WISCONSIN — Seven Democrats are competing in the Democratic primary for governor of Wisconsin on August 11, 2026, as Governor Tony Evers is not seeking re-election. The field of candidates includes Mandela Barnes, David Crowley, Francesca Hong, Sara Rodriguez, Joel Brennan, Missy Hughes, and Kelda Roys.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidates participated in a forum at Brule Town Hall where they discussed healthcare, education, and data centers. Missy Hughes, a former Secretary of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, proposed a public school funding model that would involve the state covering two-thirds of costs and local revenue accounting for one-third. "First, expand BadgerCare so that every Wisconsinite has the opportunity to buy into BadgerCare and we have the opportunity to support low-income folks so that everyone has health care access," Hughes said.

State Senator Kelda Roys proposed a healthcare plan called Keldacare, which would enable individuals and organizations to purchase healthcare plans used by state employees. "If they were able to buy into the state plan, they would have more stable premiums because they’d be part of a huge pool. They would have better quality coverage and lower cost and probably more provider choice as well," Roys said. She also proposed expanding the Wisconsin Shares Program and lifting income limits to cap childcare costs at 7% of income per child. Roys criticized the impact of large corporations, stating, "We have the most profitable, powerful companies in the history of the world running roughshod over our communities, destroying our environment, and we are getting nothing in return. In fact, we are subsidizing them to a tune of an estimated $2 billion and that is absolutely outrageous."

Mandela Barnes, who served as lieutenant governor of Wisconsin from 2018 and in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2013 to 2017, also commented on the political landscape. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022. "The only way for our state to move forward is to reject the Washington way and get things done the Wisconsin way. It isn’t about left or right. It’s not about who can yell the loudest," Barnes said. David Crowley was elected Milwaukee County Executive in 2020 after serving in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2017 to 2020. Francesca Hong was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2020 and works as a chef and community organizer. Sara Rodriguez was elected in 2022 and served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2021 to 2023.

As of June 2026, major election forecasters rated the general election as a toss-up. Whoever wins the Democratic primary is expected to face Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany in the general election. In the 2022 Wisconsin gubernatorial election, Evers defeated Republican Tim Michels. In the 2024 presidential election in Wisconsin, Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris. The last Republican to win election as governor of Wisconsin was Scott Walker in 2014.