Wisconsin has one of the most competitive governor races in 2026

Wisconsin has one of the most competitive races for governor in 2026, NPR reported on Oct. 19.

The report was by Anya van Wagtendonk for All Things Considered. It placed Wisconsin among the closest contests in a year when 36 governor's offices are up for election. NPR reported that number as part of its national overview of the governor races.

NPR also reported that governors have been key in blocking or fulfilling the Trump agenda. That description was part of its explanation for why the statehouse elections matter this year. The Wisconsin race was presented as one example of that larger pattern.

In Wisconsin, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, is the Republican candidate for governor, according to Ballotpedia. A survey of likely voters put David Crowley at 49% and Tiffany at 46% in the gubernatorial race, according to the Daily Cardinal. Jamie Jo Carothers is running as an Independent write-in candidate for governor.

Wisconsin held its gubernatorial primary on Aug. 11, according to The Associated Press. The general election will choose a successor to Gov. Tony Evers. Evers is Wisconsin's third consecutive two-term governor. He defeated Republican Tim Michels to win reelection.

NPR maintains a tracker of the 36 governor races showing the primary calendar and party nominees. The tracker lists each state's primary date and the candidates who advanced.