Wisconsin August 2026 Primary for Governor

This is a resource page to use when making up your mind before voting for governors in the Democratic primary on August 11, 2026

podcasts #

Wisconsin Forward with Matthew Rothschild asked the best interview questions. There is a dedicated episode for each of the front-runners.

Several regional podcasts in La Crosse, Eua Claire, & Green Bay had good interviews - search a candidate's name in any podcast app. Kelda Roys had the most.

Polls #

NY Times Polls for Wisconsin governor
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/polls/wisconsin-governor-election-polls-2026.html

Thumbnail sketches of the primary candidates
https://www.milwaukeemag.com/candidates-wisconsin-governor-2026/

270 To Win Polls
https://www.270towin.com/2026-governor-polls/wisconsin

Videos #

Video: What Nine of Wisconsin's 2026 governor hopefuls want to pursue first
https://pbswisconsin.org/news-item/what-wisconsins-2026-governor-hopefuls-want-to-pursue-first/

Video: Wisconsin's wide-open 2026 Democratic primary for governor
April 8, 2026
https://pbswisconsin.org/news-item/wisconsins-wide-open-2026-democratic-primary-for-governor/

Video:
Wisconsin's 2026 governor candidates on the cost of housing
April 22, 2026
https://pbswisconsin.org/news-item/wisconsins-2026-governor-candidates-on-the-cost-of-housing/

All episodes of Inside Wisconsin Politics, a weekly 20 minute show on PBS
https://pbswisconsin.org/news-category/inside-wisconsin-politics/

Donations by PACs and people. #

"Show me the financial backing and I'll show you the true candidate."

January 2026 filings of campaign finance for Wisconsin governor primary
Kelda Roys
https://campaignfinance.wi.gov/report-download/0104606-CF-2--2026_January_Continuing--ORIGINAL--full--2026-01-16-03-01-75.pdf
David Crowley
https://campaignfinance.wi.gov/report-download/0105751-CF-2--2026_January_Continuing--AMENDED--full--2026-01-16-05-01-16.pdf

Mandela Barnes
https://campaignfinance.wi.gov/report-download/0105266-CF-2--2026_January_Continuing--ORIGINAL--full--2026-01-16-04-01-52.pdf

Sara Rodriguez
https://campaignfinance.wi.gov/browse-data/report/134127

My personal journey to a candidate went through these layers: #

Can they win statewide? Kelda and Sara are almost guaranteed to win in a November general election. Mandela Barnes and Francesca Hong are a coin toss, which isn't neccessary to ponder, since Rodriguez and Roys are excellent.

If you're choosing an executive (e.g., a governor), heavily weigh the quality of their campaign. A campaign involves recruiting good people, raising money, and communicating ideas effectively. These are the exact skills you're hiring an executive to have. How they run and build a campaign—who they bring in, how fast they move, and how efficiently they operate—indicates how they would perform in any position.

Unbossed. Yes, an executive brings in money, but from whom? Show me their funders, and I'll show you how they'll govern. Which funders do they refuse: AIPAC, foreign countries, or health insurance companies? Do they accept corporate PAC money. Are they funded by companies that give to both sides (i.e., do their donors also fund their Republican opponent)?

Hear them speaking in their own words. Search their name in your podcast app. Listen to anything where the candidate speaks unscripted. It's a job interview. They're interviewing to work for you.

Know if they know what they're doing and aren't all talk. Demand specifics. Vague positions are a red flag.

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