The Wisconsin version of C-SPAN announced it was closing up shop after running out of money, but WisconsinEye CEO Jon Henkes said there may be a way to keep the doors open. Here & Now is introducing candidates running in the primaries for Wisconsin governor in 2026, asking them why they are running and how they will be seeking support from voters in this phase of the campaign. These conversations conclude with four Democrats: Mandela Barnes, Missy Hughes, state Rep. Francesca Hong and Joel Brennan.

Jon Henkes
CEO, WisconsinEye

• WisconsinEye started in 2007 to provide live and archived online and cable TV coverage of state government, but its funding has run out. Even though the service has announced that it is “off the air,” Henkes said he’s hopeful a new plan in the works to get $1 million in state funding will allow WisconsinEye to resume its work.
• Henkes: “There are discussions going on behind the scenes right now. Our credit goes to the elected officials in the Legislature and the governor’s office. These are the folks who, over time — different people, but the same bipartisan sentiment — have said unequivocally that an independent approach to state government coverage is the Wisconsin way.”

Mandela Barnes
Democratic candidate for governor

• First elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 2012, Barnes served two terms in that chamber before running for and winning the office of lieutenant governor in the 2018 election. After a single term in that office alongside Gov. Tony Evers, Barnes ran as the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2022, losing narrowly to incumbent U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson. Barnes announced a 2026 run for governor in December, and spoke to what motivates his candidacy.
• Barnes: “Well, there are a number of issues. You know, I honestly think about challenges, situations, circumstances that I’ve dealt with growing up. Unfortunately, I’ve lost friends to gun violence, and that was one of the biggest things that actually made me think about public service. Who was going to step up? Who was going to answer the call? And we have these conversations about crime, we have these conversations about violence in general, like, it speaks to me personally.”

Missy Hughes
Democratic candidate for governor

• Hughes was appointed by Gov. Tony Evers to the position of CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, a state agency, in 2019. She served as Secretary-designee for two years before being confirmed by the Wisconsin Legislature. Hughes continued in this position until resigning just before she announced a 2026 run for governor in September, and spoke to what motivates her candidacy.
• Hughes: “You know, it’s all about the economy and building a strong economy for all Wisconsinites. That’s what I did for years working at Organic Valley, helping farmers stay on their farms, and then at WEDC — building an economy, whether it was in Milwaukee or Antigo or Superior, all around the state, working with communities and businesses so that everyday Wisconsinites can succeed.”

State Rep. Francesca Hong
D-Madison, and Democratic candidate for governor

• First elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 2020, Hong has since been reelected to two more terms. She announced a 2026 run for governor in September, and spoke to what motivates her candidacy
• Hong: “Fully funding public education, universal child care, and expanding BadgerCare for all. These are universal policies addressing universal issues for Wisconsinites all across the state, and I think this moment demands visionary bold action and not incrementalism.”

Joel Brennan
Democratic candidate for governor

• Brennan was appointed by Gov. Tony Evers to the position of secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration in 2019, and served in that role until 2021 when he resigned to lead a private economic development organization in Milwaukee. Brennan was the last Democrat who announced a 2026 run for governor, and spoke to what motivates his candidacy.
• Brennan: “I think if anybody’s looking around right now, the main issue that anybody is dealing with here in Wisconsin is affordability. You know, we’re in a situation where just in the last week, it was revealed that the first-time homebuyers now are 40 years old. Five years ago, they were an average of 33 years old. And we’ve got — we spent $10,000 a year on health care per person in Wisconsin, yet there are people who go without, people who can’t afford their prescription drugs. All of those are challenges. And then at the same time, you have Donald Trump running around the country saying affordability is a Democratic hoax. It’s not a hoax. It’s an issue that’s real for every Wisconsin resident.”

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