2026 Wisconsin Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage


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OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Francesca Hong: Preserve abortion access in Wisconsin state constitution.     Kelda Helen Roys: Get politicians out of our private decisions.     Sara Rodriguez: Co-authored repeal of 1849 law criminalizing abortion.

Budget & Economy     Francesca Hong: Through public bank help finance affordable housing.     Kelda Helen Roys: Leverage funding to increase housing affordability.     Sara Rodriguez: Foster entrepreneur and small business growth in Wisconsin.

Civil Rights     Kelda Helen Roys: Champion for the equality, rights, and dignity of all people.     Sara Rodriguez: LGBTQ people part of families across the political spectrum.

Corporations     Francesca Hong: Comprehensive antimonopoly regulations to keep markets fair.

Crime     Francesca Hong: Invest in noncarceral approaches to crime prevention.     Kelda Helen Roys: Restrict police from extreme forms of use of force.     Kelda Helen Roys: Help nonviolent offenders get their lives back on track.

Drugs     Francesca Hong: It's simple: Cannabis should be legal.     Kelda Helen Roys: Tax and regulate cannabis instead of criminalizing it.     Sara Rodriguez: Legalization ensures regulation and testing.     Tom Tiffany: Marijuana is being used to put fentanyl in it.

Education     Francesca Hong: Voucher programs lack transparency and oversight.     Kelda Helen Roys: Republicans diverted money to unaccountable voucher schemes.     Kelda Helen Roys: Criticized holding up university funding over DEI.     Sara Rodriguez: A fully funded public education system is critical.

Energy & Oil     Francesca Hong: Create a plan to reduce carbon emissions by 52% by 2030.     Kelda Helen Roys: We need to develop climate resilience.     Sara Rodriguez: Invest in 21st-century green job training and development.

Families & Children     Francesca Hong: Fully insured paid leave for all workers.     Kelda Helen Roys: For paid family/medical leave, affordable childcare.

Foreign Policy     Francesca Hong: Not interested in those supporting genocide in Gaza.     Tom Tiffany: The whole thing of the never-ending wars needs to end.

Free Trade     Tony Evers: Trump's tariffs are not good for our country, simple as that.     Francesca Hong: Disastrous tariffs are leading to higher prices.     Kelda Helen Roys: Farmers will especially suffer from Trump's tariff wars.     Mandela Barnes: Higher costs from tariffs harming small businesses.     Sara Rodriguez: Tariffs will be devastating for our small businesses.

Government Reform     Tony Evers: State workers should contact lawyer if ICE shows up.     Kelda Helen Roys: We can strengthen civic education and voting rights.     Sara Rodriguez: I support automatic voter registration.     Sara Rodriguez: Open to cutting byzantine rules for building housing.

Gun Control     Francesca Hong: Responsible gun ownership requires responsible gun markets.     Kelda Helen Roys: Unfettered gun access means fear of gun violence.

Health Care     Francesca Hong: Would veto bills blocking gender-affirming care.     Francesca Hong: For a public option that competes with private insurance.     Kelda Helen Roys: Let anyone buy into nonprofit state health insurance pool.     Mandela Barnes: The first priority is BadgerCare expansion right away.     Sara Rodriguez: Led the charge to expand BadgerCare.

Immigration     Francesca Hong: Protect all documentation status from secret police.     Kelda Helen Roys: ICE destroying immigration along with our public safety.

Jobs     Tony Evers: Ordered agencies to create equity and inclusion plans.     Francesca Hong: Supports a $20 minimum wage indexed to the cost of living.     Francesca Hong: Repeal anti-union right-to-work legislation.     Sara Rodriguez: Union rights critical because they lift wages for everyone.

Principles & Values     Francesca Hong: Have to show folks that socialism improves your life.     Kelda Helen Roys: Pardon of Jan6ers was permission slip for violence.     Kelda Helen Roys: Celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah.

Social Security     Tom Tiffany: Remove the double tax on Social Security benefits.

Tax Reform     Francesca Hong: Increase top tax bracket, create new millionaires bracket.     Kelda Helen Roys: Wealthiest and big corporations should pay their fair share.     Mandela Barnes: Washington lowers billionaires' taxes, ignores higher prices.     Sara Rodriguez: Large corporations often get tax credits out of proportion.

Technology     Francesca Hong: Calls for a moratorium on data center construction.     Kelda Helen Roys: Will continue fighting for universal broadband access.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Francesca Hong Wisconsin Democratic challenger for Governor Kelda Helen Roys Wisconsin Democratic candidate for governor Mandela Barnes Wisconsin Democratic candidate for Governor Sara Rodriguez Wisconsin Democratic challenger for Governor Tom Tiffany Wisconsin Republican challenger for Governor Tony Evers Wisconsin Democratic Governor of Wisconsin

The above quotations are from 2026 Wisconsin Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage. Gov. Evers retiring in 2026:
WI 2026 Gubernatorial debate:
Mandela Barnes(D)
vs.Sara Rodriguez(D)
vs.Kelda Roys(D)
vs.Francesca Hong(D)
vs.Tom Tiffany(R)
vs.Mike Thurow(I)
Past gubernatorial races:
WI 2022 Gubernatorial debate:
Incumbent Tony Evers(D)
vs.CEO Jonathan Wichmann(R for Lt.Gov.)
vs.former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch(R)
vs.Timothy Ramthun(R)
vs.2004 Senate candidate Tim Michels(R)
2018 Wisconsin gubernatorial debate,
Gov. Scott Walker(R)
Bob Harlow (D)
Kathleen Vinehout (D)
vs.Kelda Helen Roys(D)
vs.Tony Evers(D)
Former challengers:
Neumann (R, 2010);
Barrett (D, 2010 & 2012);
Green (R, 2006)

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