Tony Evers won’t seek reelection, setting up wide-open race for Wisconsin governor

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers will not seek reelection, a bombshell decision that shakes up Wisconsin politics ahead of the 2026 election.

In a video posted to social media Thursday afternoon, Evers said he was confident he’d win another election, but that he wanted to prioritize his family.

“Whether I’d win or not has never been part of my calculus about running again,” he said. “For five decades, my family has sacrificed to give me the gift of service. They’re my world. And I owe it to them to focus on doing all the things we enjoy and love doing together.”

The move by Evers, 73, leaves Democrats without a consensus candidate, setting off a free-for-all primary that could easily grow to a half-dozen contenders or more. Two GOP candidates are already running for governor, and the prospect of an open seat could prompt other Republicans to join them.

For most of this year, it was widely assumed Evers would run again, but his most recent fundraising report cast some doubt on that assumption. He raised just $760,000 in the first half of this year, compared to more than $5 million in the same span four years ago.

Evers remains popular by Wisconsin standards. In a state where elections are routinely won by razor-thin margins, he has consistently had more voters say they approve of the job he’s doing in office than those who disapprove. But his numbers have been slipping ever-so-slightly in polling by the Marquette University Law School, which also showed a majority of voters did not want him to run again.

In announcing that he would not seek reelection, Evers said he’d continue “working just as hard as I have for the last six years to keep doing the right thing and deliver for you.”

“This is the best job I ever had, and folks, we are not done yet. There is, as always, much work to do,” he said.

Had Evers run, winning a third term was by no means a given. Since Wisconsin switched to four-year terms for governors in 1970, only former Gov. Tommy Thompson, a Republican, has been elected a third time.

Wisconsin’s last governor, Republican Scott Walker, tried for a third term in 2018 and lost, coming up short to Evers by around 29,000 votes. Walker’s predecessor, Democrat Jim Doyle, decided not to run for a third term in 2010, a year that saw Republicans dominate contests up and down the ballot.

But the political landscape in 2026 would have been far more favorable for Evers than it was for Walker or Doyle, in large part because Democrats have no power in Washington.

Historically, midterms are hard on the party that holds the presidency, and even harder when that party holds all levers of power in the federal government. That’s the case for Republicans now, with President Donald Trump in the White House and Republicans holding majorities in both the U.S. House and Senate.

In the 2018 midterms during Trump’s first stint in office, the political environment was seen as being so favorable to Democrats that, at one point, 13 of them were running to be governor of Wisconsin. In that crowded field, Evers won handily, thanks in large part to his name recognition from serving as superintendent of public instruction since 2009.

A long list of Democrats and Republicans have considered running for governor

For years, a long and growing list of Democratic contenders have sent hints, both subtle and overt, that they might run for governor if given the chance.

Attorney General Josh Kaul, who was first elected alongside Evers in 2018, is widely expected to be among the top contenders. Kaul and Evers have been on the same side of lawsuits against Republicans who run the Legislature, not to mention a number of high-profile lawsuits against the Trump administration.

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, who joined Evers on the ticket in 2022, could also run. While her office has few responsibilities, Evers has spoken especially highly of Rodriguez, who previously served in the Legislature and flipped a Republican district covering parts of Waukesha County.

Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski has shown a willingness to climb the political ladder in the recent past and could again. She was appointed to her current job by Evers after former Secretary of State Doug La Follette abruptly retired. Godlewski, who was previously Wisconsin’s treasurer, ran for U.S. Senate in 2022 but lost in the Democratic primary to former Lieutenant Gov. Mandela Barnes.

Barnes could also run. He told WPR Thursday that “the thought has certainly crossed my mind with this new reality.” He said he planned to take some time to consider the race, adding that whoever ran needed to “meet this moment” brought on by Trump’s agenda.

“We need leaders, especially in the swing state of Wisconsin, who are going to stand up and be bold,” Barnes said.

Any number of state legislators might also decide to run for governor, including Sen. Kelda Roys of Madison. In 2018, Roys came in third in the Democratic primary for governor, and earlier this year, she made comments that sounded less than thrilled about Evers running again.

Two Milwaukee leaders — Mayor Cavalier Johnson and County Executive David Crowley — could run, boasting political bases in Wisconsin’s biggest Democratic stronghold. Johnson told WPR last year that if Evers did not run for governor, he would “absolutely” be interested in running.

Ben Wikler, who stepped down as chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin this year, was also rumored to be a potential candidate should Evers leave. Wikler has gained recognition as one of the nation’s most prolific political fundraisers.

Among Republicans, Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann announced his campaign for governor in May. Earlier this month, New Berlin businessman Bill Berrien jumped in and has already spent $400,000 on the race’s first campaign ad.

Following Evers’ announcement, Walker posted a picture on X of a “Make Wisconsin Great Again” hat, with “45-47” embroidered on the side. While those numbers refer to Trump’s staggered terms as president, Walker would be the 45th and 47th Wisconsin governor should he run and win.

“Interesting…” Walker mused in a separate post.

Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany has done little to quiet rumors that he’s interested in running and has seen an uptick in fundraising amid that speculation. Tiffany served in the state Assembly and Senate before he ran for Congress.

An open seat could also encourage former GOP candidates who lost bids for statewide office to give it another go. Businessman Eric Hovde, who ran failed bids for U.S. Senate in 2012 and 2024, has said he’s open to running for governor. So has Tim Michels, the construction executive who lost a bid for U.S. Senate in 2004 and lost to Evers in the 2022 governor’s race.

Evers brought an understated style to office

No matter who wins, the departure of Evers makes one thing undeniable: Wisconsin state government will be under new leadership in 2027 for the first time since 2019. The state’s next governor will almost certainly be from a younger generation. They may also take a different approach to the job.

Evers does not fit the mold of a traditional politician, at least in style. He started his career as a science teacher and school administrator and would never be mistaken for a political firebrand. He’s soft-spoken and has a tendency to stumble through prepared remarks. When he’s really excited, Evers is known to exclaim “holy mackerel” and tell people he’s “jazzed as hell.” His hobbies include playing euchre and pickleball with Kathy Evers, his wife and high school sweetheart.

But that “aw, shucks” demeanor belies a fierce competitor and a chief executive willing to use his power to do battle with political adversaries. He vetoed record numbers of GOP bills in his first term, including many that sought to whittle away at the governor’s power.

Evers’ legacy also includes some of the most consequential bipartisan deals in decades. He cut deals with Republicans on issues ranging from sports stadiums to local government funding to education and tax cuts. After the Supreme Court tossed out the state’s old legislative maps, Evers drew new ones that GOP lawmakers passed, bringing competition back to races for the Assembly and Senate.

The governor’s political nemesis in Madison, Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, issued a written statement Thursday wishing Evers and his wife the best in retirement.

“No matter what side of the aisle we stand on, the decision to run for statewide office comes with many personal sacrifices that are worthy of recognition,” Vos said. “I want to thank Governor Evers for his service to the state of Wisconsin.”

There are those in his party who think Evers has given away too much in deals he cut with the GOP, and Republicans who think he’s too liberal for a swing state. Evers has been an outspoken supporter for the LGBTQ+ community, even as the GOP has increasingly used that issue to attack Democrats.

His departure from the race leaves it wide open at a time when the stakes are high for both parties.

For Republicans, 2026 offers a chance to get back what they lost after Walker was defeated. They’ve maintained influence in state government through majorities in the Legislature, but they’ve seen the limits of that power when they don’t hold the governor’s office. They’ve watched Evers oversee billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 funding and virtually rewrite the budget with his powerful partial veto. With one especially creative veto, Evers extended a school funding increase for 400 years.

For Democrats, next year’s election offers their best chance in nearly two decades to win control of all of state government. Under the new legislative maps, both Republicans and Democrats have a fighting chance to win majorities in the Senate and Assembly. Winning the governor’s office and the full Legislature would give the party the power to enact a progressive agenda, like Democrats did in Minnesota and Michigan when they captured power in those states two years ago.

Evers will leave the governor’s office as one of the most successful politicians in Wisconsin history. He won five statewide elections — three for state superintendent and two for governor. That ties the five won by Doyle between his races for governor and state attorney general, and is more than the four won by Thompson.