Wisconsin’s 2026 primary for governor gets shaken up again

Inside Wisconsin Politics

Wisconsin’s 2026 primary for governor gets shaken up again

Four candidates remain in the topsy-turvy 2026 Democratic primary for governor as Mandela Barnes ends his campaign — Inside Wisconsin Politics considers the state of the race in its closing days.

July 30, 2026

Mandela Barnes speaks into a microphone mounted to the top of a podium, with the shadows of multiple people in the foreground.
Mandela Barnes speaks into a microphone mounted to the top of a podium, with the shadows of multiple people in the foreground.

Elections

Barnes drops out of Wisconsin’s 2026 Democratic governor primary

Mandela Barnes, a former lieutenant governor of Wisconsin, dropped out of the 2026 Democratic primary for governor, leaving four candidates remaining in the race for the party's nomination with less than two weeks before Election Day.

July 30, 2026

Joel Brennan gestures with his left hand and holds a microphone in his right hand while standing in a room with a brick wall and stage curtain in the background.
Joel Brennan gestures with his left hand and holds a microphone in his right hand while standing in a room with a brick wall and stage curtain in the background.

Elections

Democrat Joel Brennan says he can win the governor’s race — if voters get to know him

Joel Brennan, who served as secretary for the Wisconsin Department of Administration under Gov. Tony Evers, has plenty of experience in state government but is making his first run for office in the 2026 Democratic primary for governor.

July 29, 2026

Mindy Lohff poses for a portrait while standing in a storage room with wood shelves filled with cases of toilet paper, facial tissue, sanitary napkins, soaps, shampoos and other personal toiletry items, with stacks of canned and dry food items in the foreground.
Mindy Lohff poses for a portrait while standing in a storage room with wood shelves filled with cases of toilet paper, facial tissue, sanitary napkins, soaps, shampoos and other personal toiletry items, with stacks of canned and dry food items in the foreground.

Social Issues

Newcap closure leaves northeast Wisconsin scrambling to prevent more homelessness

The closure of the anti-poverty nonprofit Newcap reveals how the loss of a single agency can have a staggering effect, especially in rural areas where resources for the unhoused are limited.

July 28, 2026 • Northeast Region

Kelda Roys gestures with both hands while speaking into a microphone mounted to the top of a lectern in a room with a wood door in the background and the out-of-focus heads of people facing her in the foreground.
Kelda Roys gestures with both hands while speaking into a microphone mounted to the top of a lectern in a room with a wood door in the background and the out-of-focus heads of people facing her in the foreground.

Elections

Kelda Roys leans on experience, attention to detail in second bid for governor

In a crowded, chaotic 2026 Democratic primary for governor of Wisconsin, state Sen. Kelda Roys emphasizes the detail in her policy plans and says she's best equipped to work in the office on day one.

July 28, 2026

Bill Mihalski pointes with his right index finger toward a King piece on a wood chess board on a laminated wood table, with more than a half-dozen children seated around it in a room with a whiteboard with the letters ELA mounted on a painted concrete-block wall.
Bill Mihalski pointes with his right index finger toward a King piece on a wood chess board on a laminated wood table, with more than a half-dozen children seated around it in a room with a whiteboard with the letters ELA mounted on a painted concrete-block wall.

Education

Pulaski tried to make summer school fun — 2,600 of the district’s kids showed up

The Pulaski Community School District's summer school offerings provide academic help to students who need it, but they also cater to student interests, including horsemanship, cooking and swimming.

July 27, 2026 • Northeast Region

Siding, wall studs and other types of wood debris sits in piles on the ground among trees stripped of leaves and small branches and in front of a damaged two-story house with no roof, with other damaged houses in the background.
Siding, wall studs and other types of wood debris sits in piles on the ground among trees stripped of leaves and small branches and in front of a damaged two-story house with no roof, with other damaged houses in the background.

Economy

Widespread damage in Menasha and Appleton area after tornado

The National Weather Service reported a "confirmed tornado" over Lake Winnebago, as storms on July 27 caused widespread damage to homes and buildings in Appleton and neighboring Menasha.

July 27, 2026 • Northeast Region

Tom Tiffany speaks to a person facing him with two other people to his side while standing outside in front of other people standing and walking in front of a building with wood siding, multiple levels of corrugated metal roofs and a sign reading Tom Tiffany Governor.
Tom Tiffany speaks to a person facing him with two other people to his side while standing outside in front of other people standing and walking in front of a building with wood siding, multiple levels of corrugated metal roofs and a sign reading Tom Tiffany Governor.

Elections

As the Democratic primary heats up, Republican Tom Tiffany has campaigned for governor on his own terms

Republican candidate for governor Tom Tiffany has portrayed himself as a folksy everyman while campaigning around Wisconsin, while downplaying his partisan voting record and his ties to President Donald Trump.

July 27, 2026

Bryna Godar and Frederica Freyberg sit facing each other on the Here & Now set.
Bryna Godar and Frederica Freyberg sit facing each other on the Here & Now set.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Charles Franklin, Bryna Godar, Ryan Graham

Here's what guests on the July 24, 2026 episode said about the polling on the Democratic primary race for Wisconsin governor, ongoing legal fights over how absentee ballots are handled when candidates drop out, and maintaining services for people experiencing homelessness.

July 27, 2026

A group of protestors march along a street at night while holding a fabric banner on two poles with the words Justice for Corey Ruiz, with buildings and trees on either side, and with an illuminated theater marquee sign reading New Orpheum and an illuminated dome of Beaux-Arts style building topped by a gilt statue in the background.
A group of protestors march along a street at night while holding a fabric banner on two poles with the words Justice for Corey Ruiz, with buildings and trees on either side, and with an illuminated theater marquee sign reading New Orpheum and an illuminated dome of Beaux-Arts style building topped by a gilt statue in the background.

Politics

Madison grapples with Ruiz shooting as signature city events get canceled

The fatal shooting of Corey Ruiz by a Madison police officer has sparked renewed calls for policing reforms and is forcing the city to once again reckon with calls from community members to address racial justice.

July 26, 2026 • South Central Region