(The Center Square) – The 2026 Wisconsin race for governor is now rated a tossup, according to Sabato’s Crystal Ball, after Gov. Tony Evers announced he would not run for reelection.
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley entered the race since Evers’ announcement while two Republicans – Whitefish Bay Resident Bill Berrien and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann – have also announced their candidacy.
Wisconsin is one of 17 states with open governor seats in 2026, meaning an incumbent isn’t running, of the 36 overall races.
“Even if Evers got some bad press for botching his state’s roll call at last year’s Democratic National Convention, his second-term approval ratings have been generally positive and he seemed well set up for what could be a Democratic-leaning midterm,” according to the explanation of the rating change from the Center for Politics. “With that in mind, we started the race off as Leans Democratic. But, in large part because of the uncertainty that can come with open-seat contests, we are moving Wisconsin to Toss-up.”
Northwoods Congressman Tom Tiffany, R-7th Congressional, continues to mull a run for the seat and was quoted in the past week saying that he believes he is the best candidate if he chooses to run.
It was enough for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin to respond.
“Tom Tiffany is the world’s biggest flirt when it comes to playing footsie with a possible run for governor,” Democratic Party of Wisconsin’s Philip Shulman said in a statement. “He should calm down on the PDA with a run for guv – he is wasting everyone’s time and energy as he uses this as an opportunity to stroke his own ego and gain some relevancy.”
Berrien said that strong Republican candidates are a large reason the prediction has changed.
“The pundits and experts are recognizing the same writing on the wall that Tony Evers saw: Wisconsin is done buying what the radical Madison Democrats are selling,” Berrien said in a statement.
