Here & Now

Wisconsin's Wide-Open 2026 Democratic Primary for Governor

Frederica Freyberg:
Now that the Supreme Court election is over, attention shifts to the next election. Tom Tiffany, the only prominent Republican running for governor, responded to Tuesday’s outsized win for liberal Justice-elect Chris Taylor.

Tom Tiffany:
We got our butts kicked last night, right? There’s no doubt about it. And we should acknowledge that. But the election that’s coming up this fall in November is a new election. And you guys know as well as anyone, every election is unique. And I have built a campaign: money, manpower and messaging. We’re going to compete on all fronts.

Frederica Freyberg:
Before a challenger takes on Tiffany in November, seven Democrats are running to win the nomination in the August primary. The first two Marquette polls have shown a wide-open race, with 65% of all Democratic voters saying they haven’t made up their minds. Reporter Zac Schultz has been on the campaign trail and tells us how the Democrats are handling this crowded primary.

Sara Rodriguez:
Sara Rodriguez, lieutenant governor.

Zac Schultz:
Pick a city across the state …

Mandela Barnes:
What’s up man?

Young man:
How you doing?

Mandela Barnes:
Good.

Young man:
You?

Zac Schultz:
… on any given weekend …

David Crowley:
How are you?

Zac Schultz:
… there’s a good chance …

Missy Hughes:
First off, I’m Missy Hughes.

Zac Schultz:
… you’ll find one of the Democrats running for governor, shaking hands and introducing themselves.

Kelda Roys:
My name is Kelda Roys, and I’m running for governor.

Zac Schultz:
These candidates launched their campaigns last year, but the polling shows the race has just started, with most candidates polling in the low single digits.

David Crowley:
You know, we’re about five to six months into this race and still have a long runway ahead of us.

Joel Brennan:
The bottom line for the statewide poll, very credible, is that almost nobody has made up their mind about this, and it’s a wide-open race.

Missy Hughes:
This is the first time I’ve run for office, so I’m excited to learn what Wisconsinites are really thinking about, what they’re concerned about with the future.

Kelda Roys:
No poll before people have actually started paying for communications is going to tell you anything reliable about the electorate.

Sara Rodriguez:
What I say to them is really look at who can win in November, who has the most experience, who’s been able to win in difficult races.

Zac Schultz:
Only Mandela Barnes and Francesca Hong are polling above 10%.

Mandela Barnes:
Poll numbers are poll numbers. Doesn’t change our program. We’re showing up all across Wisconsin. We’re talking to people. There’s a poll that came out two days before showed me with a lead with eight points above the next person. So polls are polls are always scattered all over the place.

Zac Schultz:
Hong in particular is taking a different approach to the campaign. We met her in La Crosse, where her event doubled as a benefit for Driftless Mutual Aid, and she skipped the speech and just helped the other volunteers.

Francesca Hong:
We are organizing and community powered campaign, so events like this, community actions with support from mutual aid efforts. This is what I hope more politicians will start doing.

Zac Schultz:
With two thirds of all Democrats undecided, each voter the candidate convinces now has a chance to influence an even larger audience.

Missy Hughes:
I’m seeing a ton of engagement around the state. When I go to Brown County or Marinette, folks are showing up for meetings. They want to understand where the candidates are, who the candidates are.

Zac Schultz:
That makes these small meet and greets that much more important.

Joel Brennan:
Clearly, this is an engaged electorate. People who want to make sure that we are doing the right level of organizing to be ready for this fall.

David Crowley:
I mean, you absolutely have your political junkies who are, who are tuning in and asking a lot of questions. But we also know there’s a lot happening in the world.

Zac Schultz:
With the Supreme Court election over, it’s a four month sprint to the August primary.

Mandela Barnes:
Feeling incredible. A few months in, actually incredible response all across the state. We’ve been traveling nonstop. The response has been incredible. We see the momentum continue to grow. We see support increase all across Wisconsin.

Sara Rodriguez:
I’m feeling really good about the race. I’m feeling really good about what my team is doing. We are going all across the state, all 72 counties, talking to everybody because I firmly believe you can’t lead if you don’t listen.

Kelda Roys:
I feel great. I feel like I’m getting a huge amount of momentum as I travel across the state, and it’s really a joy to campaign when people are feeling like we’re on the cusp of something different in Wisconsin.

Zac Schultz:
Reporting from Madison, I’m Zac Schultz for “Here & Now.”