With the November election approaching, Wisconsin’s campaign for governor is hitting its stride — Republican candidate Tom Tiffany and Democratic candidate David Crowley spoke about major issues in the race, starting with affordability. On that score, the price of diesel in the United States has never been higher, Dan Johnson of the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association said the cost could change how transport companies do business.

Tom Tiffany
Republican candidate for governor of Wisconsin

• The cost of everyday items is front of mind for voters, and about six weeks before the 2026 election, fuel prices at the pump are setting records. Tiffany said gas prices are too high, but that they are determined by world markets. The Republican candidate, who is the U.S. representative for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, said he doesn’t want to “flail on issues you don’t have any impact on” and instead focused on taxes.
• Tiffany: “I think it’s very important to have a governor that is going to be focused on the issues that you can help people out with. And so if we’re going to put more money in people’s pockets, that’s why I’ve talked about, let’s reduce taxes, and the 400-year property tax increase. The $3 billion budget surplus that we have, we should return every penny of it to the taxpayers so they have more money in their pockets.”

David Crowley
Democratic candidate for governor of Wisconsin

• Affordability is a major issue across the nation in the 2026 midterm elections, and Crowley said he understands the struggles of households that are “getting squeezed in every single direction.” The Democratic candidate, who is the Milwaukee County executive, said federal cuts are causing people to lose their healthcare and as to the cost of gas, he pointed to his opponent’s votes in Congress.
• Crowley: “At the end of the day, we have to make sure that we’re lowering our costs. And if Tom Tiffany wants to stand up, he needs to stand up to Donald Trump. Again, this is largely a result due to the war in Iran, and Tom Tiffany has voted to protect this war, protect those tariffs, and we need him to answer as to why he isn’t fighting for Wisconsinites.”

Dan Johnson
President, Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association

• Supply disruptions due to the war in Iran have played a major role in sending the price of diesel fuel above $6 per gallon, with projections that the sticker shock could rise even higher. Johnson said trucking companies are bearing the increased costs, but larger operators may have some discounts in place with fuel distributors to cushion the blow, or they may place surcharges on customers. However, smaller fleets pay full retail diesel prices, and some may go out of business. Across the board,the rising cost of fuel could result in supply chain disruptions and higher prices for consumers.
• Johnson: “There’s certainly the potential for consumers to see increased costs for groceries and other items, other necessities that they need. But, you know, it’s going to be up to the trucking company, the wholesaler, the distributor, and the retail to make decisions of their own, how much they potentially pass along to the consumer.”

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