increasing youth turnout for Republican candidates.

“To win in this state, we’ve got to do better with younger voters,” he said.

Without a big name, the race is wide open

Evers’ announcement sets up a wide open race and anticipated primaries for both parties. So far, Wisconsin business executive Bill Berrien and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann have declared their candidacies for the GOP nomination.

The day after Evers got out of the race, Democratic Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez launched her campaign for governor, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a fellow Democrat, announced his intention to run, too.

Matthew Klein, an analyst at Cook Political Report, said Walker would have been the biggest name in the race if he’d entered.

“He probably would have been the candidate that all the other candidates had to kind of orbit around,” said Klein.

Instead, candidates from both parties will be working to establish both name recognition and their own records on the issues to break through during the primary, Klein said.

Meanwhile, he said, Democrats will be setting themselves up in opposition to Trump, and hoping to capitalize on national policies like cuts to Medicaid in Trump’s signature tax and immigration bill.

That could also invite Trump’s interest in the race, he added.

“Wisconsin is a state that perennially has Donald Trump’s interest, where he has a lot of very close connections, and where he’s going to probably be quite interested in the outcome there,” Klein said. “So I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump himself, at some point, either weighs in on behalf of a Republican in the gubernatorial primary. Or if he, once there is a nominee, comes and tries to campaign in the state for the nominee on their behalf.”

The election will take place in November 2026, with party primaries set for August 2026.