The Midterm Editor's note: This page was last updated November 6, 2026. The result recorded below is a race call by a news organization, not a certified total; the state election office certifies the official count.
Result
David Crowley (D) defeated Tom Tiffany (R). The Associated Press called the race on the night of November 3, 2026. The seat was open — Governor Tony Evers was term-limited — so the result is a Democratic hold, and Democrats also won both chambers of the state legislature.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Winner | David Crowley (D) |
| Called by | Associated Press, night of November 3, 2026 |
| Outcome | Democratic hold |
A race call is a projection, not a certified total. County canvasses and state certification follow, as the certification calendar explains. The full map is on the governor results page.
Key facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | Governor of Wisconsin, four-year term |
| Candidates | Tom Tiffany (R) and David Crowley (D) |
| Term limit | None; Wisconsin governors may seek unlimited terms |
| Election Day | Tuesday, November 3, 2026 |
| All races | 2026 governor races hub |
| Voting guide | How to vote in Wisconsin |
| Race rating | See Cook, Sabato, and DDHQ for current ratings and dates |
| Official results | Wisconsin Elections Commission |
What the race decides
Wisconsin's governor holds a veto that the legislature can override only with a two-thirds vote, which has made the office the central check in a state where one party has controlled the legislature and the other has held the governorship. The governor appoints agency heads, signs the budget, and sets the terms of the state's shared revenue program, the pot of money that funds local governments.
That funding formula is the campaign's most concrete issue. Counties and cities have argued for years that the state caps what they can raise, and the last budget increased shared revenue while tying part of it to conditions. Schools, Milwaukee's finances, and local road aid all run through the same negotiation.
Wisconsin's economy adds a second set of questions. Dairy and agriculture remain central, manufacturing employs a large share of the workforce, and the state is competing for the same data center and electronics projects as its neighbors. The next governor will decide how much the state offers to win them and what conditions come attached.
Who is running
Tom Tiffany (Republican). Tiffany represents a northern Wisconsin district in the U.S. House, according to his congressional biography, and previously served in the state Senate. He has campaigned on cutting state spending, tightening election rules, and reversing what he calls overregulation.
David Crowley (Democratic). Crowley has served as Milwaukee County executive since 2020, according to county records, and previously represented a Milwaukee district in the state Assembly. He has campaigned on schools, local government funding, and abortion rights.
Other candidates. Wisconsin ballots can include third-party candidates, and the elections commission publishes the certified list for each county.
Polls and ratings
We do not publish a poll number without a source and a date. Wisconsin's statewide races have been decided by less than a point in several recent elections, so a small polling lead is not evidence of a lead:
- 270toWin's 2026 governor map — state-by-state polling and ratings.
- RealClearPolitics — a rolling average of published Wisconsin surveys.
- Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball — race ratings with dates.
Ratings are judgments about the state of a race and change with new polling. Check the date before relying on one.
The 2028 angle
Wisconsin has ten electoral votes and has voted for the winner in recent presidential elections, which keeps it near the top of every 2028 target list. The governor does not run the presidential election, but the office shapes state election administration and the state party's practical operation, and a governor from a swing state enters the national conversation quickly.
How to vote in Wisconsin
Wisconsin allows election-day registration at the polls, but voters must show an acceptable photo ID. Absentee voting requires an application and a copy of an ID, and in-person absentee voting is available at municipal clerks for about two weeks before the election. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Check your registration, polling place, and absentee status at MyVote Wisconsin. Our voting hub covers deadlines and the ID list.
What to watch
- Milwaukee and Dane counties. The two Democratic strongholds supply a large share of the statewide vote, and turnout there decides close races.
- The WOW counties. Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington counties are the Republican base, and margins there are the other half of the equation.
- The legislature. A governor facing a two-thirds majority can be overridden; a governor facing a narrow one cannot. The down-ballot races matter as much as the top line.
Results
Results were reported after polls closed on November 3, 2026. Municipal clerks report to counties and the elections commission certifies the count, with absentee ballots counted at polling places on election night. Our results hub explains how race calls are made.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is running for governor of Wisconsin in 2026?
Tom Tiffany (R) and David Crowley (D) are the major-party candidates in late-October reporting. The Wisconsin Elections Commission publishes the certified ballot.
Does Wisconsin have gubernatorial term limits?
No. Wisconsin governors may seek unlimited four-year terms.
What is the shared revenue fight?
Wisconsin caps how much local governments can raise and sends them state aid in return. Mayors and county executives have argued the formula shortchanges growing communities, and the last budget changed it. The next governor inherits the negotiation.
When is Election Day in Wisconsin?
Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and voters can register at the polls with proof of residence.
Where can I find polls for the Wisconsin governor race?
Use a tracker that dates its averages, such as 270toWin or RealClearPolitics, and check the sponsor and field dates on any individual poll.
Sources
- 270toWin: 2026 governor elections — race list, polling, and ratings. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Wisconsin Elections Commission — registration, ballot, and results. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Cook Political Report — race ratings. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Sabato's Crystal Ball — race ratings. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Associated Press — Wisconsin coverage and race calls. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- National Conference of State Legislatures — state election rules. Accessed October 28, 2026.
Last updated October 28, 2026. The candidate field is based on late-October reporting and should be re-checked against the certified ballot.