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Tony Evers' Retirement Has Left the Wisconsin Gubernatorial Race Wide Open
Both parties are eager to capitalize, but Republicans see opportunity in not having to run against an incumbent.
https://www.notus.org/wisconsin/tony-evers-retirementwisconsin-gubernatorial-race
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ announcement that he won’t run for reelection next year has left a vacuum both parties are eager to fill. The two-term governor was one of Democrats’ most popular state politicians in Wisconsin, a state they may face headwinds in since it voted for President Donald Trump in 2024. Republicans are more than aware of that, and thrilled to see Evers go.
“Gov. Evers would have been a strong candidate for reelection. Republicans would have had to work exceptionally hard to beat him,” a Republican strategist in the state told NOTUS. Not having to run against the incumbent Democrat’s relative popularity — but retaining the ability to attack his record – has left a wide-open race that the state’s conservatives hope to capitalize on.
That includes the state Republican party, which was also feeling bullish after the news. “Tony Evers saw Democrats’ polling numbers and is running for the hills,” the party posted on X. “Wisconsin will be electing a Republican Governor next year.” Sabato’s Crystal Ball downgraded Wisconsin’s gubernatorial race to “toss-up” from “tilt Democrat” in light of Evers’ announcement.
But both parties share a similarity right now: the lack of an heir apparent. Democrats were waiting to take their cues from Evers: Less than 24 hours after his announcement, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez had announced her candidacy. In her announcement video, she called Trump a “maniac” and pointed to her experience in government. Other potential Democratic candidates in the mix include Attorney General Josh Kaul; Milwaukee County’s executive, David Crowley; Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson; and state Sen. Kelda Roys. Former state Democratic party Chair Ben Wikler declined to address whether he might run for governor to The New York Times.
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