The Left rarely leaves their flank exposed. But now they’ve made a massive mistake.
And a Democrat governor resigned and handed Republicans a massive opportunity.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers to Retire After Second Term
Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced he will not seek a third term, citing a desire to prioritize family time after a 50-year career in politics.
In a statement, Evers, 73, said, “For five decades, my family has sacrificed to give me the gift of service. They’re my world, and I owe it to them to focus on doing all the things we enjoy and love doing together.”
He expressed gratitude for his role, calling it “the best job I ever had,” and predicted he would have won a sixth statewide election if he ran again.
Evers’ term ends on January 4, 2027, setting the stage for an open gubernatorial race in 2026. Wisconsin’s swing-state status was evident in the 2024 presidential election, where President Donald Trump won by approximately 30,000 votes, while Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) secured re-election by a similar margin against Republican Eric Hovde.
Political Landscape Shifts as Candidates Eye 2026 Race
Evers’ decision opens a competitive field for Wisconsin’s 2026 gubernatorial election. Potential Democratic candidates include Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, Attorney General Josh Kaul, Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, according to NBC News.
On the Republican side, Washington County Executive Joe Schoemann and manufacturing CEO Bill Berrien have announced campaigns, with U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and businessman Tim Michels, who lost to Evers in 2022, also considering runs.
Berrien criticized Evers, stating, “Tony Evers is too scared to run on the Madison Democrats’ record of failure,” signaling a contentious campaign ahead.
Evers’ tenure, marked by vetoes of Republican-backed bills on issues like voting, abortion, and gun rights, has polarized voters, particularly his 2023 veto of legislation banning irreversible transgender surgeries for minors, which he argued harmed LGBTQ individuals by fostering an unsafe environment.
Evers’ Vetoes and Policy Record Define Legacy
Evers, a former science teacher and state superintendent, faced significant criticism for his 2023 veto of a bill passed by Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled legislature that would have prohibited transgender surgeries and hormone treatments for minors.
Critics, including former state Sen. Duey Stroebel, called the veto “out of touch with reality,” arguing it failed to protect children from irreversible medical procedures.
Evers defended his decision, stating, “This type of legislation… harms LGBTQ people and kids’ mental health, emboldens anti-LGBTQ hate and violence, and threatens the safety and dignity of LGBTQ Wisconsinites.”
