Tony Evers, the state’s two-term Democratic governor, declined to seek reëlection, setting up a competitive race in a purple state that President Trump won, in 2024, by less than a percentage point. In the Democratic primary, the front-runner is the state assemblywoman Francesca Hong, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America who has been endorsed by several national progressive figures, including Representatives Ro Khanna and Ilhan Omar. She has also received national scrutiny for some of her past social-media posts, in which she advocated abolishing the police and cancelling Thanksgiving, which she accused of “celebrating colonialism.” (Hong has since walked back her position on defunding the police and has said that Thanksgiving is her “favorite holiday.”)

Initially, Hong’s main challenger was Mandela Barnes, the former lieutenant governor, but Barnes dropped out of the race in late July, citing polls that suggested Hong’s lead was insurmountable. David Crowley, the Milwaukee county executive, quickly relaunched his campaign, which he had previously suspended, and announced that he had received an endorsement from Governor Evers. Also running are Joel Brennan, the former secretary of the state’s Department of Administration, and Kelda Roys, a state senator. Despite dropping out of the race, Barnes will still appear on the ballot, as will Sara Rodriguez, the lieutenant governor, and Missy Hughes, a former public administrator.

On the Republican side, the de-facto candidate is the congressman Tom Tiffany. A MAGA Republican, Tiffany has been endorsed by Donald Trump, and he continues to state that the F.B.I. should investigate whether the 2020 Presidential election was stolen. Also running is Andy Manske, a medical-service technician.