It’s been a tumultuous few weeks for Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls heading into Tuesday’s Primary Election as the field of candidates has been downsized.

Wisconsin voters will head to the polls Aug. 11 to choose party nominees in a high-stakes, open-seat gubernatorial race following Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ decision not to seek re-election.

Republican candidate Tom Tiffany is the expected Republican nominee, but the path forward for Democrats has been far less clear in recent weeks.

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez unexpectedly dropped out of the race July 17 after mismanagement of her campaign showed far less cash-on-hand than previously reported. Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes announced his exit July 30 after polling numbers showed Francesca Hong with a strong lead.

The primary will determine who advances to the Nov. 3 general election to lead the battleground state. Following recent shifts in the field, four candidates remain in the active Democratic primary alongside a two-candidate Republican race headlined by U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany.

Republican primary

Tom Tiffany: Tiffany, a former state legislator and current U.S. Representative for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, enters the primary as the prominent conservative frontrunner. A long-time advocate for northern Wisconsin businesses, timber, and agricultural industries, Tiffany has centered his campaign on economic revival, border security, and rolling back state regulations.

His platform emphasizes curbing state spending, providing tax relief for families and small businesses, expanding domestic energy production, and setting strict public safety standards. Citing his legislative track record in both Madison and Washington, D.C., Tiffany argues his experience renders him best equipped to manage the state’s budget and challenge federal mandates.

Andrew “Andy” Manske: Manske, 26, is a medical service technician from Franklin making his first run for state office. Positioned as a political outsider representing a new generation of conservative leadership, Manske’s grass-roots campaign targets Gen Z voters and blue-collar families.

His priorities focus on lowering consumer healthcare costs, improving infrastructure across rural and suburban communities, and reforming state government transparency. Manske champions deregulation to encourage entrepreneurship among young workers and small-business owners.

Democratic primary

Joel Brennan: Brennan served as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration under Gov. Evers, where he oversaw state budget development and administrative operations. Prior to state service, he led the Discovery World museum in Milwaukee and currently serves as president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee.

Brennan’s platform centers on fiscal management, pragmatic governance, and institutional stability. He advocates for sustainable infrastructure funding, expanding rural broadband access, and utilizing state surplus reserves to bolster public education and municipal services without triggering long-term deficit spending.

David Crowley: Crowley is the Milwaukee County Executive, having made history in 2020 as the youngest person and first Black executive elected to lead the county. He enters the primary with the endorsement of outgoing Gov. Tony Evers.

Crowley’s platform emphasizes bipartisan cooperation, local community investment, and housing affordability. He highlights his executive record managing large municipal budgets, advocating for state-local tax sharing, expanding mental health support systems, and supporting public safety and workforce development programs statewide.

Francesca Hong: Hong represents Madison in the Wisconsin State Assembly and is a community organizer and former restaurant worker and chef.

Positioning herself on the progressive wing of the party, Hong’s platform emphasizes worker protections, paid family leave, universal childcare, and reproductive healthcare access. She advocates for strong state-level climate initiatives, expanded collective bargaining rights, and increased funding for public schools and public transit.

Kelda Roys: Roys is a current state senator representing Madison, an attorney, and a former tech business executive and state representative. She previously ran for governor in 2018.
Her priorities center on protecting reproductive freedom, bolstering public education, expanding clean energy investment, and reforming state tax laws to lower burdens on working families. Roys emphasizes her private-sector executive background combined with legislative experience as key to defeating the Republican nominee in November.

Other seats

Also on the ballot for Aug. 11 are Republican Primary candidates David Varnam and Will Martin for lieutenant governor; and Jay Schroeder, Brayden Myer, Nate Pollnow and Cindy Werner for secretary of state.

Running uncontested in the primary are: Gerard Ritter for Vilas County sheriff; Beth Soltow, Vilas County clerk of circuit court; Rob Swearingen, representative to the Assembly District 34; Eric Toney, attorney general; John S. Leiber, state treasurer; Sarah Godlewski, lieutenant governor; Josh Kaul, attorney general; JoCasta Zamparripa, secretary of state; and Merlin Van Buren, representative to the Assembly District 34. Democrats Yee Leng Xiong and Dylan Ray Helmenstine are competing in the primary for state treasurer.

Voting information

Polling places across Wisconsin will be open on primary election day, Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters must present an approved photo ID to cast a ballot. In Wisconsin primaries, voters must choose to vote within a single political party’s column on the ballot.